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

A Low Blow

Bruno and I paused on the steps. We shared a look of trepidation, and he and I nodded to each other.

"Where is mi madre?" Bruno asked Felix.

Felix pointed to her room. Bruno gently nudged me towards the first floor and turned to head towards his mother's room. I took the steps two at a time, following the sound of thunder. I saw Julieta and Pepa crying in the living room, and I rushed in.

"What did she say to you two?" I asked quickly running over to them.

"She was blaming us." Pepa said the thunderstorm raging over her head.

"Well we know that isn't true, so let's start there." I said and sat on the opposite side of Pepa. "Your storm yesterday? Absolutely breathtaking!" I said and Pepa raised her eyes to me. "I loved it, and so did Bruno. I always thought that dancing in the rain was romantic."

"Felix thinks that too." Pepa sniffled.

"You have a smart husband then." I said. "And Julie, I know you needed that break. And if she said a single word about your girls, my sobrinas, then she has a whole other storm coming." I said, my voice filled with intent.

"You really care so deeply for us." Julieta said, and Pepa nodded.

"I wish we would have stood up to mama." Pepa said. "She said such cruel things about you, and Bruno. She blames him for his reputation and it just..." She quaked from the breath she drew in. "He's our hermano. I hate what she said, but I feel as if she's not wrong."

"She is wrong." I said and rubbed Pepa's back. "She's wrong about many things, but I don't know how to fix her mindset."

"Then we keep it up." Julieta said, "We persevere."

"For the kids." Pepa nodded. "Their gift ceremonies are coming up, we need to focus on them."

I nodded, "If anything, and I mean anything gets to be too much, tell Bruno or myself." I said and brought Pepa into a hug. She tried to wave away the cloud and I grabbed her hand. "You know I don't mind the rain, Pepa. Let me be an hermana and just hug you."

"Bruno did so well picking you." She said pulling me tight.

Julieta joined the hug with a sad smile. "I think we got really lucky having you in the familia." She whispered.

We sat there, hugging and being drenched by Pepa's cloud for a few minutes until Dolores ran downstairs, hands over her earmuffs.

"Tio Bruno and Abuela are fighting!" She said with tears in her eyes. "Abuela is saying such mean things about tia!"

I let go of Pepa, and all three of us ran to Dolores. She clambered into my arms and Pepa patted her back gently.

"Dolores, mi vida." Pepa said softly and Dolores looked at her madre. "Is your Tio Bruno alright?"

"He's really angry." She hiccupped. "Abuela said tia is ruining the family, that Tio Bruno and her should have an annulment." She looked at me from where she clutched by blouse. "Tia, what is an annulment?"

"Something that is not going to happen." I said, teeth clenched. "Don't worry about it, okay?" I placed my hands over her ears and she wrapped her arms around me.

"I'm scared." Dolores said softly.

Julieta, Pepa, and I all shared a glance that spoke volumes. Pepa continued to rub her daughter's back, and Julieta looked extremely nervous.

"Mi sobrina favorita, you're gonna go with your mami and hang out in your room." I whispered softly. "Your Tia Julieta is gonna go check on the other kids, and I'm gonna go get your Tio Bruno."