I Would Have You In My Dreams Forevermore (Bruno Madrigal x female reader)

The Ultimatum

Alma came to the door quickly and moved out of the doorway, gesturing me inside. The interior was rather normal in comparison to Bruno's room. The wooden floors and plain walls were adorned with only pictures of what I could assume was her husband. Bruno resembled him quite a bit, and if his hair was shorter I would say they looked nearly identical.

Alma led me to some chairs that had been moved to face each other, and I sat down. She took her seat and gave me a look I couldn't decipher.

"We can both agree that we do not see eye to eye, correct?" She asked me.

"Yes, I think we could agree on that."

"Then tell me why you deserve and need to be a Madrigal." Alma gave me a cold look. "I give you permission to speak your mind."

"One, I don't need your permission. Two, I don't need to be a Madrigal, nor do I have to deserve something from you." I put emphasis on 'need' and 'deserve'. "I need to make the man I love happy, and I deserve what he deems to give me."

"Bruno is a Madrigal." She said sternly.

"Bruno is an adult who makes his own decisions. He decided that he cares for me, but he also loves his family dearly. And last time I checked, you were a part of his family."

"Then why did he choose you? Was it because of your gift?"

I sat dumbfounded at her insinuation. "I came to this town with great respect for you, Alma Madrigal. I presented you and your family with gifts of gratitude, while knowing that you do not like my views and opinions. During your gracious generosity towards me, I came to love everyone in this family. Never would I use my so-called gift to pressure or force Bruno into caring for me." I felt anger bubble in my chest. "Do you care for your family, or just what they can do for you?" My rhetorical question seemed to cause her some sort of shock as her stern demeanor dropped. "Because I do, I care about how Bruno is scared of what the people in town think of him. I care about how stressed Pepa is. I care about how Julieta does nothing but slave away in the kitchen all day without a moment of rest. And I care about how Dolores becomes so overwhelmed by sounds."

Alma opened and closed her mouth, unable to speak as I continued. "You raised your kids well, but they still need help, and breaks. Maybe Bruno chose me because I listen and help him through things he can't show you."

"I want him to be happy." Alma said with a sigh, "He is my son, but I don't want him to get opinions from you."

"Again." I pointed out. "He is a grown man, he has his own opinions."

"Would you choose him if I gave you two choices?" Alma said, presenting two paths for me. "You could marry him, but you would have to become a Madrigal in the way I have established for this family. That would mean using your gift for the community, making the family stronger. Or you could break off all connections to my son and I will give you protection as a member of the community, so if your gift does scare the people here, you will not be run out of town."

My mind reeled. She gave me an ultimatum that depended on Bruno's happiness, and it cut me to the core. My love for Bruno, or having a safe and permanent home. I looked at her and sighed. Angry emotions boiled in my chest.

"Why?" Was all that I could ask her.

"Because this familia and the Encanto mean more to me than anything. I will not lose my home or anyone again."

It would break Bruno into a million pieces if I did not give up my dreamless solitude. I would likely be hated by the Madrigals if I chose to break him. Dolores and her soft smiles as I worked my beads into tapestries and necklaces would be no more. Luisa wouldn't wrap me in bone crushing hugs, Mirabel would despise me. Pepa would surely kill me and Julieta would watch happily, reviving me only to watch once more. I shuddered at the memory of how Bruno looked the day he stumbled into my casa because of a prediction gone wrong. It would be worse than that for him. He wouldn't be the only one broken either. I would lose the man I loved by choice, and my heart broke at the thought.

Alma played me like a fiddle, my love for Bruno winning over my own safety. Tears in my eyes, I looked at the woman.

"That is cruel, to both me and your own son. But I accept your ultimatum, I will become a Madrigal in your family's image. Bruno will become my husband."

She seemed saddened when I called out her cruelty towards me, and towards Bruno. Over her shoulder I saw the candle, the miracle, dim for a second.

"Then you will receive your introduction to the community tomorrow. Today we will celebrate privately, and you will learn your place within the Madrigal family."

I got up and began to make my way to the door. Turning back I looked at her. "Love has no conditions, Alma. I hope you realize that. I also hope you realize that I would give anything up for your son, and he would do the same for the family you say you care about."

She seemed to scrunch her face as if to think about it as I left her room. My tears fell quickly as I stood on the other side of her door. I chose Bruno. I would always choose Bruno. Looking into the glass that held the vision, I cringed at the look of pride Alma had on her face. Sniffling I had to decide quickly on if I should tell Bruno what his mother has done. Would letting him know the choice I made make him resent his own mother?

Wiping my tears away and steadying my breathing, I plastered a smile on my face. I told myself that I was happy because I got Alma's blessing. That was what I would tell him. He loved his family, and I would not break that fragile trust he placed in them.

Making my way back to the kitchen I walked slowly. Casita didn't move a single board as I took the stairs silently. I held onto the love I had for Bruno with an iron grip. I would make Alma realize that things needed to change, but I needed a plan, and one that avoided her tactics completely. Turning and looking up at the doors lining the second floor I straightened my posture once more. I would be there for this family, I would marry the man I loved, and with time I would fight to prove that they didn't need their gifts to be worthy of love.

Love, that was the plan. I would show each member of the family unconditional love. No gifts, no needing them to do things for me, just love. Looking to the doorway of the kitchen I nodded to myself. Bruno was the perfect place to start.