Would You Be So Kind?

Ch. 1: When We Were Young

1095 days. That's how long you'd known you were in love with Pepa Madrigal. 1095 days of longing. 1095 days day dreaming of what it might be like to be loved by her. 1095 days of hiding it from the family you'd grown to call your own.

*3rd person POV*

Y/N had lived in the Encanto all her life, but she became apart of the Madrigal family lives as a teenager. Back then she was all of 15 years old, young and full of dreams for the future. That day, Y/N had been re-reading one of her favorite novels when she heard it. Thunder. Looking up, the sky appeared to be cloudier than moments before, but it wasn't until she turned to the sudden commotion on her left that she realized where the thunder had come from.

Off in the distance, just down hill enough from where she sat that she couldn't see the ground they stood on, was a young male, skinny and nearly swallowed by the green parka he was wearing. He was accompanied by a female in a beautiful teal dress, her hair pulled out of her face and a matching apron tied around her waist. Both were approaching a cloud, one that sat at chest level, with not fear - but sadness in their eyes.

The woman quickly leaned down below the cloud, only to come back up with another girl, who Y/N at the time could only describe as a bit of a hot mess. The girl must have fallen, hard. Her copper toned braid was no longer well kept, her yellow sun dress covered in dirt. The girl looked injured, not fully able to stand on her left side. It was then, as Y/N saw the cloud drizzle above the poor girls head, that she realized these must be the Madrigal children.

The Madrigals were famous in the Encanto, known for powers that many found strange but praised non the less for their aid to the community. The girl with the cloud must be the one known for helping with the harvest. Y/N quickly packed up her few items and jogged down hill toward the trio.

*Y/N POV*

I can see the three siblings begin to move on, the two helping the injured of the three. I quickly call out to them as they struggle to start on their way.

"Wait! Are you ok? Let me help you with your things!" I start panting as I reach them, quickly gathering the satchel bag from the red heads shoulder and the books reluctantly passed to me by the brother.

"Aye Dios mío, I've lost my head - I'm Y/N. You three are of the family Madrigal right?" I stand there, quickly realizing how uncomfortable they seem. Well - the poor red head and boy more so than their sister.

"Thank you for your offer, it's nice to meet a friendly face, Y/N. I'm Julieta, this is my brother Bruno," Bruno gives a nod at his name, "and this is my sister Pepa. We need to get her home to Casita so I can get her fixed up. You don't have to join, we'd understand if you don't want to help." Juliet's looks more reserved in that moment, protective of her siblings.

"Of course! Your families story is famous in mi familia's home. I think it would be my honor to help you for a change, in any way I can, even if it is just to help with your load." I look back and forth between them, seeing relief in Julietas expression. I gather not many have been this kind to the family with special gifts.

Bruno smiles, grateful for someone to just be kind, though his shy demeanor has kept him from so much as a mumble. When I look over to Pepa, she has her gaze locked to the ground. She looks as though she could collapse any second given the pain in what appears to be her left ankle.

"I think she may have broken her ankle in her fall. Nothing I can't fix, but it's going to be painful getting Pepita home. Thank you for helping us Y/N." Juliet's nods toward her brother who gathers Pepa under her right side, Julieta does the same on her left, taking on most of her weight as we begin the journey to the Casita. Both are soaked quickly by the storm above their sisters head which had begun to have a heavier downpour.

The family home wasn't far from the hills where we met, granted the journey itself was longer with Pepa's injury and the cloud producing a steady rain fall. She was rather quiet along the way, but from what I can tell she's trying her best to hide the pain from her siblings.

Once we get to the house, we gather in the kitchen where Pepa has been placed sitting along the counter while Bruno and I stand aside while Julieta works to prepare and arepa. I'm fascinated by the colorful home around me. The tiles, the floors, the doors all seem to hold such life within them. Only do I realize the life that actually is within the home as I see the home bend and move, brining Pepa a towel for when her storm vanishes.

I watch as Julieta passes Pepa the arepa. She takes a bite and within moments you can see such a quick change in her entire body. She hops off the counter quickly, seeming much more alive and happy, the cloud above her head dissipating away.

"Gracias hermosa, I swear I wouldn't make it without you." Pepa beams at her sister before turning toward me. "And gracias Y/N, we don't meet many people who aren't afraid of us. It's nice to know people out there know we're not monsters." Pepa looks both saddened by the confession and relieved there's someone out there they can trust.

"Mi Mamá and Papa always told the story of the Madrigal Gift. Before they passed on, your families story was a tale of hope told often in our home." I spent the rest of the afternoon around the table with the triplets, telling stories and learning about one another. I knew even then that I'd made the best friends I ever would, ones that would become family.

*3rd Person POV*

Pepa sat close to Y/N, hanging on every word like she was the only friend Pepa had in the world. Y/N came to learn in time that was true. Pepa's gift made it hard to make friends in the Encanto, given most were afraid to be harmed by her storms, even despite all she does for the harvest each season. Bruno's gift of prophecy wasn't well accepted either by the community, though his was more easily concealed. Julieta's gift however was well accepted, as she posed no harm to anyone.

Y/N spent the next year growing closer with the Madrigals, quickly earning the love and trust of both the triplets and Alma. Alma Madrigal had quickly taken Y/N in, giving her the family she so desperately needed. Though out of everyone, she grew closest to Pepa. They spent more time together than anyone, Y/N being proficient at clearing clouds from Pepa's days. They laughed together. Dances together. And grew a bond many dream for.

Y/N was 17 when she realized she was in love with the rain. The thunder. The wind. And the sun. They had been coming home from the fields, Pepa having just finished their watering, now bringing back the sunshine in her mood. Y/N turned to Pepa as they walked the well known path, pausing on her face to watch as Pepa strolls the path ahead them, eyes closed, basking in the warm light of the sun above. Y/N had never seen anyone look so at ease, had never felt more love for a creature than she did for Pepa in that moment.

She was 17 and in love with her best friend, knowing she could never tell a soul. She couldn't risk losing Pepa or any of her family, which felt just as much Y/N's family as her late parents had. So she kept it to herself. As long as Pepa was happy, she was happy.

It's now been 1095 days of loving Pepa Madrigal. 1095 days of hiding her feelings from the family. 1095 days of dreaming what her live would be like. And 1095 days that Bruno and Julieta have tried to subtly push Y/N and Pepa to acknowledge what the entire Encanto could see clear as day. If only they knew.

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Hello!! The first of a good few installments to this story. Feedback is welcome! I hope it's an enjoyable start and that I can get more out as soon as possible :)