Safe and sound ( C. Madrigal )

Butterfly's Repose.

The rain began to fall, drenching your body and making you tremble. "What would have happened if I hadn't moved here?" you questioned, allowing yourself to scream all of your emotions out as thunder accompanied you. 

Camilo approached her slowly, staring at his lover as she sobbed in agony. Every step he took closer to you felt like a stab in the chest. He wanted to scold himself for being late, and he wishes he was the one carrying and bearing everything you're going through right now.

As the rain turned into a storm, your body fell. He went and carried your body up to the treehouse he had built without thinking twice, dropping everything he had as it was too late and dangerous to go back. 

He whispered what was going on, hoping Dolores would hear him over the thunder. His mama's emotions do influence the weather, but there are times when storms occur naturally, and he's guessing this is one of them.

He's making Cazuela (homemade stew). He carefully remembered the steps his tía Julieta had taught him. He began to learn how to cook ever since you arrived at Encanto and developed a relationship with him. He'd regularly annoy his tía to teach him her recipes. When you two marry, he doesn't want you to do all the housework. He believes a man who cooks is incredibly attractive. Well, that's what Isabela told him.

He'd check on you time after time while cooking, hoping you're cozy. He sat beside your sleeping figure as he waited for the soup to boil. He's taken aback; how could you possibly sleep peacefully after all that had happened? He smiled warmly and kissed your forehead as he wrapped the covers around you, waking you up.

You blinked slowly, struggling to fully open your eyes. Your eyes are weary. You sat up, causing Camilo to sit beside you and gently hold your hand.

"Are you okay? Did you catch a cold?" He asks, resting his palm on your forehead and taking your temperature. You leaned in, your face buried in his chest. "Mi amor?" he calls for you again.

"Who is she?" you hiccuped and he cupped your cheeks. "Who's who querida?" he wipes away those dried tear stains on your cheeks. 

"The girl you were with a while ago, you even gave her flowers." you pressed your lips against each other. "Does she make you happy?" you added, hoping the answer won't hurt that much as you can't take any more damage.

"Oh, her? Everyone in the Encanto makes me happy. But no one compares to you though." he chuckles. " She's the best florist in town, I didn't know what to get you so I went to Isa and asked her advice about flowers and went to her shop to buy them." he explains and points at the bouquet of flowers outside that had been rained on.

"So you weren't.." you buried your face on a pillow and groaned. "I wasn't what princesa?" he asks as you avoided his gaze. 

He then laughs. "Please tell me you didn't think I actually cheated on you." 

"I didn't mean to! I'm sorry!" you jumped in his arms, hugging him like a koala.

"Esta bien amor." (it's okay love) he makes you sit on his lap and hugs you by the waist.

"If it's not you, I'd never look at another girl. Look at you, you're the most perfect flower that's ever bloomed." you pulled back and he kissed your forehead, scar, nose, then lips.

"My mom." you suddenly uttered making him look at you. "She's the reason how I got this." you guided his fingers to your scar.

"My father didn't want me. So he and my mom would often fight about it. One night he came home late and drunk and the first thing he saw was me as I was the one who opened the door, that was the first time he beat me up, mom was trying to stop him." you sighed.

"My father shoved me onto the road, and I landed on my face. A truck was coming my way, and that's when everything was blurry. The next thing I know, I'm on the other side on the road and mama was bathing in her own blood." you added making Camilo hug you.

"I'm sorry you had to experience that." 

You melted into his arms, and you both remained that way for a while. Not until he coughed making you push his body back, scanning him, and realizing he was the one who watched a cold.

"YOU DIDN'T CHANGE YOUR CLOTHES?" you panicked, wrapping the blanket around him.

"Amor, I'm fine." he sniffed, attempting to stand.

"Stay." you pushed him back.

"But-" he tried to protest but you glared at him.

You went into the kitchen and noticed that he had prepared something for you. This made your heart sing. You made a bowl of the soup he had made, placed it on a tray, and went to him. You began slowly feeding him, taking a few sips of the soup afterward.

"I was supposed to be the one taking care of you. Why is it that I always end up being the one taking care of." he pouts making you chuckle. "You're a big baby, aren't you?" you teased.

"Did you at least like the soup?" he scoffed, his eyes hoping you did.

"I love it mi amor, thank you." you kissed his forehead. 

You both ended up spending the night in the treehouse. Cuddling under the moonlight, resting in each other's arms, telling each other bedtime stories. You're at peace.

You're home.