Chapter Text
You sighed as you slowly closed the drawer, wishing you'd taken longer to unpack, but you'd only taken the essentials: many memories and a few pieces of jewelry. You just wanted to lie down and drown in your sadness, but you knew that if you took any longer, your aunt would get suspicious, and you didn't want to worry her. The woman who had been like a second mother to you in your childhood had already done so much for you; the least you could do was spare her your drama.
You didn't move immediately, trying to gather some strength to face the day ahead as you looked around the room that still felt too empty, your few belongings doing nothing to make it feel familiar yet. Despite the fact that it was your first day in the town and you were exhausted from the trip, tía Laura had insisted that you at least know a little about the place, so that you would start to get used to it. It wasn’t like it was a big town, and even if you got lost, you could probably find the house back if you walked far enough, but you suspected that the real reason behind it all was that your aunt didn't want you to lock yourself in the room and spiral back to the self-loathing depression you had been the past year.
"Only for you, tía" you thought aloud "I'm going to try for you"
"It's nice to see you here, dear"
Your aunt's cheerful voice brought you out of your thoughts and forced you to open your eyes to your reality. You assumed that her friend had arrived. Great, time to fake smiles and pretend guilt wasn’t eating you up inside.
"Same here, Laura" a polite voice answered softly "It's been a while"
You didn’t pay attention after that. You felt your cheeks heating up as your mind repeated the sweet, warm, and slightly sensual tone of your aunt's guest, and had to shake your head to snap out of it. It surprised you that your body reacted that way, and a huge feeling of guilt washed over you, but you couldn't deny that the mysterious woman really had a pretty voice, like a freshly brewed cup of coffee.
“Enough, Y/N” you chided yourself in a low voice “This is not the time for you to start being weird. You're going downstairs, you'll politely greet Mrs. Alma and pretend that everything is fine"
It was the best thing you could do, honestly. No one there knew you, so there was no point in expecting them to pity you, nor did you want to tell your tragedy left and right. You simply wanted to look like a happy and cheerful young woman, content to live a new life in a place far away from the land where she was born. Easier said than done, but you had to fake it until you believed it.
"Okay, here I go"
You took a deep breath, straightened your shoulders, and turned the doorknob. You truly hoped your aunt's friend wouldn't notice how nervous you were, how unsteady your steps were, or the slight trembling of your hands. You didn't want to make a bad impression, if only to avoid embarrassing tía Laura. She was just another stranger; a quick hello and that would be it. You could do that… So why did you feel like everything was about to change? As if meeting this woman meant realizing your life had truly changed?
Probably because it was exactly the case.
You had spent months locked up and in denial after losing Santiago, months in which only Laura had been able to talk to you, even if it was through letters, and in which she had kept begging you to move in with her. You knew she cared for you, you were the only family she had left, and that was the only thing you could hold on to, and in that feeling of familiarity, it had been easy to imagine that there was only the two of you, that nothing else was real.
Meeting Alma Madrigal (or anyone other than your aunt, if you were honest), meant getting out of that bubble and coming to terms with the fact that you were miles away from home, in another country, and that the world moved on without you. And you didn't know if you were ready.
"Life doesn't wait, Y/N" you reminded yourself mentally as you finished going down the stairs.
"My precious girl, she has just arrived, after I begged her for almost a year" you heard your aunt say "and I must say that her hands are more skilled, and her designs far surpass any of mine”
You felt a warm feeling in your chest and nervousness in equal measure upon hearing those words. You knew she was talking about her sewing workshop and although she meant well, the truth was that there was some pressure on you because of it, you weren't sure you could fill her shoes, no matter how much your aunt kept assuring you you would be a worthy successor.
"No one could top your designs, tía, but I appreciate the compliment" you smiled softly, deciding it was best to join in and finish the greetings quickly.
You watched as the mysterious woman startled slightly at the sudden sound of your voice, and although you felt somewhat guilty, the movement and the soft, almost inaudible gasp she let out were kind of endearing. The woman turned to look at you, and you almost had to do a double take.
The brunette in front of you had a round and smooth figure that magnified the deep maternal warmth that radiated from her. Her dark skin glowed with beautiful pink and purple undertones, contrasting with the yellow of the sun coming through the window. Her round face was adorned with beautiful subtle freckles that did nothing but beautify her face caressed by time. But what caught your attention the most were her eyes.
They were beautiful, big, a little droopy, adorned with lush and tender eyelashes, and you had never seen eyes so full of love, life, and compassion. There was an entire galaxy in that pair of chocolate pools as if they had seen the saddest, but also the most beautiful things on Earth. She had a beautiful, warm, and kind gaze that invited to get lost in those eyes.
You felt the blood rush to your face again, and you prayed your skin would hide it, or that the other women would think it was just the heat. You tried not to stare at her too much, so as not to make her uncomfortable, but you couldn't tear your eyes away from the beauty before you, and when she smiled at you, with such a calm and warm smile, you felt like you couldn't breathe.
"Oh! Y/N, just in time" your aunt said cheerfully "Come, I want you to meet someone very special"
The older woman carefully took your arm, pulling you to stand right in front of your guest. Looking up close to her, she didn't look as old as you had imagined after hearing your aunt talk about her. Sure, her hair was flecked with silver streaks, and there were soft lines at the corners of her mouth and around her eyes, but she didn't look any older than tía Laura, so you assumed you weren't actually standing in front of Alma Madrigal.
"Y/N, this lovely lady is Julieta, Alma’s eldest daughter" your aunt presented her "Julieta, this is my beloved niece, Y/N"
“Nice to meet you, Y/N” the brunette said, smiling friendly and extending her hand towards you.
"A pleasure, ma'am" you said softly, shaking her hand politely
You couldn't help but blush more as you felt how slightly rough and almost imperceptibly calloused her hands were, so different from the softness and warmth that emanated from the rest of her. Somehow, you felt at ease with this woman, so you decided to let go a little.
“Tía Laura never mentioned there were such pretty people here” you teased lightly “I would have moved in sooner if I had knew”
Julieta froze for a moment, and you almost felt bad for having said it, but then you noticed the blush on her cheeks, which not even her dark skin could hide, and your aunt's suppressed laughter told you that you hadn't gone too far.
In fact, it almost seemed as if the woman needed that little moment of lightheartedness, judging by how her shoulders relaxed when she let go of your hand.
"She didn't tell me you were such a flirt either" Julieta chuckled softly, the sound making your stomach twitch slightly in a funny way.
"Ah, my lily has her moments" Laura smiled, looking at you both knowingly, glad that you were opening up, even just a little, to someone other than herself.
“Only with lovely people” you winked
Julieta smiled a little and prayed to all the saints that came to mind that her darker skin was hiding her blush, but the truth was that all she could think about was how beautiful you were and how long, so very long, longer than she could remember, had it been since she'd received a sincere compliment. She felt a lump in her throat thinking that it had been years since Agustín had called her pretty, weeks since anyone in her family, other than Félix, had bothered to speak more than two words to her, and for a moment she allowed herself to enjoy the friendly affection that you and Laura were giving her.
"Don't worry, Julita, this girl will calm down once she's drowning in sewing orders." Laura teased, poking your side.
You chuckled a bit and tried to ignore the flutter you felt when the brunette looked at you with something akin to amusement and slight surprise in her eyes. Yes, Laura had been talking about you and your future role in the town before you introduced yourself, but you assumed it was different to have the real person in front of her than just an idea. You just hoped you were making a good impression.
“First, I need a place to work, tía” you reminded her. “Orders will come later”
“Details, details” Laura dismissed with a wave of her hand. “With everything Alma sent, you can start remodeling.”
“At least let me rest from the trip” you said, raising an eyebrow. “Half a day here and she already wants me to work, can you believe it?” You glanced at Julieta, who giggled behind her hand and looked between you both with amusement.
“Oh, it’s not that I want to put you to work, dear” your aunt laughed. “It’s just that I want to delegate to you the bother of having people come begging for intricate designs and embroidery” she joked. “Julieta can confirm that I’ve been hearing the same pleas to reopen the workshop for years.”
The brunette simply smiled at you and nodded solemnly, confirming your aunt's words. God knew that the villagers could be stubborn and insistent, and that the closure of the workshop had been a source of complaints for years, even though Laura took on mending jobs now and then.
"Ah, so I'm the sacrifice, thank you very much, tía" you muttered dramatically, making your aunt hit your arm.
"Behave yourself, dear" the woman playfully scolded you.
"Hey! There's no need for violence" you narrowed your eyes, but your smile betrayed you. "It stifles creativity, you know? It'll be your fault if people don't like my designs."
"Ay, Y/N" Laura shook her head affectionately.
"Well, I have no doubt that the designs will be art if the creator is so beautiful" Julieta said without thinking, but not regretting it either, especially when you smiled at her with such tenderness, emotion, and hope.
"Thank you" you said "I'm really not that good but-"
"Nonsense" your aunt interrupted you "This girl has known how to use a needle and thread since she was 5 years old"
"6, tía Laura" you corrected her kindly
"Same thing" Laura smiled at you "The point is, you have an amazing talent, my little dove, and I'm sure all of Encanto will soon be dazzled by your brilliance"
You simply rolled your eyes affectionately as your aunt tenderly squeezed your cheeks. To be honest, it was a little embarrassing, especially in front of a woman you'd just met (and who was making a very good impression on you), but you'd never been able to deny your aunt those gestures before. The fact that the brunette smiled at you knowingly had nothing to do with your decision to allow it.
"Then I suppose all that's left for me to do is wish you the best of luck, Y/N" Julieta said, savoring every syllable of your name. "I'll be eagerly awaiting the grand reopening"
"Thank you, ma'am" you said and nodded politely.
There was something about the way your name sounded in her voice, the soft, gentle way she pronounced it, that made your heart skip a beat and your mind spin a little.
"Why don't you stay for dinner, honey?" your aunt asked kindly.
"Oh, I...I'd love to, but I'm afraid I actually have to make dinner for the family" Julieta blinked, offering an apologetic smile. "So I'd better go home before Mom gets worried" she added, clearing her throat.
The truth was, her heart longed to accept the offer, she had no desire to return to that strange house she barely knew, and she knew her mother probably wouldn't even notice her absence if she decided to skip dinner. But she needed to leave before she grew accustomed to the warmth you and your aunt offered her, and before her mind began to dwell on the feelings you stirred within her. She knew that the more she let her guard down, the more it would hurt to return to the coldness of her own family.
"Of course, my dear" Laura nodded, accepting her excuse "Thank you again"
"It was no problem, Laura" she smiled "And welcome to Encanto, Y/N" she added, unable to stop herself from saying your name again.
"Thank you, Mrs. Madrigal" you responded politely
"Oh, call me Julieta" the brunette told you, calmly but firmly "My mother is Mrs. Madrigal"
“Oh, sorry” you chuckled softly “my bad...Julieta”
You didn't miss the way her eyes lit up for a moment, as if it was the first time in a long time that someone had spoken her name with warmth, and you couldn't help but feel a pang of pride at that small but endearing reaction.
"You have to promise you'll accept the dinner invitation sometime before you go, Julita" Laura insisted firmly but gently, her eyes scanning the other woman. "It's always a pleasure to have you around, and I don't want another few months to go by before we see your pretty face again, am I clear?"
“I…I promise I’ll try to make time, Laura” Julieta simply said, feeling like a child under your aunt’s gaze.
She wasn’t sure how good she could keep that promise tho, with all the rebuilding and her fragmented family, but she’d never been particularly good at saying no to people, especially someone who made her feel…seen and wanted, as if you two really wanted her around, not just because you were being nice. It was a feeling she had almost forgotten.
"Very well, I'll hold you to that, dear" the older woman smiled. "We won't take up any more of your time, say hello to your mother for me"
"A pleasure, ma'am" you waved politely, smiling at her.
She looked at you one last time, smiling back gently before walking out the door, her cheeks flushed, her heart pounding, and tears stinging her eyes. The brief encounter had felt so...warm...she truly didn't want to return to her loneliness, but she knew it was inevitable. At least you eased her pain for a while, and she’d hold onto that.
You watched in silence as the woman disappeared through the door, following her every move unconsciously and not really noticing the knowing look your aunt was giving you.
“Sweet Julieta” Laura said, a hint of affection in her voice. “How lucky you were that she was the first Madrigal you met, my dear.”
“Why?” you asked, frowning curiously.
“Because she’s the kindest of them all, probably the kindest in the whole town, if I’m honest” she smiled at you “…and she’s beautiful, isn’t she?”
Your eyes widened, and your cheeks burned. You looked away from your aunt, but her boisterous (though warm) laughter echoed within you. You knew your aunt was joking, but deep down, you couldn’t help thinking that, even if the town wasn’t as magical as you first imagined, at least one person in it was.
______________
"So? How did it go?" Félix asked when Julieta came into the kitchen.
She had taken longer than he'd thought it would to deliver the boxes to Laura, but he wasn't really complaining. Not when he could see in his sister-in-law's eyes that something had happened, something good. There was that sparkle of happiness he'd missed so much in Julieta's eyes, and he wanted to know why, if only to make sure it stayed there.
"It was fine" The woman shrugged, going over to the stove to see if there was anything left to do before dinner.
"Just fine?" he pressed, raising an eyebrow.
Julieta sighed, but couldn't stop the smile that tugged at the corner of her lip. She knew she couldn't hide anything from Félix, and honestly, it was the lightest she'd felt in weeks. She could at least tell the only person who had tried everything to cheer her up since they lost the miracle.
"Laura has a lovely niece" she said softly, taking a spoonful of the vegetable soup.
"You've met her already?" he asked, surprised.
"She was there when I delivered the boxes, yes" Julieta nodded, adding a little more salt to the soup. "She's lovely" she repeated "pretty and kind…"
Félix sensed there was more she wasn't telling him, but if there was one thing he knew after so many years of knowing her, it was that his best friend usually opened up when you didn't pressure her for answers. So he simply nodded and leaned back against the counter, watching her intently, noticing the absentminded way she stirred the soup.
"...there was sadness in her eyes" Julieta whispered after a moment of silence "but that didn't seem to tarnish her beautiful, pure smile...and she definitely has a mischievous streak" She chuckled softly.
She continued stirring the soup without realizing it, lost in thought for a moment. She couldn't help but remember how kind and easy going you had been, and how you had stirred butterflies in her stomach when you called her pretty. It had been such an innocent and small compliment, but it had awakened something within her that seemed to have died years ago.
"...I hope she does well" she murmured, more to herself than to Félix. "Laura says she has a talent for sewing, but something tells me that doesn't extend to making friends"
"It seems to me she's already made a good impression on someone" Félix smiled, trying not to laugh when his sister-in-law looked away and blushed. "Maybe you could be her first friend."
"Please, Félix" she sighed. "I'm more than 20 years older than her. Why would she want a friend that old? She was just being nice."
"Maybe" he shrugged. "But maybe not...I'm just saying, you should be open to the possibility that, at some point, the girl might need a friendly face."
"...perhaps" Julieta hummed, putting the spoon down.