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Chapter Text

It went well… Mirabel was eventually able to recover after Casita revived her and… She was okay. She still coughed flowers and she essentially stopped talking at all, the vines, roots and thorns still dug at her skin like razor blades everytime she tried to speak. She would still spit blood with petals whenever she coughed and wasn't able to eat much solid food due to the small cuts the thorns caused in her throat. However… It was getting better. At least that's what everyone said.

Pepa would try to make her sunny days, days where Mirabel could sit in the garden or the front of the house and just breathe some fresh air with no water or dust in it, that usually made her cough, she could try to sunbathe as well… Yet she always got tired quickly and locked herself inside the nursery.

Camilo would come up to her and tell her about the town's people. About their issues and joke about how many children he had had to take care of over the last couple of hours, tried to jokingly push or punch her as softly as he could (he tried his usual bickering strength some days ago and he ended up causing her more pain than anything else.) Then again… She got very tired quickly and left for the nursery.

Luisa would carry her through town, on her back or on a wagon and some people would stop them and give Mirabel gifts or something they thought would help her feel better… They didn't do it that often because the town's noise and slightly tighter air made it difficult to breathe. Then again she would cough yet another set of petals.

Antonio would bring her animals. Usually small birds or rodents to keep her company. He would tell her the things the animals said to him, how some toucans found that maybe she could try taking the flower out before it scratched her throat… Once more she found herself coughing after a while, a crimson mess of petals and roots on the floor.

Dolores would get some stories, something, anything that was happening in town to tell her, she just wanted to see her smile and yet… She couldn't. Maribel ended up spitting some of the retained blood and petals after some time.

Isabela could sit for hours with her. Carefully plucking the flower petals from the back of her throat, yet her company was always the shortest since she started coughing her lung up after some thirty minutes. Isa knew it was because Mirabel had felt she loved her the least out of everyone but… It wasn't the truth, no matter what she told her it wouldn't convince Mira.

Bruno was the only one who did not cause the Hanahaki to flare up. So she found herself hanging out with him more. Whenever she felt like spending time with someone anyways. She didn't even get near Abuela, she always spiked it up as soon as she saw her. It had gotten to the point where they couldn't be in the same room anymore.

Overall, Mirabel knew her family was trying. She just hoped they would stop trying.

"Mira, here hija, I made you some jugo de papaya" her mother said, placing the item in front of her. She nodded and slowly drank it. Stopping a few times to let the stinging caused by the liquid stop. Mirabel felt the small injuries heal slowly, however they were just gonna open up again and cause more pain in the long run. "How do you feel honey?"

Mirabel reached for her notepad, however she ended up just smiling and nodding. Trying her best to not move too much. She hoped the branch would retreat, just go back into her lungs like it had been for many years, however it stayed there, rubbing against her throat, existing and resisting.

"I heard you coughing earlier, do you want me to-" Mirabel quickly shook her head, no, she knew what she was going to ask, "hija, it would be better if-" again, she shook her head, no, she didn't want anyone poking around in her throat or mouth to get the flower blooms out.
When Isabella did it it wouldn't hurt physically as she could coax the flower slowly but it hurt even more because she herself did not have a gift. She was the Madrigal failure…

"Okay… Mirabel, we love you, can you please start believing in us?" Julieta took hold of her daughter's hands, however, Mirabel just looked away and patted her mom's hands. She couldn't forget she always somehow forgot about her whenever a family event happened, sure she got her to come down from her room, sure she got her into the reunion, but she never really made any effort to include her. She always let everyone else walk over her in a way. Julieta sighed and nodded, kissing her daughter's head.

Mirabel didn't want to be inside the nursery today. She was not in the mood for it so she simply stood and walked out of the kitchen, avoiding rooms where she heard commotion. Eventually, she was not inside Casita anymore. She was outside.

Mirabel blinked a few times and swallowed, just to cough it up seconds later due to the flowers not agreeing. She picked the few petals from her tongue and stared at them, not much blood since there were just a few stray petals, sighing, she was about to put them away when a hand grabbed her wrist.

"¡Ay Mira! ¿Otra vez?" It was her Tío Bruno, she looked up and smiled gently, opening her palm to show him the petals with specks of blood on them. "Come now, let's see what's going on, do you want to go inside?"

Mirabel shook her head, she had just gotten out and she would like to stay outside for a few more minutes if possible.

"Okay, maybe we can walk?" she shook her head again. "Want to sit down?" She nodded and they both sat on the grass.
Mirabel stared at her tío for a few seconds. She had a slight suspicion this wasn't exactly Bruno. It seemed more like Camilo with the way he took too long to understand what she wanted, but… Camilo was trying so she simply let it slide. It could be Bruno or it couldn't be him as much as he could be Camilo or couldn't be him.

"Mirabel, have you felt it slow down?" She shook her head, "is it getting worse?" She also shook her head "has it stopped?" She nodded, he smiled and seemed excited but calmed down for her sake. "So is it going away?" She shook her head and he frowned a bit "so…. It has just stopped there?" She nodded again and caressed her throat for a little.

"Mira- don't do that, you'll irritate it." He whispered and took her hand away. She just sighed and coughed again, Spitting the petals with a slight wince. She didn't want to be outside anymore… Camilo wasn't a safe place for her, as much as he had been her playmate as children he was not anymore once he got his gift, he essentially ignored her for the next few years and started worrying once the magic started disappearing. This confirmed this wasn't Bruno. The Hanahaki just spiked, if the rose in her hand was anything to give by.

Showing it to him, Camilo shifted back and took her hands. "Mirabel I'm sorry but… You've been avoiding most of us!" She looked to the rose and then at him "yes I know it's our fault! But … Can you please give us another chance? Me? Can you go to town with me?"

Honestly… She didn't want to go. This rose in particular had torn her skin a little bit, so she simply shook her head. "Mira please… " again, no.

"Mirabel por favor," He took the rose in his hand and looked at it while twirling it "I can't imagine how much this hurts… I know it must be horrible to feel them grow and … Having to hide it for so many years… Let me help you Mira." He took her hands again, she…

Mirabel wanted to nod, to show that she didn't blame them for not loving her, that she didn't blame Isabella for treating her like trash, that she didn't blame Luisa for ignoring her, she didn't blame her mother for ignoring her at times, she didn't blame either of them… She didn't blame Abuela for hating her… She didn't blame Papa for shoving her aside whenever he could or anyone else for… For treating her like trash. Mirabel didn't blame either. She just…

Voices were heard around her. People yelling and some strong patting against her back, someone opening up her mouth to help with whatever she was choking on now, someone else was holding her still while whoever it was held her hand. A tearing pain shot through her throat and suddenly it was gone, another liquid was poured into her mouth along with some more pats and gentle back rubs. This was someone else entirely… This person didn't spike the remains of the flowers in her lungs, it felt soothing up to a certain point.

"Bruno-"

"I-I've told you g-guys to leave her alone." He sighed, lifting her up "all of you s-spike the hanahaki up. She's g-gonna choke one of t-these days if you all don't start to care." He shook his head and simply started to walk away, a slightly dazed Mirabel in his arms.

"¡Si nos importa Bruno! It's why we keep coming near her! She needs to see we care!" Pepa grabbed his arm. "If she's all cooped up in the nursery she won't see we care!"

"I-it's the contrary," he sighed "l-let her grieve, she's g-going to come around eventually. She's not stupid. She u-understands you care, b-but she thinks it's out of p-pity." Bruno stopped for a few seconds to explain himself better. Trying to avoid his stutter he simply shook his head and took a deep breath.

"She's scared, scared that she'll warm up to you and that she'll be left alone once you all believe she's okay again." He looked at Mirabel "none of you showed signs of wanting to help her before all of this. I saw her grow up through the walls and I know she felt utterly alone. I saw this start but I knew I wouldn't be able to do much. She's a child who you all left alone after her gift failed to appear."

"Then what do you suggest we do?" Isabella Asked "I can get the petals out but being with me spikes it up faster than I can get them removed…"

"D-don't. Mira can live with this. Those roots will never le-leave. She'll grow up and eventually die with those roots there. They're a part of her now." He sighed, "I understand her okay? I know she can live like this, lead a normal life. Sure i-it'll be noticeable whenever she gets these thoughts again, but she can live.

As if on cue, Bruno coughed a few times and chuckled lightly at the sight in his hand. He held up the bloodied yellow rose and walked towards them, grabbing the other rose Mirabel spat and holding them together. "T-there's no cure for us, you caused this by shunning us, can you h-help by leaving us alone?"

The Madrigal's stared at the flowers. After the two outcasts left they couldn't move from there…

They caused it…

But they would fix it.

Chapter Text

Hanahaki is an emotional terminal illness. If left untreated it can kill the patient in as short as a year and as long as seven years.

It starts by stray petals appearing on the patient's throat and mouth. No pain or discomfort is present at the current stage.

Camilo was reading the book over and over again. Trying to think back to the time his cousin didn't have the disease. He tried to remember, tried to think of a time he knew his baby cousin had lived happily and….he could only fathom back when they both lived at the nursery. He knew she was happy back then.

Now… He couldn't even remember a time he had not seen her coughing. Now it all made sense. She was always clearing her throat or caressing it… She would get the sniffles at even the softest breeze… Camilo sighed deeply and shook his head. Mirabel has been suffering right in front of them and they were so far up in their own asses to even notice her.

From what led them to find Mirabel she had apparently died once… Casita revived her but it was after that incident that she stopped speaking at all.

"Camilo?" Antonio called. Walking towards him. Ever since Mirabel got worse and worse he stopped walking around on his puma, he saw her eyes shine sadly every time. He knew Mirabel did not mean it but it stung. He knew the ceremonies hurt her more than anything else. He had forced her to relieve her trauma just because he was too scared. Everyone was watching her scornfully and he just ignored it. He proceeded to continuously remind her of her own demons by showing her animals-

"Oh, hola Toñito," Camilo greeted. Putting the book down and rubbing his face a few times.

"Are you sad? Es sobre Mirabel?" He whispered, sitting next to him.

"I'm just… She's lived with this for so long and I feel the more I help, or try to, the more I hurt her." He rubbed his face again "we used to be so close and for some reason I thought we still were…"

"You were busy…"

"Yes, but I swear she would've traded anything to be busy like me." Camilo answered. Twirling the book in his hand. "I want her to feel happy. If that stupid door hadn't disappeared-"

"Why does she have no room?" Antonio asked, looking at Camilo.

"Huh? What do you mean?" She did have a room! The nursery was her room and she had even started decorating the damn thing! He remembered how Mirabel would go on and off about drawings and embroideries she would hang on the walls or do on her own clothes and blankets. She did have a room, sure not one like theirs but… She did-

"She doesn't. The nursery isn't a room, Camilo." Antonio sighed and left, ignoring his puma's request of him climbing on her back. He was going to start respecting Maribel in that sense as well. It was of very bad taste in his opinion to be flashing his own power in front of her. Antonio looked up at the nursery and sighed before going out to gather some flowers for Mirabel. Maybe that'd cheer her up.

That left Camilo thinking… Mirabel did have a room- Right?

Quickly getting off his feet he ran up to the nursery, completely ignoring whoever had called his name on his way up. He slammed the door open and… He almost fell to his knees. He couldn't blame Mirabel now-

The whole room was still a nursery, the only thing of hers there was the sewing machine. Machine that was gathering dust. As was Mirabel's sewing kit. The two things that made this room her's weren't even being used anymore. Slowly he walked inside and sat on the bed. It was still so small…

She was a small woman but he could tell she was probably touching the frame like this.

"Camilo?" Dolores spoke. Peeking in from the door "I heard you run up here and… I heard your heart rate increase. Are you okay?"

"Mirabel- she's… Dolores she doesn't even have a room."

"But the nursery-"

"Does this seem like a room to you?!" He yelled, she covered her ears but let it slide, his ragged breathing was telling her he was angry, "this is a nursery! Not a room!"

"Camilo-"

"Dolores! She's dying! She's dying and I don't think she even wants to try living anymore!" He angrily wiped his tears away.

"Camilo she can live-"

"No she can't!" He walked up to her and shoved the book in her chest, opened in one page in particular. She carefully pried it away and started to skim through the page, eyes growing wide she quickly read it carefully again.

While the victim can lead a life with the disease, they can't survive for as long as people without it if it has gone down to the terminal phase. How do you know if it is already at that phase?

• The person will start by spitting full roses, colors depending on the type of hanahaki [see index for flower colors].
• The person will probably start to distance themselves. Death by Hanahaki isn't a calm one, the person might feel the need to hide away for it.
• The person might lose either appetite or the ability to speak. These are caused by the pain of the thorns.
• The person might not want to interact with people anymore, as this would flare the disease.

A person with Terminal Hanahaki can live up to twenty to thirty years if they manage it correctly. However the death can come as soon as three if the subject chooses to not slow it down.

"Camilo-"

"We're killing her Dolores! She's probably got a few months by this point! I heard her telling Tío Bruno she had gotten many of these when she turned thirteen. She's fifteen now! She's got probably six months left if she doesn't try to recover." His baby cousin.

His best friend…

She was dying…

And he couldn't do much about it.

"But Bruno-"

"Tío Bruno is different! He chose to live! Can't you see?! Mirabel doesn't see a reason in living anymore! I doubt that even if Casita gave her a gift now she would recover! I doubt that Bruno would either! They're both dying because of us!"

Dolores couldn't refute this now. She just sat next to him. Rubbing his back in hopes his sobs would slow down.

"I'm sorry Camilo…"

"It's not me you should apologize to…"

"Ay Mira… You're going to die if you don't start trying…" He whispered, rubbing her back.

After the whole flare up fiasco. He had taken her to his old room. It was still the same. After all, he did need sand to work. However he didn't climb all those stairs just to get to his room, he had actually managed to rearrange his room into a sort of oasis for him at the bottom and he only climbed whenever he wanted to see the future. Which was never. Ever since his Hanahaki started, he learned to live with it, he learned to make peace with the fact he was dying because his family didn't love him, he left because he had actually started to get to the terminal phase, the one Mirabel was currently in.

However… He remembers seeing her get it. He vividly remembers a seven year old Mirabel suddenly coughing and spitting a petal, he remembers her waking up wheezing due to having a flower stuck in her throat and… He remembers seeing her die from suffocation after his mother started to yell at her. He remembers Casita reviving her…

After the first time he actually started to put an effort into trying to get his hanahaki under control. He remembers it very vividly. How he was able to make them retract enough for him to lead a normal life. Sure he was still dying. But it was slower, it was basically crawling instead of running like before. If Mirabel could just see that...

Mirabel however… Unlike him, didn't seem to want to get better. She wouldn't put the effort he had to slow the process down. It almost seemed like she wanted it to speed up.

"Mira… I know it's hard, ten years of ostracizing and suddenly it's all supposed to be gone…." She looked at him and nodded, "but… This is a painful death, if you wanted you could slow it down. Make the flowers step back. Sure you'd live a… Rather short life compared to your sisters but still… Twenty extra years sounds better than two doesn't it?" It was meant as a joke and Bruno was actually about to chuckle but-

Mirabel just shook her head.

"Mira-"

"I don't… I-" she struggled to speak, he knew it, he knew the feeling, the thorns had probably left her throat hoarse, "-I… I want this to end."

Bruno understood. He truly did. He got where she was coming from. It did take him months just to come to terms with the fact that he was dying. But he had already lived, he had already grown. Mira had so much ahead of her.

"Mira-"

"Please… Just l-let this end…" She was close to crying. He could see her eyes crystallizing, he could see her breaking.

He chose to live because he saw her with his same sickness. He wanted to be there for her…

But Bruno understood …

He couldn't force her to live either.

"I… I understand." He sighed, placing his hand on her shoulder to slowly make her lean on him. "It will hurt… You know? Dying from this hurts- are you sure-" she nodded "-okay… Mirabel just… Tell me when it gets worse okay? I'll be there."

And for that small moment, Mirabel smiled. She genuinely smiled, a golden tear finally dropping from her eye. At least she wouldn't be alone when she died.

Chapter Text

"What is it Brunito? Why have you gathered all of us here today" Alma asked, carefully taking seat next to Julieta who was next to Pepa who was trying to calm down a very obviously angry Camilo.

"I-I spoke with Mirabel. I-I ah… ¿Cómo digo esto?" He paced a bit and sighed. "I spoke with Mirabel and… She told me- I- guys, before I say anything I want to explain how Hanahaki works. I want you guys to know all of this before I tell you of Mirabel's desicion."

Luisa tensed, suddenly getting a really bad feeling about this, she looked at Isabella who also seemed tense as there were cactuses and flowers all around her, some that she apparently did not like as she quickly made them wilt away. Dolores seemed awfully down. She obviously knew already but by the looks of it, respected that Mirabel had trusted Bruno with this. Not her.

"Okay…" Julieta said, glancing at Pepa and then glancing outside to interpret the scale of severity, it was starting to get cloudy. Bruno gathered some sand and made a small circle in the table, just hoping to get some visual aid, he then threw some salt over his shoulder and took a deep, long breath in.

"Living with Hanahaki isn't living. At this point, Mirabel isn't going to recover because to do so she has to want to do it." He gathered some sand in his hand and his eyes glowed green, as he let it fall down a picture started showing, it showed a small Mirabel the figure green in nature, except for a carve out of a seed, a memory of when she first got the disease, "I saw it develop, I saw her struggle with it, I saw her pain every time one of you guys pushed her aside." The picture kept changing, growing as Mirabel did, but so did the flowers.

"I saw her death the first time," he sighed and let the scene play out, they had all seen it, Mirabel had suddenly quieted down, almost strangling herself with her hand, everyone thought she was being sarcastic at first, but then Antonio spoke up, a bird repeatedly chirping with worry, he had gone up to Mirabel and lifted her face just to see some blood dripping from her lips.

The memory then showed her laying next to a rose, a full rose with people surrounding her. Then Casita revived her But...the green Mirabel was depicted now in was a lot darker and the rose inside seemed to grow faster.

"Living with this disease feels like you're being squeezed from the inside out, like you're dying slowly and there's no way out." The image showing a cornered Mirabel, he chuckled slightly "now… One can fight this death and live at most thirty years… Or one can succumb to it and die in three…"

"Bruno-"

"Mirabel doesn't want to fight anymore. It is not fun for either of us to feel this way." He shook his head "she's got three months to live by this point, three months to die and three months for all of you guys to make amends."

"T-three months…" Camilo looked at him "e-eran… Seis…"

"I-... Mira's condition isn't treatable unless she wants it to be treated, and she doesn't. She doesn't want to be treated for her Hanahaki." Bruno showed the memory of Mirabel and him the day Before, Mira crying happily at the thought of it ending. "She doesn't want to live anymore and I won't be the one who forces her." After this he let the sand fall, his smile a tiny one.

"Mira… No, she can't-" Julieta covered her mouth while Agustin gently caressed her back.

"What do you mean you won't- she can't die Bruno!" Pepa yelled, slamming her hand on the table to then caress her brain a few times, muttering something about 'que salga el sol'. Felix sighed and guided her down to her seat again.

"She's too young to die!" Luisa stood up, "no puede, she has to fight!"

"Mira has to stay…" Antonio whispered, looking down at his Puma friend who was sitting sadly next to him.

"Yes! She-she has to!" Isabella also stood up, seeming frantic out of nowhere.

She had started to show her love of cactuses recently, she liked them a lot and was very quiet about it… That was until Mirabel saw her accidentally sprout one, she seemed almost immediately accepting of the situation and for one- she felt free.

Mirabel had managed to free her from her own ties and restraints before any of her other 'gifted' family members even had the time or interest to notice it. Isabela wanted her baby sister to live so… So she could help her. Gift or no gift Mirabel was the most humane one of the whole of them, she needed her there. It was like she was watching a flower die, unable to do anything about it. "She can't just- she has to fight! Tío Bruno! Please-"

"You all are so selfish…" Camilo whispered, tightening his hands on his poncho. Tears threatening to spill. "¡Son tan egoístas!"

"Camilo…" Abuela called, clearly startled.

"Mirabel is in chronic pain just by breathing! Three months must be torture to even imagine!" He took the book he had been carrying around and slammed it on the table, not even bothering with the tears rolling down his face anymore. "¡Miren!" he tried to breathe easy, tried to keep his voice steady, but was unable to. He showed them the same page he had shown Dolores the day before.

"Camilo- she could try. Bruno, she can-"

"It's not about what we want!" He slammed his hands again "just one time- one time can we listen to her?! Have you all seen her room!? She doesn't have one! The nursery isn't a room! It's no room! She has no comfortable bed! No presence in this whole house! I couldn't find a single picture of her yesterday! None! None over the age of five!"

"Cami-"

"No! No no!" He shook his head "I've… I've been shape shifting into her.. Trying to feel what she feels… Trying to understand her." He covered half of his face "I can't… Please let's just respect her wish this one time." Papa was about to object but she knew he was right. It was selfish to ask Mirabel to keep suffering. To keep living knowing her time was counted. However her Hermana was obviously more hurt about the idea.

"Do you- Do you really want my daughter gone, Camilo?" Julieta whispered and he quickly shook his head.

"Of course I don't! ¡La quiero acá!" He carelessly cleaned his cheek "I want her here… I - but this isn't about us!" Not finding anymore words, he just shook his head again and ran out. Casita suddenly feeling like pollution to his lungs.

Was this how breathing felt to Mirabel?

Mirabel had been sitting near a lake inside the Encanto. Taking shallow breaths as some fish came up to see what was happening. If she stepped down and just let the current take her away she wouldn't have to wait for three months.

Tío Bruno Would stop worrying about her, he could stop fretting over her and could lead a calmer life, she could stop being the family's stain on the carpet. She genuinely thought about just stepping in, until someone else dropped next to her, startled she looked to the side to find noneother than Camilo.

He looked so disheveled, hair a mess, his Poncho was noticeably wet in certain spots, obviously dirty and it seemed like he had fallen down a few times.

Regardless, she never liked seeing them sad, so, she gently shook his shoulder and offered a weak smile once he lifted his head. His eyes watered again and he quickly engulfed her in a hug, careful around her neck. "M-Mira!" His shaky hands smoothed her hair a few times before he took a few very deep breaths. "Mira…"

After he had stopped crying, or… Almost stopped, he carefully pried himself away from her, hands gently caressing her arms to then move closer to her throat. She just allowed it, Antonio did that a lot, he would caress her neck, she knew he wanted to ask, he knew he wanted to know… He never asked out of respect. Mirabel appreciated it.

"Bruno told us…" She knew, she asked him to. She wasn't so selfish that she'd keep her family from knowing she didn't plan on making it to next year's anniversary. She just smiled again, slowing closing her eyes as she tilted her head, Camilo exhale a sad laugh and did the same. "Mirabel… I don't want you to leave us…" He admitted, but almost as quickly added "but I understand this isn't my choice, this isn't about me. I can't ask you to suffer more than you already have."

Was he… Was he accepting her decision?

The whole reason she wasn't at the meeting was because she didn't like the idea of eveyone else seeing her while knowing she planned on dying soon. She knew she was going to break a few of them but there was another part of her that didn't give a single fuck.

They broke her first so why would she?! Why should she care that she was going to hurt them by refusing fight? By dying?

Yet Camilo just pulled her in for another hug, still crying and shaking his head. "Mira… I can't force you to fight but… Just know that I'm sorry-" he hiccupped "-I'm sorry I made fun of you, I'm sorry I ignored you… I- I never thought this could happen- Mira- I'm sorry I killed you."

For once…

She also cried for a reason other than her illness. Clutching his as hard as he could. However with how weak she was, how much it hurt to do that she quickly loss her strength and he carefully laid her head on his lap, the sun was setting and he took both her hands, a few tears fell on her cheeks but he quickly wiped them away.

"I'll be here for you… Three months. Let's make the best of it, te parece prima?" Camilo kissed her hand, a lingering, sad kiss to the back of it, "three months so I can atone for some of my sins. So I can show you how much I love you prima…" He hiccuped again "three months. I don't care if you just want to lay and sulk-as… As long as I can be there and dry your tears like now."

That-

It didn't sound bad. She nodded, carefully wiping her tears away.

They stayed like that a few more minutes, peace settling into Mirabel in a way she only felt for Bruno. Once she assimilated this, she felt something give-

She sat up.

Camilo rushed to pat her back as she heaved.

Again her memory became a blur. She just recalls Camilo settling her against his chest, whispering soothing words, rocking her 'todo está bien… tranquila…'

If she could've seen what Camilo saw. Before him he witnessed a rose. Yellow with thorns and leaves… But he also saw roots there. Mirabel seemed weaker, but the rose she spat was not like the one sje threw up the previous day, it wasn't just the stem and flower.

This flower had roots and some tissue attached to it. But it was whole nonetheless.

He rubbed Mirabel's back some more as thoughts flooded his brain. There was a page missing. A page that he couldn't find but remember it being referenced in the book.

Hanahaki's terminal stage has a cure, however no one has been able to survive it. It is considered more dangerous than the Illness itself.

See page 76 for more details.

Mirabel-

Ahe coughed some more blood, it was more abundant but she seemed better somehow. He just leaned her to the side and unsure of what else to do… He softly started singing.

"Ay Mariposa… No te aguantes más,
Hay que crecer aparte y volver, hacia adelante seguirás…" he sobbed a bit and continued:

"Ya sos milagro, rompiendo crisálidas
Hay que volar, hay que encontrar tu propio futuro…"

For a moment, Camilo could've sworn Maribel smiled.

Chapter Text

A few days went by and the more time passed, the more Camilo stared at that flower. He had no idea why that thing had come out whole- well he did-

But he did not want to get illusioned. If he could cure Mirabel- No, this was not about him. This wasn't about him-

Again, he dried his tears before they got the chance to wet his poncho. He had to stay strong for Mirabel. She wanted to die and he would respect that. No matter how much he wanted her to fight, no matter how much he wanted her to keep her life- this wasn't about him. For once it was about Mirabel.

So he placed the flower on the nightstand at the entrance of his room and exited. He had some things he wanted to do, specifically -

He wanted to help with that little project the family had going.

Isabella wasn't sure why she was the one who was tasked with this job, Luisa would've been far better but she also understood that for once her gift was going to be kind of useless in that scenario. Still. It didn't mean she wasn't nervous.

'Distract Mirabel' they said, 'keep her out of the house' they said…

If it was only that easy.

As she looked at her little sister she tried her best to just- smile? She wanted her to feel like she was welcomed to be next to her but- it was so much harder done than said. Mirabel and her were always different. They were always opposites but… That all started after her ceremony.

Mirabel had immediately been cast aside and she had felt jealous. Mirabel wasn't being forced into perfection, she wasn't being showered in unnecessary and useless attention every single time she entered a room, she wasn't being asked that… Mirabel was just left alone and she had envied her to the point that she saw it okay to bully her baby sister.

The day of Mirabel's ceremony she couldn't stop putting flowers in her hair, even when Abuela expressed how they were going to mess up her curls, she hadn't cared.

So now…

As she sat behind Mirabel, playing with her hair, she was making some flowers appear. Cute ones she knew Mirabel liked, her fingers combing through her locks as she braided and tucked the beautiful petals in. Though Mirabel seemed lost in thought. She would cough every once in a while but other than that she was completely silent.

Luisa would've been better. She didn't treat Mirabel that badly, she mainly ignored her those days but Luisa was busy and so again, her baby sister was left alone. She stopped to calm herself and resumed her braiding some long seconds later. Though she could tell Mirabel was getting very tired, she couldn't even hold her shoulders up anymore. She was about to suggest returning, if she could sneak her into her room and make some fluffy flower bed for her she would be fine, maybe even get some summery feel to the place just so she could have a taste of another air.

However, coughing pulled her out of her thoughts, almost by reflex at this point, she went in front of Mira and gently opened her mouth, calling the flower with her powers. Though Mirabel was as resistant as always, she grabbed her wrist and shook her head.

"Mira, please," it was so soft that she almost didn't hear herself. Mirabel shook her head again and spilled a few tears, knowing how agitated she got when she pushed it too much, Isabela just gave in. Released her hold on her sister and watched as Mirabel heaved, clutching her throat to then spit up a whole rose with some buds. Yellow with specks of blood, though it was only the rose with some leaves. Nothing else.

Mirabel tightened her eyes and choked back a sob, Isabela remained as strong as she could and pulled her in for a hug, playing with her dress a bit. Mirabel started to sob, an ugly cry broke through the forest, her eyes burned with the need to join her but she stayed strong. Mirabel needed her to be strong. She still shook slightly as she managed to regain her voice long enough to try and soothe her.

Back when Mira was maybe three or four, she would sing a canción de cuna for her. She changed the lyrics up a bit for her but, it went something like this:

'Duerme Duerme Morenita
Duerme, duerme Morenita
Que tu mamá está en el campo
Morenita
Duerme, duerme Morenita
Que tu mamá está en el campo
Morenita'

Back when Mirabel was born, she was unusually pale, they all thought she would be like Pepa, since her hair was close to blonde and her skin was pale, even Pepa was happy that someone finally got some of the recessive genes of the family. However, as baby Mirabel grew, her skin darkened and her hair did as well, at a month and a half she was looking closer to Bruno's skin color than to Pepa's. They all joked that that's what they got for all the mixed blood in their veins, but still…

The nickname she called her from then until her failed ceremony was 'Morenita' because… Her skin was morena, like the dry soil used to make barro. Isabela kissed her forehead, quieting a sob as she continued:

'Te va a traer codornices para ti
Te va a traer muchas cosas para ti
Te va a traer carne de cerdo para ti
Te va a traer muchas cosas para ti…'

She couldn't remember the rest, but she had managed to calm her down enough to lift her up. She was stronger than missing thought, holding herself up in vines had done that. Mirabel was light so she had no real issue placing her on her back, holding her up by her thighs.

She didn't want to head back to Casita but knew that heading into town would cause Mirabel stress since the townspeople were far more obvious about her condition. Mirabel groaned slightly, Isabela picked up her pace and kept walking, she knew where to take her and while yes, it would be weird because of history- Mirabel would definitely rest there.

"What are you all doing?" Bruno asked as he walked into the back yard, noticing some pillars being put in place for the entrance of a … A rather large room. He coughed a bit, spit the petal that came up and walked closer.

Pepa approached, taking out her handkerchief to gently wipe away the bit of drool and spit that had gathered at the corner of his lips. She then guided him to a bench where Antonio was folding Mirabel's blankets and fabrics.

"Pepa…" he raised an eyebrow.

"No no, no es lo que parece," she assured. "Camilo noticed that Mirabel didn't have a room and, sadly, we can't add another one inside of Casita,-" she fiddled with the cloth in her hands a bit.

"We're building her a room." Camilo yelled from his place painting one of the walls. "Dolores! This isn't a Mirabel color!"

"Then come mix them yourself!" She called back and Bruno blinked repeatedly.

"A room? Pepa- she's not going to- she might take this the wrong way." He was worried she would think they wanted to get her out of Casita because that would be what his mind would've wandered off if this had been done for him back when his Hanahaki flared up just by looking at his photos in the house.

"We know…" She sighed, rubbing her arm "Camilo had the idea. He says that she deserves a room even for a little while…"

"I agree but- Pepa this might blow up in you guys' faces." He looked around, for all they could do or want to do, they would never manage to make the room resemble what Mirabel had been deprived from. He was worried.

"Tío… Please," Camilo called, walking up to him. "I-I have something to show you. This might convince you." Bruno looked at the room and then at Camilo, sighing, he nodded and followed him to his room. Casita was happier too, it helped them climb faster than they usually would.

Camilo took a deep breath before opening his door, pulling him inside to then close it while he grinned like an idiot, though he seemed nervous as he grabbed a flower. It was mostly happiness.

That intrigued him, why would he be nervous about a flower? He seemed so happy but nervous and hesitant at the same time. He was about to suggest they sit down- but then he saw the rose…

"C-Camilo-"

"Mirabel spat it out last week…" He smiled. "She's not flaring up around me anymore!" He handed the flower to him. "It has roots! Tío! Maybe we can-"

"What have you done?" Bruno stuttered.

"W-what..?" Camilo's voice dropped, Bruno, unable to trust his voice, pulled a page from his pocket and handed it to him.

Page 72

Hanahaki's terminal phase has a cure, however, this is never mentioned or recommended due to sensitive reasons.

While death by this disease isn't a peaceful one. There is a possibility of dying while asleep, a peaceful death. Compared to the one that might happen from attempting to cure hanahaki, death by it is a walk in the park.

Roses grow, one root per person, platonic hanahaki can develop many roses for different people.

This cure consists in mending the broken relationships. When the ill person accepts that the other party has changed, the rose will give away, roots included, however… These roots might have merged with the veins inside the lungs, taking the roots out can cause the lungs to collapse, killing the person immediately. This scenario isn't guaranteed however, it is very likely that the ill patient might die quicker from trying to cure the disease instead of trying to control it.

This is the reason why it isn't advised to attempt a cure.

"Tío…-"

Chapter Text

Isabela arrived eventually, eventually because she decided to go around the back instead of using the town's road. However, as soon as she arrived she knocked on the door, tapping her foot as she waited. Mirabel groaned and she knocked again.

Impatient as ever, she was about to knock again when Mariano finally opened his door. He looked at her and smiled "Isabela! Is Dolores he-Mirabel?" Isabela, not waiting for any answer, rushed inside and laid Mirabel on his couch. Sighing happily.

"Isabela?"

"Sorry, Mirabel flared up in the forest and I didn't want her in Casita at all with how bad she got and I couldn't go into town because everyone wants to suddenly tell her how special and unique she is, Mariano she's sensitive, she's my flower I can't let people see her like this-"

"Isabela-"

"She spat a whole Rose with buds Mariano! ¡No podía ni respirar! So I tried to soothe her by singing this canción de cuna that I sang to her when she was a baby but now I just noticed that she's this sick because of me-"

"Isabela-"

"I was so stuck up in my own ass that I failed to notice I was killing her! Mariano what would've happened if she hadn't accidentally revealed this to her she would've never told us! I would've never known she didn't - Mariano she truly thought I hated her!"

"Isa-"

"And I don't! I was jealous of her! She's so free spirited and doesn't have a stupid gift that makes people only see you because of it! But she wasn't even seen Mariano- please she's so perfect! She wants to die now and I don't want that but asking her to suffer isn't fair- Have you seen her dress?! ¡Es hermoso! Mariano, I want her to teach me how to do embroidery like that! She can't do that if she's dead! She's so creative that I cannot just tell her that now can I?"

"I-"

"No I can't! I have to show her how special and gorgeous and pretty she is! How talented she is! That she doesn't need a stupid Miracle to succeed-"

"Isabela Madrigal!" Mariano called and she jumped a bit.

"M-Mariano-" he sighed and grabbed her arms, leading her to the table, away from Mirabel who was starting to stir, served her some water and a pastry he had cooked earlier and sat in front of her.

"Look, I understand you're worried, I'm not going to lie, I don't blame Mirabel for wanting to die… For a short while I had Hanahaki for you-" she was about to intervene but he hushed her "it never got nearly as bad as hers. I just spat petals but then you accepted me and it went away, I threw the small flower up and it went away. However… I can remember the feeling of tightness in my lungs, my flower was a red rose and while it never got to develop petals, I do remember the feeling of petals stuck. It's bothersome at least." He sighed and tilted his head "no comprendo a Mirabel, but I do understand the feeling of being ignored."

"But I can change! I can- if she would just chose to-"

"Isabela this isn't your choice." He rubbed his nose and winced slightly "this isn't about the Madrigals, it is about Mirabel. If she wants to fight then she'll fight, if she wants to die then… You better show her how much you love her the time she has left."

"Why are you all accepting her death so quickly-" her eyes crystalised, "I don't- it feels like I'm giving up! Even Camilo said he was okay with her dying!"

"No, he didn't say that, Dolores specifically told me he said he didn't want her to die but that he respects her wishes." He rubbed her hand "Isabela, do you want your sister to keep living with pain?"

"Of course not!" She covered her face "I want her to be fine and dandy! ¡Quiero verla crecer! I want to see her have her own family! I want to see her get her gift, Mariano!"

"Then tell her that!" He signaled to the couch "you yourself say you don't like people crowding her because she gets stressed and her hanahaki flares up! But you yourself make it flare up more than anyone else other than Abuela! If you truly love Mirabel you would sit down with her and tell her all that you told me."

"It's not easy!" She slammed her hand on the table "Mariano- when I see her like that, when I see her cry after she pukes a flower… My heart breaks and I feel like I can't even feel that because it is my fault she's even there to begin with! If I hadn't been so stubborn then none of my other cousins would've bullied her!"

"Have you told her that?" He asked again.

"How can I!? She'll think it's not true!"

Before Mariano could even answer, they heard some violent coughing from the living room. Isabela rushed out before Mariano had even had the time to react. Quickly reaching her sister she held her back as gently as she could as Mirabel coughed and heaved. She blinked her tears away and focused solely on her sister.

"Deep breaths Mira… Tranquila…" her hand ran up and down her back, Mirabel clutched Isabela's skirt and then slumped forward, blinking a few times she helped her sister lean back on her and opened her mouth gently to check if any major damage had been done. When she found none she slowly dried her tears, completely forgetting to check the flower.

"I-Isa…" Mirabel squeaked, Isabela smiled and kissed her forehead.

"I'm here sissy…" She giggled sadly. Ignoring the burn that hearing her sister's voice caused, Mirabel had stopped speaking a long time ago, to hear her now… "I love you Mira, I really do."

"I-I… I heard…" Mirabel chuckled "I-I am… Sorry I… I have to leave soon."

"No no Mira… It would be selfish of me to ask you to stay… I can't make you bear more pain. I can't. I won't lie, I don't want you to die, I would've loved to see you get married, have kids to call me 'Tía Isabela', grow up in more ways, I would've adored to visit that shop you've always wanted to open but… I'll respect your decision." She gently wiped away one of Mira's tears.

"Isa… If I stayed… Would anything change truly? Or would it just be… Would it just be temporary?"

"In due time we might start trusting your health to leave you alone from time to time but, al menos de mi parte… I won't abandon you ever again." Isabela didn't want to get her hopes up, so she just let Mirabel faint after that. She was obviously drained so she fixed her a soft moss pillow and helped her lay on the floor as moving her too much wouldn't help at the moment.

Mariano walked in, slowly and making sure to not falter in his step. Mirabel was breathing a lot easier now than before, and as he looked at the floor he saw the reason. Rushing over he picked the flower up, roots and all, a bit of tissue stuck to them but, a healthy looking golden rose with a slight pink hue was held up to Isabela.

"Mariano-"

"I think… I think you just cured her- at least your part."

"It's okay….you didn't know." He sighed and sat down on his chair. Covering his face and sighing deeply.

"Tío Bruno… I- What if Mirabel suddenly starts forgiving everyone?" He whispered, now staring sadly at the rose, it hadn't wilted, it hadn't even started to become gloomy. He wondered why but, it wasn't the issue at hand.

"That's the reason I asked you all to stay away. That's the reason I went away partly." He rubbed his face "this is the reason I asked you all to leave her be. She could spend her last months in peace and maybe choose to live like I did if she found something she wanted to care for." Bruno shook his head.

Camilo blinked a few times. Sighed and tightened his grip on the flower. "... I've been trying to get it, you know?" He whispered. "It's so stupid but I want to pay for her, I want to feel what she feels- I - I'm sorry Tío bruno, for all I did say about you and her-" he wiped his tearstained face.

"Ay sobrino…" Bruno whispered. "It is… I understand. My power isn't nice or helpful, se teme a lo que no se conoce, right? So me and Mirabel were destined to be outcasts. I try to not dwell on it, otherwise I might start to worsen again." He looked at the ceiling. "I lived my life, I would've liked to do more, maybe have little ones of my own but, that didn't happen and I can't ask for it now. I'll die sooner than later so… What good would it do now?" He chuckled.

"Tío… You would've been an amazing dad." Camilo whispered.

"Thanks," he took a deep breath and continued, "What do you want to know?" He smiled softly.

"How … Can you see Mirabel's future?"

"I can, but I won't do it." He was gentle about it, but still firm. "I will respect her wish, I won't intrude on her life in that regard." Bruno had done some wrong with his vision. Sure, his powers came and went. But maybe going around telling people their future hadn't been the best choice, it wasn't set in stone and it could change… Something no one understood back then.

Camilo nodded, obviously sad still but, but he kept his head high. "Okay. Thanks Tío." He smiled tearfully.

It was probably some time later, when the room was finished. They had everything done and the Madrigal's seemed proud. They made a rock path for Casita to be able to work its magic inside the place. Soon the walls were decorated with golden butterflies and some golden thread, the curtains were a soft blue with pink embroidery Pepa definitely didn't take too long to do, the furniture was carved with flowers and some more butterflies, dancing around in a permanent photo.

They had wanted to place pictures of Mirabel inside but… Camilo had been right. There was no photo of her grown up. Instead, Dolores -who was surprisingly good at art- drew some pictures of Mirabel, some of her sewing, others of her dancing, a few of her laughing, and they left a big space in the middle, open.

"Now, we just take a picture when she arrives!" Antonio exclaimed happily.

"Yes, Dolores? Where are they?" Alma asked, looking over.

Dolores seemed shaken up slightly. She was about to speak until her eyes widened and she rushed toward the exit, just to stop there and take a deep breath in, another one out- and… And go back in with some shocked eyes.

"It's the...second time I hear this." She explained, fiddling with her fingers, "Mirabel just coughed a flower with roots… She seems to be- to be breathing easier." She whispered.

"A whole flower?" Julieta looked at Agustín, happiness obvious in her eyes. "She's getting better!"

"Maribel is- my baby sister is going to recover!" Luisa was close to tears.

Though they shed some tears, they had managed to calm down by the time Bruno and Camilo were back, both of them fairly impressed by the room. It even had a mini living room in it in case Mirabel felt too weak to go out into the main part of the house.

"I… I have to admit. It looks pretty." Bruno chuckled.

"Very Mirabel right?" Camilo blinked some overdue tears away. "She's going to live her best life, even if it's short." Before the rest could object he quickly added.

"We won't guilt trip her. She's allowed rest now. If she wants to leave then she will leave, if she chooses to stay then that isn't our choice." Camilo could sense the resistance, but they nodded.

It was getting better.

They knew it.

Chapter Text

By the time Isabela had managed to get Mirabel out of town and into Casita, she felt her heart rate increase, for once she was nervous about something regarding Mirabel's reaction. Her sister had always been so calm and considerate, she always accepted everything with a smile, but lately things had changed and she was no longer that girl.

Or maybe she never was that girl she was masking.

She felt some taps on her shoulder and looked up, Mirabel had lifted her head and was pointing to her nose, blood had started to seep out of it. Quickly changing directions she headed for the kitchen and grabbed a tissue from the table. Setting Mirabel on a stool she gently wiped away the blood, drying her own tears with the other side of the napkin.

As always, her hermanita was never one to see others suffer, so she instead moved to dry her eyes with her thumbs. "Mira no, right now you." She smiled and kept on cleaning her nose, Worried that no matter how much she tried to stop it, it just kept on coming out.

She was panicking a lot, it probably showed on her face. Mirabel grabbed her wrist and smiled sadly, sure she was breathing easier, but she didn't know at what cost, the air almost burned her nose and the lack of those two roses was starting to affect her.

"Mirabel I-"

"You're back!" Luisa called from the door, Mirabel seemed extremely startled by the loud noise as she almost immediately straightened up and blinked repeatedly at Luisa, "I'm sorry I didn't mean to-"

"Luisa!" Isabela scolded, stomping her foot "you're gonna scare another flower out of her!" Mirabel chuckled and just rolled her eyes, she knew of something that would fix her bleeding for a few hours. Noticing there was a half eaten arepa, she quickly munched on that, ignoring the searing pain that swallowing was to her. A few seconds later her nose stopped bleeding, she then grabbed the tissue Isabela had been wiping her nose with and did her best to clean her skin.

"I didn't mean to!" Luisa sighed "can you and Mirabel come out to the backyard?" Backyard? Mirabel tilted her head at the question.

"Luisa I really don't think-"

"Come on Isabela, Mirabel could use some of the fun," Luisa sounded so hopeful… She never heard her speak that softly, it wasn't like she was whispering, no, there was some gentleness in her voice she only heard once before and that was back at her gift ceremony, when Luisa hugged her and wished her good luck-

Immediately it flared up, she started coughing again and Isabela almost as quickly placed her hands over her chest in order to maybe soothe the flowers if even a little bit, surprisingly- Mirabel let her. In a few moments she was able to breathe a lot easier and leaned against Isabella for some temporary comfort, Luisa seemed shocked and at a loss for words.

She had never been the reason for a flare up, instead it was always Mirabel who asked to be left alone because her reactions were usually slower to her than to others. There was a time Camilo would flare it up immediately- she didn't like this.

"Mirabel-"

"Luisa please, just let her calm down. We'll go out. Lo prometo…" Isabela smiled as gently as she could, Luisa nodded slowly and exited the room, looking back a few times.

"Tranquila Mirabel… Tranquila…" Isabela whispered, rubbing along her back with gentle strokes.

A few minutes passed and Mirabel hadn't moved much, she tightened her hold on Isabela's dress but other than that there wasn't much there to indicate she was still responsive. When Isabela finally felt like Maribel was stable enough to be moved, Camilo ran in with a worried expression. "What happened?" He asked softly.

"Luisa sacred her, or so I think…" Isabela whispered back, however… Camilo noticed that she wasn't flaring Mirabel up at all. In fact, Mirabel seemed comfortable with Isabela - almost as comfortable as with him and Tío Bruno, no he wasn't jealous.

He wasn't.

But he definitely was worried.

Because Mirabel had definitely spat another rose out. And if his own rose came with roots and lung tissue, Isabela's must've come with something much more delicate.

"Isabela?" He got closer slowly. "why isn't she coughing?"

"You won't believe what happened!" She whispered excitedly "Mirabel coughed up my rose! She's been okay around me ever since!" Isabella was obviously happy, she was caressing Mirabel's hair with such love and affection that Camilo couldn't bring himself to tell her…

He just took Mirabel's hand and kissed it softly.

They took an hour to go to the backyard. Camilo carried Mirabel because Isabela was rightfully tired. They smiled at everyone and were about to settle the girl down when some of Antonio's animals rushed in. The boy had been practicing placing a flower crown over Mirabel's head with the birds' help. However they missed slightly and it ended up being slightly crooked to the side.

"Oh no! Fix that!" He whispered to a little lovebird, though said bird ended up just resting on her hair. He rolled his eyes and sighed. "Mirabel?" He had that expression he always gave her whenever he wanted to seek her approval, he usually did that whenever he was getting ready for his day and she helped with his clothing - but he had stopped doing that ever since he had his own room.

He had stopped spending time with Mirabel, had stopped doing much more other than ever so often checking up on her.

Mirabel shook her head to herself and forced a smile, she was starting to feel uncomfortable and Camilo seemed to notice. He quickly pat Antonio's hair and gave him a look of 'I'll explain later'. The child seemed conflicted but agreed to leave nonetheless.

Once Mirabel was comfortable enough, she looked up and saw something- something that she didn't know how to feel about.

For one, there was a new… House? Room? What was it? It was definitely too big to be a room but too close to Casita to be a house. She raised an eyebrow and looked around for an explanation. She noticed everyone in her family was there. Even Abuela-

'Calm down Mirabel, it's her house and by that logic she can be wherever she wants…' Still… The flowers started to creep up her throat.

"So… Mirabel we- well-" Luisa tried to start, Julieta, sensing that her older daughter was having a few issues with the explanation stepped up.

"Camilo noticed you don't have a room Mira, the nursery isn't a room for a young lady like yourself so… We built you one" they all seemed so happy but… why?

What were they trying to achieve with this?! Why was everyone being so nice to her?! Would they be like this had she never accidentally revealed she was sick? No, they wouldn't. That's the whole issue, she had no problem with them wanting to be with her, doing these type of stuff -
Had they truly been born out of love and not out of pity.

Flowers crept up faster, quicker, Bruno was closer to the new room, no, to her new room, but she still felt trapped, she shook her head and grabbed her throat. 'no no! Calm down! They do love me! They love me and they're doing this because they want me to be happy!' Part of her brain would tell her. The other would laugh and chuckle. Mocking her.

It felt so close to when she would convince herself she was wanted at family events. She would feel almost forced upon everyone else-

Cooper filled her mouth and she turned, she turned and tries to run but she saw people there and her legs gave out sooner that she cared for trying to compose herself again, something akin to bile rose, out of reflex she heaved and -

Once she reacted she saw three things… One, blood… So much blood that her eyes couldn't quite make the read apart from the soil, two… A mess of roots and some sort of tissue, three… Some rootless flowers.

'They want to free their own guilt! Do you think they care about you? If they cared they would stay away!' Her shaky hand moved to cover her mouth-

"Mirabel!"

'No! They want to show us they love us!'

'They want us gone!'

"Mirabel!" someone was shaking her, looking up she saw Bruno, her eyes immediately softened and she clutched to him like a lifeline, sobbing her heart out.

"Brunito-"

"Just…" He sighed and lifted his sobrina up. One flower had been completely removed apparently and some others were starting to die if the few she vomited were any clue, still, they were too many for her to recover even slightly. "Leave her alone for the next few days… Only Camilo and I-"

"And Isabela," The boy quickly added, Bruno's eyes widened, that was the reason she was so unstable. Isabela was probably the second strongest rose in the group. Beat by his mother's rose only. Camilo's had probably been the third, his was so well formed it couldn't have been lower. Without those roots the blood vessels would definitely falter…

"... Just Camilo, Isabela and me can see her. Please," he gave them some pleading eyes, "please listen to me this time."

With that, he carried her inside her new room. She would have time to check and see everything. Later. Right now she had to recover.

Once they were gone Antonio looked at the camera-

"So… We won't take a picture with Mirabel?" He asked softly.

And for once- the adults had no idea of how to answer.

Chapter Text

Mirabel was still too sick to get as engaged as she wanted with her family. For a few days she just sat inside the new room, at first only Bruno went in, then Camilo, Isabela felt guilty doing so but, she did whenever her sister wanted her to be there for her.

Still, it was difficult seeing Mirabel like that, she had gotten to a point where she didn't care about her appearance anymore. Sometimes she wouldn't even put on her glasses to greet them, Camilo had read countless book pages for her and she still hadn't reacted the first few days. She got better slowly, however, the three that were allowed for see her noticed another thing.

She wasn't just spitting flowers out. It was starting to come out along with blood, blood mucus and some lung tissue. Camilo tried his best to comfort Mira be whenever that was happening and Bruno would let her cry as loud as she wanted, Isabela was the one with most issues- she usually had absolutely no idea what to do most of the time and whenever she did have a reaction… She would get overwhelmed easily.

However, the three got better at dealing with Mirabel's Hanahaki, and eventually, they fell into a routine that most were comfortable with. Bruno would visit her all the morning, he would stay with her, tell her of plays he had imagined, he was recently reading Cien años de soledad (One Hundred Years of Solitude) to her and it seemed to Soothe Mirabel more than he had thought it would. Isabela would come during the afternoon, she would spend time with her by helping her clean up, combing her hair and if Mirabel felt like it, she would sit with her in the yard when they had the house to themselves and grow some flowers for her, ironically, it was Mirabel who asked her to do that. Lastly, Camilo, he would stay the nights with her and help with keeping her calm during her sleep. The reason Camilo was the one in charge of the night shift was due to their history together, at the nursery they would stay up past their curfew and joke around…

Camilo sometimes wished to go back in time.

At the current moment in time, there had been an accident down the Encanto, a river had collapsed and most of the Madrigals were needed to help with the problem. Everyone except Antonio and Pepa…

Pepa had been deemed too nervous to even consider being around the flooding and Antonio was still a child, so they stayed behind, and as requested, were staying inside Casita while Mirabel was in her own little plane of existence. The teen was sitting in the backyard with her legs in front of her, she kept taking deep, measured breaths to regulate her own heart rate.

… Pepa had never been a safe space. The fact that she blamed her for every little injury Antonio ever sustained wasn't easy to forget, as it wasn't easy the times she had been blamed for one of her mood changes or the times she had been forced to be at the receiving end of one of her temper tantrums.

She didn't want to be here and it was tiring. Sometimes she felt like she should've been doing more. Like she should've been fighting for her life, sometimes she just wanted to perish and stay six feet underground, sometimes she simply existed and didn't remember caring for much else the involuntary breathing.

Mirabel was in the last one. She sat with her legs spread in front of her forming a 'v' shape, her arms in the middle while she was taking some shallow breaths, eyes half lidded as she stared at nothing and everything in particular. It felt like she was staring at herself from a corner. In these moments she was sure a horse could've run her over and she wouldn't have cared. Because she wasn't really inside her body at this point.

Or…

That's how it felt.

Before she knew it, two small, delicate hands were caressing her cheeks, wiping away the tears that kept on falling down her cheeks with the same anger she once felt towards her family.

Blinking to focus her vision. Mirabel saw Antonio with a small smile, slowly wiping away the tears that continued falling. "Mira? ¿Por qué estás triste?" Antonio had a basic grasp about this, his prima was dying and it had to do with her feeling sad, he just had to make her happy!

However, ever since the roses had come out, her throat was so stupidly sore that she couldn't even hum in agreement or disagreement anymore. She just looked at her cousin and leaned her head on his hands further. There was so much she wanted to tell him, so much she wanted to explain. How none of this was his fault, not even half of this was his fault. Mirabel shook her head slightly, her throat tightened.

Antonio had done nothing wrong, he was just a kid who was rightfully excited for his gift! It wasn't his fault she was useless. It wasn't his fault she didn't get a gift.

Again, Antonio wiped her face and pulled her slightly down, so he could examine her better. His hands trailed down her cheeks, from her eyes to her chin to her lips, he traced those slightly, he then moved to her hair, where he brushed his hand over her curls and ever so slowly reached her throat. "If you want Mira, I can kiss it! Kisses always make me feel better!"

He was just so innocent…

She couldn't stay mad at this kid. He wasn't at fault, he still cared, he just had something new to explore. So, she was about to nod when the coughing fit started again, Antonio was startled and started to call for him mom.

Pepa rushed in a few seconds later, and her presence either made it worse or better, the pain was the same by this point.

Mirabel eventually calmed down, Antonio was gone apparently and Pepa was holding her arms still and had kept her bowed slightly. Confused at first, she opened her eyes and saw the reason.

As always, a Rose stared back at her. This wasn't even a rose, it was a bud with some very tiny roots, it was bloody but had no tissue attached to it, she shook as she picked it up, why was she coughing up all these things?! First Camilo's rose, then Isabela's … Now this one?

Pepa quickly took the bud from her and pulled her into a tight yet gentle hug, un bothered by the obvious blood seeping into her clothing. It felt warm… Really warm. Mirabel looked up at Pepa and she simply kissed her forehead.

For years she thought Pepa hated her. Not exactly hate, more than less, she felt Pepa was annoyed with her, she felt like she wanted nothing to do with Julieta's giftless child. However… She had noticed that Pepa was not one for words. With how she handled Bruno's disappearance she gathered that she dealt better with anger than with other emotions, like grief.

However, she had noticed that she was making her absolute best effort to keep herself calm, the day was still sunny and it had been for a few days now, like Pepa wanted to make the best weather for her.

"Mirabel I-" The redhead started, "I know I'm not exactly the best… I- I failed to do this many times, I've been trying to tell you this since I found out you were dying…" She caressed her hair, rubbing her scalp in an attempt to soothe her. "Mirabel… I- te amo mucho Mirabel… I'm sorry I didn't notice something was wrong before, I'm sorry I didn't know you felt this way. I always feel so pressured to keep myself in check for the Encanto but… You my sweet girl were so pushed aside you caught almost all my temper tantrums." Tears started to fall on her shoulder blades. Mirabel let them.

Mirabel gasped slightly, she felt exactly the same as when she was back at Mariano's house. Pepa continued, "I was not sure how to comfort you and it was just… Too easy to fall for your happy-go-lucky attitude. I'm sorry mi amor…" Pepa finished off with a kiss to her sobrina's forehead.

That triggered it…

Another coughing fit. Way worse than the one before, Pepa seemed at a loss for a few beats until she reacted, opening her mouth gently while searching for something with her eyes. Once she saw it she immediately started to pat her back and whisper soothing words, just as before… When she came back to her senses, her throat was burning and her eyes were stinging. Pepa was holding her up and she thought she managed to catch a glimpse of Antonio looking from inside Casita.

But she didn't feel much… Just a warmth Mirabel knew she missed but forgot the feeling of. She fell unconscious.

Pepa on her side, was staring at the rose on the floor, an orange rose staring at her. It wasn't really orange, it was yellow but she could see orange there… It was in fact. Almost identical to the one she saw in Camilo's bookshelf. She didn't want to know why at the moment, so she just clung to Mirabel, opening her arms slightly to make room for Antonio when he approached.

She hoped these roses meant something good.

For her sobrina's sake.

That night, Bruno and Camilo were restless, Bruno had had a vision he was absolutely refusing to show anyone. So far, only Camilo saw it because he was the only other person who knew the truth.

"Tío… We're running out of time. Mirabel is healing but it's killing her!" Camilo half whispered half yelled at him, running a hand through his hair. "... Mirabel threw up two other roses today…"

"I know. We have you, Isabela, Pepa and Toñito," Bruno blinked a few times "we are missing… Julieta, Luisa, Dolores, Agustín and Felix, and mi mamá" he sat down, placing the roses in order.

"Isabela was so far the worst," he pointed to the rose, bigger roots, holding an almost red tinge, "It's almost red if you look at it, then was Pepa's… orange in nature, yours was next, it's a very bright yellow. Lastly Antonio's wasn't even a rose yet but had started to develop roots." He then stared for a few more seconds.

"¿Sabes? Abuela's rose is obviously going to be the worst, so we probably shouldn't let them be close at all, then Dolores'? I'm almost completely sure she's going to be closer to my color, followed by maybe Tía Julieta and Tío Agustín's roses. Luisa was maybe closer to me or closer to them, hard to tell," Camilo looked at his Tío for approval.

"Yes… But you know the sad thing here Camilo?" Bruno chuckled slightly. "We can't save her either way…."

"What do you mean?"

"If we keep her away, she dies in three months, if we let her around everyone, she still dies in that amount of time or less… " Bruno shook his head.

"But, killing someone is hard, breaking someone is hard- if we keep her away she'll live longer." He grabbed his arm.

"You think killing is hard?" Bruno blinked a few times, "Camilo, try healing Mirabel, try healing me, the only reason I'm still standing is because I refused to dwell on my hanahaki, I won't heal because I know that if I try I'll break again, killing something or someone is easy, puedes hacerlo en dos segundos-" to prove his point Bruno snapped his fingers "-but healing something? No, that requires patience, that's effort, trial and error. The whole reason the cure for Hanahaki is harder and more dangerous it's because you have to face your pain headon, have to accept people can change and you have to understand that you might've also failed to communicate. Mirabel could've blown the whistle at any time- I could've told anyone sooner! But we didn't because that would open the door to the path of forgiveness. I don't want that- it'll hurt."

'But Mirabel-"

"Mirabel is already ready to die. I wasn't because of her."

"If she dies Tío- you?"

"I'll follow her." He chuckled, "my hanahaki was already at the end of the terminal phase, she can stop it if she wants and I can start it again if I want…"

"Tío-"

"Who knows Camilo, maybe you'll one day have a little me and a little Mirabel running around. Maybe we get reborn into your children. Cuidanos… ¿Okay Camilo?"

"How… How do I know it's you-"

"Casita might give me the same gift, or a similar one. Mirabel… You'll know." He chuckled and shook his head "I'm joking you know? There's no such thing as renacer."

Camilo laughed as well. If there was such a thing. He would give them the best life possible.

But that wouldn't happen.

Chapter Text

Mirabel felt both good and bad. She was breathing easier but this felt… She felt her time was running out. And for once she did not want to feel like she had missed out on life. She wanted to be out there with her family but she was feeling so weak lately that just the idea of standing up was draining.

Now Pepa and Antonio visited too, they often came with some fun stories -stories narrated by Papa were the absolute best since she had very funny expressions- and Antonio would bring some bird over, he knew she loved birds, wings always fascinated her for whatever reason. However…

Mirabel looked at life now through different eyes. She felt worse, sure, she did not mind the idea of dying, sure, however she did not want to keep these emotions when she did… She wanted to breathe easier than she had been, so as she laid down on her bed, pretending to be asleep as Isabela brushed her hair, she thought of a way to fix her relationships.

"I-Isa?"

"Mira!" She quickly answered by taking her hand in hers "what do you need sissy?" Isabela had been very helpful ever since she started to fix their relationship, she often helped Mirabel bathe and clean up… Talked with her about some things she has gathered in town and would sometimes dye her hair some fun colors with her plant powders. It was lovely really.

Mirabel looked at Isabela and smiled through some blood that seeped out of her lips. She quickly rushed to wipe it off. "I-I want a p-picnic." She rasped out, "with my f-family."

"A picnic? With us?" Isabela blinked a few times, all the family or-" Mirabel shook her head "okay…. Just us? Mamá, Papá, Luisa and I?" Mirabel nodded, "okay hermanita, I'll arrange it."

Camilo on his side had been trying his best to get a glimpse at Bruno's vision tablet, he had hidden that stupid thing better than he hid himself apparently. Rolling his eyes he kept on searching throughout the whole place, he even asked Antonio to ask the rats to help him-

To no avail the rats were loyal to Bruno.

Still, Camilo wouldn't give up, that tablet had something that had out Bruno at ease so quick it was stupid to try and believe it. However, before he could even try to climb up that tower… He noticed something else.

He had passed through Mirabel's room, it was brief but he had stolen a glance to make sure she was fine and you know- still alive, when he walked through there, Mirabel had put on one of her most beautiful dresses. He'd seen her embroidering that one before all went down- it was an aquamarine blue dress, it was off shoulders and had many beautiful golden details- more specifically, birds.

Beautiful guacamayas flew through the dress. So many beautiful designs he was sure she had poured her heart and soul into this specific dress, not to mention there was a wing pattern embroidered on the back- absolutely breathtaking. "Mirabel- this is so beautiful!" Camilo whispered, looking at the dress while his startled Prima looked back at him with wide eyes, he approached her and grabbed her hands, "señorita, ¿me concede este baile?" Mirabel, visibly flustered, nodded eagerly and took his hand.

Camilo knew she probably would be able to handle their dances, or how she used to dance around with the kids of the town, instead, he chose one of those sappy dances he saw his mamá and papá doing whenever there was an event.

Slow sways with Mirabel's head on his shoulder, he rubbed the nape of her neck with some tears running down his cheeks. She was leaving soon… There was nothing he could do about that. He was dying and there was nothing he or anyone else could do regarding that, because his cousin's death sentence was signed by them. Mirabel's breathing was much more shallow than his, it hurt, it hurt so much.

Mirabel was as special as everyone else in the family. Even more because she managed to shine without a gift. He stopped swaying, choosing to just hold her. "Mira…"

She hugged him tighter, she was listening.

"Mirabel, Mira, my favorite cousin," they both chuckled at that, "Mira I- I don't want you to leave…" He sobbed, hugging her much much closer, rubbing his cheek against her hair, breathing in her coconut hair oil. "I am so, so sorry we weren't able to fix this, I love you so much Mirabel and I'm sorry I forgot to show it, I'm sorry I forgot to tell you- I'm sorry I couldn't… I couldn't save you Mirabel."

She didn't say much, in fact she stayed silent, but the fact she stayed was enough, Camilo sobbed a little harder, kissing her cheek multiple times as he did so. "Mirabel… I'm so sorry."

She didn't answer but… He felt her smile and it was enough.

He would convince himself it was enough.

When Isabela told Julieta what Mirabel had told her, she was immediately cooking up a storm, immediately preparing almost every plate that Mirabel liked. Specifically the empanadas that her baby loved. Luisa was more than ecstatic as she loaded the wagon with supplies and blankets, everything nice Mirabel loved.

Agustín had something else in mind, he was always close with Mira, something about being the 'no gift squad'. He always disagreed, he was a giftless because he married into the family, Mirabel had a beautiful gift, her attitude, her big heart, her love for her family, Casita seemed awfully in tune with her, the Encanto itself seemed awfully in tune with his daughter.

Why they hadn't seen this before was beyond him. But his daughter was not at fault… It was their own blindness. He should've been the first to defend his daughter whenever Abuela was getting difficult. Julieta had her tasks, Isabela had an image to uphold, Luisa had her own duties but what was his excuse?

Following Julieta around like a puppy wasn't an excuse for neglecting Mirabel's feelings. Eventually Camilo walked down with Mirabel. She looked gorgeous in her dress.

"¡Mi hermanita!" Luisa called as she rushed to lift Mirabel up, holding her gently as they hugged, afraid of spiking the Hanahaki up but… They seemed fine so far. "You look absolutely beautiful!" Mirabel was blushing awfully bright, they all laughed at that, for once, it felt back to the times a little Mirabel would appear and they all would join to give her some company.

Mirabel smiled and nodded.

Everything was fine. What little time they had together they were going to use it.

The way up the hill where Mirabel wanted to have the picnic was calm, she kept taking deep breaths and smiling as she looked around, though her hands were clutching the bed sheets quite harshly at the moment, something was bothering Mirabel and she had no idea why…

Once settled up the hill, they all started to eat happily, Isabela telling them of this 'really cute girl she saw at town with the most beautiful hair she just had to cut', Luisa kept making jokes regarding the intentions of his sister, unsure if they had a crush or wanted to kidnap her. Mirabel rolled her eyes at the comment and twirled the juice in her hands a few times.

She felt really peaceful.

However, that peace soon ran out as the exact same feeling of crawling crept up her throat. Thorns digging on her skin while she tried to keep calm, everything was okay, everything was fine… She wasn't dying yet, not until she had gotten through every family member. Luisa noticed the change and hugged her gently…

Julieta and Agustín followed, Isabela had been the last to join. All this warmth had her eyes burning, her throat as well.

Apologizing to family was always hard, it always hurt more, that had to do with how with Family. Ironically, things were always awkward in that sense because they were so close, you shouldn't fight with people you love so much, so apologizing felt weird, and family silence always spoke volumes. At that moment Mirabel could hear all the apologies even when none were being spoken…

'I'm sorry I was so busy to notice you were dying right in front of me. I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough to lift you up in time… I'm sorry I failed you hermanita…'

'I'm sorry I was fooled by your happy mask, I thought you understood how special you are, I should've done more for you, should've fought harder to show you mi vida, how much you mean to me is much more than you can imagine.'

'I'm sorry I failed to notice you Weren't happy here, I am not the same as you, mi vida you're so special I just wished you could've seen what I saw…'

She already knew Isabela's thoughts by heart… And Isabela read her well enough to notice when she started heaving.

Once more, when she woke up, she had some papaya juice down her throat that had stopped the wounds from growing and had healed them, Mirabel saw three roses… Three yellow roses so similar to the one she spat out for Tía Pepa… They were a pale yellow, the roots were also smaller with some blood but… She felt a lot less choked. She started crying…

Crying softly because…

She had forgiven them. Her family…

However this one in particular left her so weak, how did she know?

She hadn't been able to open her hands since she got off that cart.

"Tío Bruno?" Dolores whispered, stepping into the room she heard him in. She found the man crying, sobbing over a green tablet. However he didn't throw her out, so she started next to him and took his hand in hers. "What are you-"

The tablet was shoved into her hands. She stared at it… Crying as hard as he was almost immediately. It was another shifting tablet. One of the sides showed him and Mirabel with wings sprouting from their backs, a rose silhouette in each their middle. They both had their eyes closed…. They seemed too peaceful and were also wearing white clothes, funeral clothing… the other side however-

Dolores covered her mouth and hugged her Tío… For all the years she fed him… She loved him.

"Tío…"

"I'll see you all Dolores… I always will."

She knew…

She knew he would!

Why-

Why did it hurt so much?

Chapter Text

Her time was running out… She knew it. Deep deep down she knew it. The breath shortness, the shallow and weak exhales, the way her lungs would forget to work at times. Oh…

It hurt.

Currently, she was laying on the bed of her new room, noticing there was an empty space on the wall where the painting was supposed to be. She squinted as she tried to make her eyes focus- she had never paid enough attention to that wall, she saw the drawings, she loved them a lot, Mirabel had spent hours gazing at them however, she never really processed the meaning.

There was one where she was looking to the side, she could see her features were of when she was younger, when she was smaller, a bit more naive… Back when she thought she could hide this from everyone. Dolores could listen to everything, but she also remembered even the smallest details. During that year she had been clutching her abdomen… She had done so due to the pain that the roses were causing. They had started to dig into tissue.

The next one was her dancing with the children, she had a happy expression as she moved her skirt from side to side, for a brief moment she swore she saw the painting move… Like the Mirabel that was there was dancing now as well….

So on and so forth, many drawings that summarized her life… Her happy moments.

She moved to bury her face deeper on the person's chest. Did she forget to mention she was in someone's embrace?

Bruno had moved in with her. She recognized his gaze… He felt it too. Their time was up. They weren't living past this week. Mirabel was too weak to move now and Bruno had restarted his Hanahaki to accompany her on the last part of the journey. His breathing was also very weak. It was so very weak it was impossible to differentiate it from her own.

Sleeping, that was their life for this day. It felt like a waste honestly, having just a few days left and they're spending it asleep. But they knew the reason. They hated the idea of being awake, of facing their death head on. Being ready is one thing… Being ready to accept it is one thing, but staring face to face in la muerte's eyes, that's something not even Mirabel felt ready to do.

So they closed their eyes for the moment. Let their mind take them to the land of dreams where they were okay, where Mirabel got a gift and she never felt ostracized, where Bruno's gift was better received, where the town never feared him… Where Mirabel and Camilo never drifted apart, where Mirabel and Isabela never hated each other, where Bruno never ruined Pepa's wedding, where he never left home because of his insecurities-

A place where they felt loved-

Back when they were children and the world hadn't tainted them.

Darkness…

"¡No no! ¡Aún no!" Someone was yelling, people were yelling, she felt herself being separated from Bruno's embrace. Mirabel herself was held up and had something inserted up her nose, Immediately she breathed better.

Fluttering her eyes open she managed to catch a glimpse of Camilo and another girl, she knew who she was- she couldn't place the name though. "Mirabel!" Who was screaming?

"¡Brunito!" That was Abuela, from the sounds of it she was holding her son close, she could hear him comforting her about how it didn't hurt anymore…

"Li-lies…" She chuckled, opening her eyes, finally noticing who was holding her. Dolores was listening to her heart, tears rolling down her face. "It hurts so much…" She managed to rasp out.

"I know Mira… I know." Was that Camilo? It sounded like him, "it'll be over soon, you'll be free… Doesn't it sound nice?" He kissed her forehead, and Dolores pushed her hair back. Dolores…

She had always envied her, she knew everything, if she had her power she would know if people hated her, what the town's folks really said about her. But it was never an option. She wasn't worthy of a miracle, wasn't worth the candle's time- gosh! She hated feeling like this! Sometimes she felt like she wanted to perish and other times she just wanted to fight- back at the picnic she knew she was fighting- but those three flowers left her so weak she wasn't able to recover in time. By the time she spat out the rest she would be too weak to heave properly.

Casita's tiles were shaking, the wood creaked. Casita was sad- her time was really up huh?

First she lost the strength to close her hands, then she lost the ability to move her arms… lost the ability to stand… It all happened so fast she never got to Dolores and Félix! Looking at Dolores, seeing her cry like this, seeing her tolerate the noise around the room- oh Mirabel knew… She had changed.

"Mirabel," Tío Félix called, chuckling in a way that always made her laugh as a child, "you know, someone said something about how death jokes are bad because they're made by people who are still alive, maybe you can come up with a good one in the next life?"

One could've heard a pin drop at that moment- she could've sworn her Tía cooked up a storm that instant but- that was funny. She started chuckling in whatever way she could. She liked him because he never danced around the issue- because he never made her feel bad or worse. He did enable Tía Pepa but he was usually the best at deescalating her!

At her chuckles the room's tension calmed down. Even Bruno laughed a bit.

Those chuckles soon turned into heaves, weak ones that were unable to throw the flowers out. Camilo jumped in front of her and helped. She doesn't remember much more, always forgetting these parts.

Julieta finally rushed in, quickly scooping Mirabel into a hug while Isabela placed white flowers on her hair and while Luisa cried silently outside… Most of the adults were with Bruno, Tío Félix was holding him up while Agustín spoke in hushes to both… Her mamá kissed her repeatedly, Camilo was hugging her from behind. Smelling her for whatever reason- she smelled weird…

Some people say death has a scent, some people say death has a particular scent, a smell that isn't bad per say… But you know when you notice it, someone's time has run out. The waiting game began… And for once, they all knew it but no one wanted to say anything. The room reeked of death.

When she woke up next, she was in the garden, someone was holding her against them, from the person's build she guessed it was Abuela…

"You know Mira…" The woman started, grabbing her hand gently, "I dreamt something the night you were born. I saw mi Pedro holding a baby girl, a beautiful girl with curls and glasses, a white dress and freckles… I've never dreamt that with anyone else." She sighed deeply "for years I've asked him for help… I need help. I asked for an angel, help he could take away when the mission was done."

Tears were falling down her face "I couldn't have realized how much damage I was doing if it weren't for you and Brunito…" She took a deep breath "I'm sorry Mirabel… I'm sorry I failed to tell you how much I love you… From the bottom of my heart I am so sorry…"

She never blamed Abuela, the woman saw her other half die, raised three kids and had a town to take care of while doing so. The town was superstitious enough as it was, things were already balanced enough and… She did care for them.

It wasn't an excuse by any means but she was understanding where Abuela came from. Why the aversion- the Encanto she worked so hard to build was in danger- her life's work. And she never mistreated her… She ignored her and thought she was okay being alone.

Lack of communication.

"I forgot the reason I did all this was my family. Mija I'm so sorry…" The woman kissed her forehead-

And again- she doesn't remember much other than people scrambling to open her mouth and get the flower out. Once she was able to focus her vision enough- she saw it. A huge, beautiful red rose with roots- the biggest of the bunch… Mirabel blinked and touched her throat- crimson stared back…

This wasn't Abuela's fault,
This wasn't Isabela's fault,
This wasn't Camilo's fault,
This wasn't Dolore's fault,
This wasn't Pepa's fault,
This wasn't Félix's fault ,
This wasn't Luisa's fault,
This wasn't her mamá's fault,
This wasn't her papá's fault-

And this wasn't her own fault.

Feelings were a weird thing, but no one knew this would happen. Everyone was busy… No one was slacking off. Bruno and her were just caught up in some ruse they were unable to support. Everyone has their limits…

Sleep took her over…

The sun was setting, that much she could tell.

Bruno held her, both staring at the horizon. She had blood droplets on her chin and he had them too, he could still speak though. "Mira… It's time…" He kissed her forehead. Smiling sadly.

She smiled, tired, drained, her breathing shallow but clean. "I-I…" She took a gulp, copper assaulted her taste buds, "I don't want to go…" She sobbed.

"Neither do I…" He sighed, looking back at their family who were all helping with holding them up. "Want to-"

"Mirabel, Bruno…" Abuela whispered, taking their hands "please go… It is cruel to ask you to stay any longer." She rubbed their hands gently, Mirabel coughed up.

"But you guys-"

"We're fine Mira…" Camilo smiled from the side. "You'll rest… We'll sleep easy knowing you two are okay…"

"Toñito-"

"M-mom said you'll always be here- Mirabel… T-Tío Bruno please come back some day! Please visit!" Antonio said from his Puma's hold, the animal held him still with her paws. "Let me go! Mirabel! Tío Bruno!"

"Enough Toñito-" Pepa whispered, lifting him up. The child started to cry, finally understanding the weight of the situation "they'll be away for a long time mi amor…"

"Mami-" both rasped out, the two women nodded as did the rest of the family. The two of them sighed…

You could tell…

You could see the moment they went slack. The moment Mirabel's head rolled onto Bruno's shoulder and the moment his head rolled on top of her… When their hands fell from the hands holding them …

And the whole of Encanto heard the scream that followed. Antonio's cries resonated for a few days…

A rainy weather followed.

But they were free.

Chapter Text

Ten years later

"Paloma?"

"Let her sleep a bit more Camilo. Today is her big day!" His wife said besides him, helping him out of the nursery. 'Help me find Oscar, he's hiding somewhere." She chuckled, and he rolled his eyes. He had a very good idea of where his son was actually-

He headed over, passing over the rose hall where each and every rose Mirabel had spat was laid out, never faltering, never decaying… He stood there staring sadly, to then pat the pillar softly and continue his search. After Mirabel and Bruno's death things had changed a lot… So many new things they were allowed to do. Abuela even gave them days off! They had family retreat days and even parties for the children that did not involve their ceremony.

When Camilo met Fernanda, he had to say he thought she was Mirabel, she was bubbly and happy all the time he took comfort in her presence… He started to spend time with her as he pretended his cousin wasn't dying, he never got the chance to introduce them. He got married at 19 and now, three years later it was his beautiful children's ceremony. The twins he had fathered-

Oscar and Paloma.

They were both really calm, he actually named his daughter Paloma because she hadn't even cried when she was born. She merely rubbed her eyes in complaint but stayed silent throughout the whole cleaning and wrapping up process, Oscar had been squeamish, like he was scared… They later found out why.

Paloma was mute, she wouldn't speak, wouldn't do any attempts of talking but she was an incredibly expressive child, Dolores enjoyed her company specifically because of how easy it was to understand what she meant even when she couldn't speak. Oscar wasn't mute however he was deaf, they noticed this when Antonio's puma roared next to them once, Paloma got so spooked that she ran to her Tía Isabela's arms while Oscar was just sat there… Unresponsive.

Still, he and his wife made absolutely every little thing in their hands to make their children happy. Paloma and Oscar were both cuddle bugs so they had no heart to separate them, meaning that Paloma was probably not asleep, instead with Oscar in Mirabel's old room.

Coming here was always painful, he remembered her last week way too well for it to not be so… Bruno and Mirabel visibly decayed, after she forgave Dolores and Félix they both waited… Once Alma had spoken with them- they were gone. He wondered where they were at- thought he had a pretty good idea as to where.

"Paloma? Is Oscar here?" The little girl jumped slightly but nodded, signaling with her head to where the boy was, they both were caught red handed, Paloma had futilely put on Mirabel's Guacamayas dress while Oscar had Bruno's Poncho as a blanket. Camilo chuckled and took both things in his hands, sitting down in the middle while the twins sat in front of him. Both Paloma and Oscar looked at him for the story.

Camilo had learned sign language in a rush, it was amazing how quickly he got in contact with someone to teach him and the kids how to communicate, it felt unfair to have them write out everything when he could facilitate it for them. So in that spirit, most of the Madrigals learned, except Luisa, her hands were too big for them to properly form the signs so instead, Bianca, Isabela's wife, was always there for translation.

Eventually, years had passed and the twin's ceremony was over their heads. Pepa was causing some rain at the moment with her nervousness while Antonio was running with everyone for the decorations and what not. Even Abuela seemed genuinely happy about this, no expectations there, just happiness.

As he told the story, the kids stared at his hands with obvious interest and child amazement. He told them of their Auntie and of their granduncle, how they both died due to family love they felt they weren't worthy of… By the end he had shed a few tears, by the end Oscar climbed onto his lap and gave him a strong, tight hug. Paloma however…

She was staring at the floor.

"Paloma?" He called, she could hear him. She lifted her head and played with her hands. "Mi amor, what's wrong?" He caressed her soft, brunette curly hair.

'What if I don't get a gift Papá… Will that happen to me?" Her hands were so hesitant he almost cried… Still, he immediately scooped her into a hug and shook his head kissing her cheeks.

"No mi amor, no matter what happens Mirabel… No matter what today's turnout is, I'll always, always love you miss vida." He kissed her nose, "you too Bruno, I'll always love you."

'¿Mirabel?' Paloma signed,

'¿Bruno?' Oscar also signed, Camilo blushed slightly and quickly started ushering them to the door, they were already running late on their preparations.

"Come now Come!" Isabela and Bianca rushed over, their own adoptive son behind with the clean towels and the folded clothing. "Let's go vet ready for a big day!"

Paloma was visibly tense, Isabela smiled gently, she was so similar to Mirabel- no, similar was an understatement- she was exactly the same as Mira, same chubby face, same huge eyes, Maybe a bit of an unruly hair but she had just gotten up, Oscar himself was the same height, with curls that were pretty close to his scalp, while he was sure they would eventually poof out, he was funny looking at the moment. Isabela took Paloma while Bianca took Oscar.

Tonight didn't have to be perfect-

But he sure as hell hoped it was.

On another side of the house, Dolores and Mariano were preparing the tables for the food, Dolores was busy pretending a baby wasn't chewing her hair while Mariano also pretended he did not have two older children running behind him.

Gustavo and Samuel were making some lively music they planned to help with later on during the night, their music was able to cheer people up, that wasn't their gift however, no, Gustavo could speak with the dead and Samuel had something Dolores calles 'vista de halcón', he could see things from kilometers away. It was around two o'clock in the afternoon when the children excited the rooms, Paloma had a beautiful white dress on, however she also had a white open ruana over it, one that had birds flying all over it with silvery embroidery, Camilo had spent months learning how to do that when he knew he had a daughter just so he could embroider something for her, it was meant to mimic Mirabel's Guacamayas dress. Oscar had the typical white pants and white button up shirt with a white, embroidered poncho as well, said poncho had some silver guacamayas. Those birds were shy but very social-

He thought they fit his children well.

"Look at you guys!" Dolores covered her mouth and lifted them both up "¡Tan lindos!"

"Cariño, they look amazing." Mariano agreed as he saw the children scrunch their noses at the kisses.

"Mamá Mamá," Gustavo chuckled, "you're gonna overwhelm the poor chiquitos." Samuel nodded through some laughs and giggles.

"You think mom is bad? Just wait until they see Auntie Luisa, Uncle Francisco and Mercedes," speaking of which, Luisa and her family were arriving. For one, Luisa had married a very nice guy from town, he was called Francisco and he was actually pretty tiny- compared to her that was, he was thin as a but loved her to the moon and back. They had one daughter who could also shape shift-

However she could only turn into a horse and was currently helping load things inside the house, they suspected she would be playing with the children later on.

As if on cue, Mercedes ran up the stairs, hugging both her primos immediately as soon as she saw them. "¡Ay pero que bellos!" The twins started to fuss right there, too much attention for their taste.

"Mercedes, be nice to your primitos!" Luisa called as she unloaded things from the cart and placed them on the floor, "¡Ay mamá! I'm not hurting them!" Mercedes groaned and placed them on the floor to then approach her musical primos.

Meanwhile the twins wandered off again, this family was nuts-

By the time the ceremony was due to start, the twins were ready and in their places. Camilo was up the stairs with his wife and with his mamá and papá, Antonio was down with some animals to entertain the kids. Paloma was unmovable, no matter how much Casita or Oscar tried to pull her… Nothing was working. Camilo couldn't go down and neither could Fernanda…

Antonio smiles gently and headed over, kneeling next to her while handing one old plush of his, a handmade Puma plush of his.

Her eyes said everything, he ruffled her hair and chuckled "someone very special made this for me Paloma. It gave me courage back then and it will give you courage now." He chuckled, "para los nervios."

Nodding, she gasped Oscar's hand once more, taking a deep, long breath before nodding and starting to walk with them over to the stairs. The door tingled with a golden light as they approached… "Paloma, Oscar, do you promise to use your gift for the community and for everyone's safety?" The children nodded "do you promise to also love each other whatever the result of today might be?" They both nodded, chuckling, Camilo resisted the urge to hug them both.

As they raised their hands to grasp the door he held his breath-

"Who knows Camilo, maybe you'll one day have a little me and a little Mirabel running around. Maybe we get reborn into your children. Cuidanos… ¿Okay Camilo?"

The doors disappeared-

The townspeople began to whisper, but Abuela wasn't letting this happen again- "enough! This doesn't mean they're any less a Madrigal, they are part of our community whether they have a gift or not!"

"How… How do I know it's you-"

Isabela grabbed Bianca's hand and was about to rush over to gather them in her arms as both were starting to tear up a bit- a sudden glow erupted from Casita, two really, a golden one coming from Bruno's tower and another one from Mirabel's room.

Suddenly, just like with Antonio and him and every other Madrigal child that ever set foot in front of that door. Both of them seemed startled by something. Good thing Paloma's dress was not covering her whole back and Oscar's poncho was lose enough to allow the twin pair of beautiful guacamaya wings that sprouted from their back to expand…

But that wasn't the only thing.

Oscar's eyes were glowing green -
Paloma's eyes were glowing gold…

"Casita might give me the same gift, or a similar one. Mirabel… You'll know." He chuckled and shook his head "I'm joking you know? There's no such thing as renacer."

He did know! 

He knew...

Dolores choked out a sob and rushed up to gather the twins in her arms, just as Camilo lifted Paloma- no, just as he lifted Mirabel in his arms Dolores lifted Bruno in his. They both laughed as the children looked utterly surprised. Making futile attempts to flap their wings. Obviously being sloppy now but he was sure they'll be great flyers later on.

"Is that…"

Dolores simply nodded and most of the older members of the family wept, the younger ones never met them, they didn't feel the pain the grown family felt. Antonio specifically reached for Mirabel and cradled her so close to him… Like he thought she would break if he tried to move her too fast.

"Guys -" Mercedes Called as she looked towards the garden-

"-look!" Gustavo and Samuel were looking upwards, Bruno's door now had a child in the middle, a winged kid with glowing eyes as he covered his ears, Mkrabel's door had a little girl covering her mouth in a fit of giggles, one glowing eye open the other closed as her wings covered most of the rose carved door.

Antonio chuckled slightly and set Mirabel down while Dolores set Bruno down. The whole family gathered in front of the camera to finally take that picture that had been missing for over ten years.

By the end of the night, when Oscar? Bruno? and Mirabel? Paloma? were tucked into the nursery while they used his poncho as a blanket (they said they wanted to give it a proper goodbye) both warm and happy, Camilo went inside Mirabel's room, noticing how the door said Paloma… Was this really Mirabel… Was that really Bruno? He looked at the picture hung in the middle of the drawings...

"Hey brother…" Dolores whispered as she came in, holding a green tablet in her hands.

"Hey- what is that?"

"Oh, something Bruno asked me to show you on the day of your twin's ceremony." She handed it over.

It was that vision Bruno had… His last vision. The one side with both of them in funeral clothing… And the other side with two kids in the same position, beautiful wings from their backs as they held hands, the girl had glasses and was biting a rose and the boy had one over the ear, covered by his poncho.

The other side was golden in color, meaning the flower…

They looked like Rosas Doradas.