Encanto One-Shot AU Collection

(Housebroken AU): That's All We Wanted to Hear

Mirabel saw her abuela sitting by the river. She could hear faint whispering, though unlike Dolores, or even Isabela, she just didn't have the hearing to quite pick up what she was saying. She walked closer, not wanting to scare Alma. The older woman didn't seem to notice her, not really. Mirabel's wing fluttered gently as she walked towards her.

"Abuela?" Mirabel asked, her voice slightly raspy from the disuse of a human language.

Alma jumped a bit, turning to look at Mirabel. Instead of the disdain she had seen before, she just looked sad, turning back towards the river. Mirabel had caught a glimpse at the tears that were still falling from her eyes. Mirabel paused before moving to sit down next to Alma

There was a bout of silence before Alma finally spoke up. "You know...Pedro loved all kinds of animals. But butterflies were always his favorite."

Mirabel looked towards Alma in shock, and opened her mouth to speak, but quickly closed it to let her continue. "I had always suspected that the candle wasn't the only kind of magic. That it had come with some kind of price to pay. But I never knew what. I was convinced that I needed to...prove that we deserved it. But in the end...I guess I was wrong."

One of Mirabel's 4 hands moved to rest on top of Aoma's. She didn't pull away. She held it gently, much to Mirabel's surprise. "Is...this the price?" Mirabel asked, referring to the curse. Alma looked at her, searching her face before looking back at the river.

"I don't know. And I could never bring myself to come back here to see," Alma says truthfully, squeezing Mirabel's hand. "Though looking back at it, it seems that Pedro might've already been...like you. And the others."

"Really?" Mirabel asked, and she looked excited. Alma looked at her for a moment. Mirabel looked pretty much the same since she was a kid. She still had that sparkle in her whenever she got excited about something.

Alma couldn't help but smile.

"Yes. I saw a photo, a little before I had your mamá, tía and tío. I had thought it was a costume of some sort but looking back," Alma paused, her smile faltering for a moment. "I don't think it was a photo."

"What did he get?" Mirabel asked curiously, and Alma chuckled.

"A lion. Ironic isn't it?" Alma said in a bittersweet tone.

There was more silence. The two sat by the river. Mirabel had a question, a question that she wasn't the only one to think of. The other family members wondered the same. She was here with her abuela, and she was listening.

"Abuela?" Mirabel caught Alma's attention, and she looked toward her granddaughter, waiting for her to finish talking. "Did you...did you really hate us back then? Were you upset about...us being this way?"

Alma stared at Mirabel, and her face visibly fell, and she looked horrified before looking down into her lap. Alma didn't say anything, and Mirabel grew worried. Had she gone too far? Maybe she shouldn't have asked.

Before Mirabel could open up and apologize, Alma finally spoke. "No." Mirabel was shocked. She sort of half expected her to say yes. She felt silly for thinking that now.

"R-Really?" Mirabel asked a small smile on her face. She couldn't help but feel happy that all those years ago, she hadn't hated them.

"I was...scared more than anything. I blamed myself. I thought I had done something wrong. That I had failed," Alma sighed deeply, and she tried to turn her head, but Mirabel could see the tears streaming down her face. "I didn't mean to drive you away. Or any of them. And for years, I was trying to work up the courage to apologize, to bring you all back. But I never could."

"So...did you?" Mirabel didn't finish her question, knowing her abuela knew what she was talking about.

"Sí. I did. Mamy times. But I didn't," Alma turned towards Mirabel, grabbing her hands. "Mirabel, listen. I'm not expecting you or the family to forgive me. And I'm not asking you to forget about what happened, and what I did. But...I am asking that you all, you, mi nieta, give me another chance."

"I-" Mirabel was cut off by Alma, who squeezed her hands. Mirabel's other two arms jumped up, her wings fluttering once again.

"Please. I just...I just want us to be a family again. I want to change, to be better, for all of you. I'm sorry." Alma pleaded. Mirabel searched her eyes. She tried to look for any sort of lie, some kind of fake apology. But she could tell she was being genuine.

Mirabel gave a watery laugh, hugging her abuela tightly. "That's all we wanted to hear."