Bruno Madrigal Snippets

Nightmare

Reader and triplets are 45 in this story
Mirabel is 10
Reyna and Pedro are 14 1/2


Note for the oneshots so far: All of the oneshots to this point are connected. Each oneshot are little snippets into the lives and relationship of Y/n and Bruno.

So far, most of the story is in line with the events prior to the movie. The only differences are that Bruno returns earlier than in the movie, and Pepa won't have Antonio.

Y/n and the triplets were 40 when Bruno left (just like canon). Y/n and Mirabel discovered the cracks when Mirabel was 9. this means that Bruno was only gone for 4 years. He returned when he was 44.

This takes place a year after the magic was restored.

The ages for everyone are as follows:
Alma-70 (canon age for the movie was 75)
Reader and triplets-45
Isabela and Dolores-16
Reyna, Pedro and Luisa-14 (the twins are 6 months older)
Camilo and Mirabel-10
Y/n is now pregnant with Antonio (I thought his gift of talking to animals makes sense for Bruno's kid because of his affinity for rats)

Now For the Story:

(Y/n's pov)

There was an unusual chill in the air tonight that woke me up.

'Was Pepa creating a late night snowstorm?' I wondered to myself as I turned over in the bed, wanting to cuddle with my husband.

Except, his side of the bed was empty. I opened my eyes. His pillow was still cold, as though he hadn't gone to bed at all.

I sat up and waited for my eyes to adjust to the dim light from the moon.

I glanced over at the chair that was like a brand-new version of the chair he had in his room within the walls.

He had spent five years sleeping in the old chair, and sometimes he would fall asleep in this chair.

That wasn't the case tonight, though.

I got up, wondering if he was in his vision cave, or the getting a midnight snack like he did while he was hiding.

I checked his vision cave and the bathroom, before leaving the tower. I checked the kitchen, but Bruno wasn't there either. I even checked his room hidden in the walls, as it had been brought back with the magic.

I didn't find him. I searched throughout the house and couldn't find him anywhere. I was getting anxious when suddenly...

I jolted, blinking in confusion. I was back in bed. Had it only been a dream?

I gave a quiet sigh of relief and turned to face Bruno.

Only to find that he wasn't in bed beside me. I jerked my head up towards his chair, hoping to find him there.

Only it was empty, just like in my dream. I jumped up and ran through the tower.

Bruno wasn't in his vision cave or the bathroom. I walked to the kitchen and then his old room.

I woke up again and found my husband missing. I'd search the house and then wake up again.

The dream would repeat itself over and over. I was becoming more frantic with every step.

Eventually, I woke up and just started sobbing. I didn't even bother looking over at the spot where my husband was supposed to sleep. I could tell it was empty.

(Bruno's pov)

I was just coming out from a late night shower.

After Y/n had gone to bed, I made my way up to my vision cave.

Y/n has been quiet and a little distant for a while now, and she hasn't been sleeping well. Our 14-year-old twins were worried about her as much as I was.

"Papa? Is Mama going to be okay?" Reyna had asked me. Pedro was standing beside her, looking equally concerned.

"Yeah. Mama is always looking upset. Just like she was when you were gone Papa." Pedro continued. Reyna nodded in agreement.

I promised our children that I would take care of her, so I checked the future to find out what was wrong.

The tablet I had received was of my wife sobbing violently into her arms while her knees were drawn up to her chest.

I stopped suddenly when I heard sobbing coming from our bedroom. I rushed in and saw her in the exact position I had just seen. My heart throbbed painfully at the sight.

I climbed into the bed beside my crying wife and pulled her close. I caressed her back and spoke soothingly to her.

She stilled in my arms instantly. Taking a deep, shuddering breath.

"Bruno?" She whispered hesitantly.

"I'm here mi amor. It's ok."

"Where were you? I woke up and you weren't here."

"I...uh...was in my vision cave..."

"Your vision cave?" She asked, her tears forgotten. "But you hate your visions!" I gave her a sad smile.

"I've noticed the change in your behavior amor. I was concerned, so I tried to use my visions to see what was wrong. I want to help you. You're under a lot of stress my love, and that is the last thing you need right now."

She pulled me close to her and buried her head in my chest.

"Don't leave me again mi vida. Por favor. I can't handle losing you again..."

"Mi amor...?" I ask uncertainly. I hadn't expected that reaction.

"I keep having dreams that you're still gone. Even tonight. I kept waking up and discovering that you weren't sleeping beside me. I'd look everywhere, even behind the walls. I couldn't find you. Every time I wake up, I get more frantic in my search. I woke up for real, and you weren't here. I...I couldn't..."

I stilled at that. I caused her to be afraid. My decision to leave after Mirabel's gift ceremony caused this.

I pulled her closer, my mind going back to that day. I think back to Mirabel's fifth birthday, when she didn't receive a gift.

My wonderful wife was trying to calm a frightened and confused Mirabel. Our twins, nine at the time stood by anxiously. They wanted to help their little cousin too.

Mama pulled me away from the rest of my family. She was worried about the magic, so she asked me to look into the future.

My vision showed me a young Mirabel, just a few years older. Y/n was with her in the vision, and I could see the candle flickering and the house breaking.

I stared in worry at the vision tablet, showing my wife and Mirabel standing in front of Casita, broken and fixed. It was like their future was undecided, but I knew what everyone would think.

Y/n is the only person who doesn't see me as a curse. She knows that I don't create the visions; I only see them.

If anyone saw this tablet, everyone will turn against her and Mirabel.

I couldn't let that happen, so I broke the tablet and disappeared. The last image of my family I had for those lonely years was my wife, holding Mirabel in our bed. Our twins were sleeping on the little girls' other side.

I smiled sadly at the scene. I felt that they would be fine without me around. They had each other after all.

I had no idea how wrong I was to think that. I had watched as my wife became closed off to everyone. She pretended to be okay for Reyna, Pedro and our youngest niece. I could tell that our twins didn't buy her act. They were worried but had no idea what to do.

The adults didn't help any of them, and I watched with tears in my eyes as Y/n hid her pain and misery from everyone.

Four years later, I could hear shouting in the kitchen. My mother had cornered Y/n after dinner. She was yelling at her, accusing her for me leaving.

Mama was saying that Y/n hadn't been a good wife. Saying that she should have been with me instead of consoling Mirabel, whom she had called useless.

I already knew that Y/n blamed herself, though she had no reason to. This just seemed to validate her feelings. Julieta had rushed in, yelling at Mama, and defended my wife. I was grateful to my sister for that.

Y/n just sighed wearily and walked out of the room, running into a nine year old Mirabel.

That was when they first found the cracks.

That night, after everyone had gone to bed, Y/n and Mirabel snuck into my tower and had discovered the broken shards of my last vision.

They put the pieces together and saw what I had feared anyone finding.

It was early the next morning that they had followed my rats and found me.

It was a tearful reunion between my wife and me. I had apologized for leaving and vowed to never leave her again. The two of them asked for another vision to see how they could fix the casita.

I was afraid to show them the vision, but I ended up giving in, hoping for a better vision.

The vision showed Mirabel hugging Isabela, and my wife and I were able to encourage her to talk to her older sister.

After Mira left, Y/n and I spent some time together in my hidden room. We just cried as we held onto each other and talked about how we were both doing. How we missed each other.

She apologized for not doing more for me, blaming herself for me leaving. I told her that she had nothing to do with my decision, and that I was proud of her for standing up for Mirabel all this time.

She was sneaking out to get some food for me just before Mirabel, and my mother began arguing.

When the house fell, Y/n protected Mirabel from the falling debris. She ended up a bit injured, but Julieta was able to heal her with some leftover drinks she had made before the house fell.

Mirabel ran away, blaming herself for her tia's injury. I eventually found Mirabel and Mama having a heart to heart.

It looks like the familial bonds were finally being fixed.

I was reunited with the family, and the entire village came to help us restore our home.

Mirabel was given the honor of placing the doorknob into the front door, and by doing so, restored the magic.

Even being back an entire year hasn't fixed everything yet.

"That decision had been the biggest mistake of my life mi amor. It's something I deeply regret." I began and felt her lift her head off my shoulder.

"Those four years were the hardest. I missed you so terribly, but I was a coward. I was afraid of my vision. I was afraid of you and Mirabel being looked at like a curse. Instead, you were blamed for my decision. I am so sorry darling."

"You have nothing to be sorry for mi vida." She spoke softly, stroking my cheek with her hand. "You were trying to protect us. That was incredibly brave Bruno."

"Brave?" I asked. "I didn't feel brave when I left."

"You were so brave to try to shoulder all that on your own. You left to protect us. All of us from what you saw. You spent four years alone, watching us live our lives without you. You didn't want everyone to hate Mirabel or me. To treat our niece like she was a curse sent to this family. You were brave Bruno, to suffer like that all alone."

"I'm not alone anymore. I'm back home, where I belong. With you and our children. And this little one too." I smiled, as I laid a gentle hand on her baby belly.

"We have our family, which is continuing to grow. And it's all thanks to you and our sobrina." I told her.

"Me? I didn't do anything?"

"You helped rebuild our family. You protected Mirabel from my mother. Mama doesn't see us as just our gifts anymore, thanks to you two. Our bonds are stronger than they've ever been. Our little Antonio won't have the burdens the rest of us had. He'll grow up in a happy, loving home."

She smiled as she laid her hands on top of mine. She tilted her head up to meet mine in a tender kiss.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'll be here for you, for the twins. For him too. Anything any of you need. I love you both."

"We love you too Bruno." I laughed joyfully as I felt our son kick in agreement.

"I think he is looking forward to meeting his daddy." She smiled as I helped her get comfortable. I laid down beside her, taking her into my arms.

"In just a month we will be meeting you sweetheart. We can't wait. You have a huge family, and everyone is so excited for your arrival little Antonio. You are so loved." I spoke softly and listened to her happy sigh as she fell back to sleep.

Moments like this are what I missed the most. Being the husband, she always knew I would be. Taking care of my beloved wife and making sure my family was safe.

This is a position I will never take for granted again. To have Y/n in my arms is the greatest feeling in the world.

This is what makes everything worthwhile.