Back in the Encanto...

It was the next day and Bruno was beside himself. The dinner last night was a total disaster, and even he didn't see it coming.

At first, all was going well. The family was getting to know Mila's new boyfriend, and he was proving to be a very nice guy' he'd even learned about their culture out of respect for his girlfriend's connection to her roots and her family. But then, some people started asking really inappropriate questions about Tech being a science experiment.

Some were even spreading rumors, wondering if Mila had perfected a science to creating the perfect man for herself because apparently no man in the entire Encanto could live up to her standards.

And now, Mila had run off to the other world with her boyfriend and it didn't look like she was coming back.

This was exactly what Bruno was afraid of.

Right now, all the guests had been dismissed, and the family was still settling down.

"Well that went well," said Camilo sarcastically.

Isabela elbowed him.

"What? How did the night go? Not well."

"Poor Mila." Mirabel said. "This was supposed to be a perfect night for her and Tech."

"Maybe one of us should go and make sure they're alright." Alicia suggested.

"Can I go, Mami?" Rosella asked.

"Hmm. I don't think you should go by yourself."

"I can go with her, Tia Alicia." Mirabel said. "I know Mila. She's been there for me for so long. It's my turn to do the same for her."

So, while the others finished clearing up, Mirabel took Rosella to the mirror.

Mirabel and Rosella entered the palace and found people moving about.

The two cousins looked around and called for Mila. And they ran into Ahsoka, who was holding hands with Rex.

"Hey, Ahsoka, Rex." Mirabel greeted.

"Mirabel, what a nice surprise." Ahsoka smiled. "You too, Rosella. What brings you here?"

"We were actually looking for Mila." Mirabel said. "She and Tech came to dinner yesterday, and things didn't exactly go well."

Suddenly, Rex was bumped into a panicked looking Crosshair.

"Is that crazy horse around here?" panted Crosshair.

"That 'crazy horse's' name is Maybelle." Ahsoka said. "I'm pretty sure she just wants to get to know you."

"Well, she doesn't take a hint that I want her to stay away."

"Crosshair, enough of this rodeo!" Maybelle said, coming in.

"Oh no!" Crosshair held Rex as a human shield.

Rosella looked and saw the pretty unicorn. "A cowgirl pony!"

"Crosshair, I see ya there." Maybelle said simply.

And Crosshair went running again.

Maybelle sighed. "Even when I'm just a walkin' over, he runs away like a kitten at a hound dog family gatherin'. What do I gotta do to get him to stay in one place?"

"Have you tried just talking?" Mirabel asked.

"He won't stay in one place long enough for me to get a word in." Maybelle said. She snorted and brought out her rope. "He wants to keep doin' it the hard way? Then we'll do it like we do in my neck of the woods."

Maybelle then ran off, looking for Crosshair again.

Meanwhile, Mirabel and Rosella looked around for Mila, when they heard someone talking out loud as though making observations, which Mila did a lot whenever she took notes.

And in the room, they saw Mila with a stethoscope, listening in Master Plo's chest.

"Yowch!" Mila exclaimed, taking off the stethoscope. "That is a loud heart."

"That should be expected," said Tech. "due to it being ten times the size of a human heart."

"Hi, Mila!" Rosella said, running to her big sister.

"Oh! Rosella." Mila gasped. "When did you get here?"

"Just now." Mirabel said. "What are you doing?"

"Hola, Mirabel. To answer your question, a bit of biological studying on the many species of this world."

Mila wrote another note.

"It turns out Master Plo here literally has a big heart. I'm talking as big as a soccer ball. And loud like a timpani drum. It's a wonder any Kel Dor has enough room for other essential organs in there."

"Oh! I wanna see!" Rosella said, pressing her ear to the Kel Dor's chest.

"Rosella!" Mila scolded.

"It is alright, Mila. She is curious."

Rosella took a listen, and sure enough, his heart was loud.

"Wow, that's loud!"

Plo chuckled at how cute the young girl was.

"Gabriella held the same curiosity when she was learning about biology for the first time." the Kel Dor said.

"Rosella's definitely inherited the curiosity gene." Mila said, looking at more of her notes on various species.

"Mila, can we talk about what happened?" Mirabel asked her cousin.

Mila didn't say anything at first and just put her notebook down.

"Master Plo? Would you mind watching Rosella for a little bit?"

"I'd be glad to."

Mirabel and Mila walked out to talk alone.

"He really has a way with kids, doesn't he?" Mirabel said.

"It's his gift." Mila shrugged. "Kids just love him, just like the kids at home love you."

Mirabel sighed, knowing they couldn't avoid talking about the incident forever.

"About the dinner..."

"It wasn't your fault, Mirabel. Tech and I talked. We're fine. We haven't broken up."

"But what happened with everyone else... you didn't deserve that. Tech is a great guy, and he obviously loves you if he was able to stand up for you like that. He's not exactly Luisa. No offense."

"Hey, Tech and I both know he's not the brawniest of his brothers, but he has a heart as big as his brain. Maybe bigger." Mila said. "I don't need to conduct any science or math equations to know that."

"The family loves him too, and so do I." Mirabel said. "He makes you happy, and that's really all that matters."

"I know that. If only the rest of the Encanto knew that."

That surprised Mirabel.

"Since when do you care what the rest of the Encanto thinks?" she asked.

Mila was the one to stand up towards anyone who dared to insult Mirabel for her lack of a gift every day. The one who pulled through every school year with kids three times her size and over twice her age despite them calling her a baby, trying to copy off her work, or calling her a freak of nature. The one who never gave up on perfecting her inventions no matter how many times they fell apart, malfunctioned, or exploded.

"Mila, it's your relationship. They're not the one's dating Tech." Mirabel said. "If they could feel even half as happy as he makes you, they'd know better."

"I know my relationship is a bit unorthodox, given we're literally from different worlds and have been exposed to different technology and cultures all of our lives, and given that Tech is technically younger than me. But, if people can admire me being the smartest Madrigal, the most intelligent girl in the Encanto, then why can't they be a little more respectful of my choice? If anything, I'm most upset about how they hurt Tech. He may not show it that much, but he was heartbroken when we got back. We even sang a big musical number about it, but we kissed and made up."

"Well, that's good your relationship at least survived." Mirabel said. "You're the strongest girl I know Mila. And you deserve to be in a relationship that makes you happy, no matter how strange it looks to others. If anything, those other guys are just jealous that you chose Tech over them."

Mila chuckled. "To be fair, they didn't exactly make it difficult, not that I think Tech is low on the bar. In fact, every other guy, if I had to write a graph of my standards, none of the other guys in the Encanto who've ever taken me out or even tried to would even be at the halfway point."

And it was true. Ever since she was five, Mila knew what she wanted in her Prince Charming. After reading so many fairy tales, romantic stories, and Shakespeare stories, she was smart enough to know that she wasn't going to marry a man she just met, much less fall for him because he was handsome or rode in on a beautiful white steed and wore shining armor. If Mila could describe her opinion on such a manner in only three words, she'd choose these: shallow, superficial, ludicrous.

Mila liked the stories, but she was smart enough to know that the probability of a marriage lasting between people who'd known each other only a day was a million to one. There were a ton of things that could go wrong.

One may want lots of kids, but the other wants none. Their family traditions may clash so much and cause them to fight. Or maybe one half of the couple puts more effort into the relationship than the other. One probably forgets the other's birthday or makes the mistake of telling them that commemorating the anniversary of the day they met and fell in love wasn't important. Or the worst possible thing, looks at other men and women almost all the time, including when their partner is with them.

Mila knew from various books that talked about relationships, sites she'd researched about marriage counseling, and personal experience with friends and family, that relationships were like an ecosystem, a system of various parts working together. If any pollution came into that ecosystem, then it needed a certain kind of help in order to be healed and grow stronger. However, if that pollution was allowed to grow and grow, the relationship could be destroyed for good.

Bruno and Alicia were together for at least a year before the former even gathered up the courage to propose. And in that time, the couple had time to look for patterns in each other's behavior. Bruno remembered all the littlest details about Alicia. Her favorite flower was a red zinnia, she used to have pet rats named Ratina and Ratford and a beagle named Chulo, her hidden talent was knitting, and the craziest thing she'd ever done was practice balancing for dance by walking across the roof and doing large leaps across to another roof.

Alicia also remembered little details from Bruno's middle name to his fear of public speaking, and she remembered all the words to 'Dos Oruguitas' and sang it to Bruno on one of their dates.

And Bruno didn't wait for a special occasion to show Alicia how much he loved her. On a random ordinary Wednesday, Alicia would hear a knock on her door, and find a bouquet of red zinnias with a love note. Or after her dance class, she would spot a rat crawling up to her with a rolled-up paper tied around its back that turned out to be another love note.

Alicia didn't need it to be a special occasion to write a love letter to Bruno either.

Mila didn't need a ton of research to know that waiting until a special occasion or the need to make up for doing something bad to show one's love made it seem as though love had to be a thing set aside only for those days. Times when one required attention from their loved one came all year long. Something as simple as a big hug when one is feeling sad would very likely make a big difference in that special someone's life.

For Mila, she knew Tech met the standards to be her soulmate. Not only was he smart, understanding of her, appreciative of her balance of knowledge and creativity, and incredibly cute in her eyes. He put in so much effort to learn about her culture to make a good impression on her family and he defended her when others doubted that he'd be a good partner for her. He didn't need to be some hunk with big muscles and bright blue eyes, a handsome wealthy prince on a thoroughbred steed, or some town hero. He just needed to be himself. Of course, Mila knew it would be some time before she knew if he was the one she was going to marry, but she hoped for the best. Her father met at least thirty different girls before he finally found the one for him. If he could wait that long to meet his soulmate, Mila could wait as well.

"I don't know if Tech and I are gonna be together forever," said Mila. "And sure, I could ask Papa to look into the future, but I'd rather figure it out myself. You remember what I always said back when I never used my gift?"

"That the community was becoming lazy by depending on the family's magic?" Mirabel said.

"Exactly. And if I relied on my father's or any other family member's gift to dictate my love life, that would be against what I stand for in the relationship. In a word, hypocritical. If Tech and I do end up together, it'll be because we put equal, genuine effort into our relationship. The four keys to a healthy relationship are these: communication, commitment, trust, and compromise. With enough of those things, relationships of any kind can survive anything."

"Maybe you should look into being a marriage counselor." Mirabel suggested.

"It could be a side career." Mila shrugged. "Bottom line, right now, I'm really glad we're communicating about this. I needed a reminder as well that it's not the opinions of other people that decide whether I end up with the man of my dreams. That's up to me and my loved one. We chose each other, it's our decision how our relationship ends up."

Mila soon went back to her sister Rosella, and she was riding on Maybelle's back.

"Hola, Maybelle." Mila said. "I thought you were chasing Crosshair."

"I was. I ran into Rosella and thought maybe the lassoin' might've been a bit too on the looney train. Then I figured if Crosshair could see I'm a gentle horse, he'll give me a chance."

"Have you tried just talking to him?"

"What do you think I've been doin' every time I even get him sitting still for one second? He never gives me the time of day."

"Well, maybe you should try lassoing. Then talk to him. But first, maybe I should ask you some questions. Why were you matched with him?"

"Well, the Equinary said Crosshair needed a friend to help him loosen up. He's a great shot and it's led to a one hundred percent success rate with his buddies, but he comes off as kinda uptight. With there being no war and all, having good aim isn't good for much besides winnin' a Bash a Can game at the county fair or joinin' an archery team. And I'm pretty darn sure ya gotta socialize to do that. And most folks prefer to loosen up with their buds than be all uptight and scarin' folks."

"Hmm..." Mila thought. "Maybe I can try talking with him."

"Good luck. He's runs faster than a cheetah headed to a bacon convention."

Mila giggled at Maybelle's remark.

"But Mila. Papa is worried about you." Rosella said.

"I get it. I did run out pretty angrily on everyone, including the family last night."

"That's not it. I heard Papi talking to his rats, and he was saying he was scared of your relationship working out because he thinks you're gonna forget us."

Mila couldn't believe what she'd just heard. She needed to go talk to her father right away. But, what about Maybelle?

"Maybelle, go find Gabby and tell her everything you just told me." said the eldest human. "I've got a serious problem of my own."

"I understand, Mila. Yer daddy's important too." Maybelle said, tipping her hat. "I'll go find the little princess and see if she can help."

"Can I stay here?" Rosella asked. "I wanna see the other caballos."

"Just be careful, Rosa." Mila said.

Bruno sat on his bed with his rats crawling all around.

His worst fears seemed to be coming true. While he was happy that Mila had the courage to stick by her boyfriend's side and accompany him when he left after what happened last night, he couldn't help but fear that Mila was angry at the family too for allowing the rest of the town to crash their night.

He hadn't seen Mila so angry since she and Mirabel argued with Abuela just before Casita fell.

Bruno thought about looking into the future, but he was terrified to do so now more than ever. No matter which way it went, he would lose Mila.

If she decided to stay in the other world and forgot the Encanto, Bruno would never see his daughter again, but if her affiliation with the people of Encanto caused her to lose the man of her dreams, she would probably never speak to her family or anyone else again. At least, this was what Bruno believed would happen.

"Papa?" said a familiar voice.

Bruno sat up, startled. And he saw his daughter at the side of the bed.

Bruno got up and hugged his daughter.

"Milagro, I'm so sorry. I didn't..."

"I know, Papa." Mila said. "None of it was your fault, or the family's. Rosella told me how you've been feeling. I know you're worried about what'll happen if I do marry Tech, but that won't happen for a long time. Even after it happens, I could never forget you."

Bruno looked at his daughter as tears formed in his eyes.

"I've had many girls leave me before..." he sobbed.

"But I'm not one of them. And I never will be. No matter where I am, you'll always be my father. The most important thing in my entire life. You always said I was your miracle. Well, you were always mine, ever since Mami first carried me in her womb. I might not remember it, but I know you and Mami both loved me from that moment you knew I was coming. And since before I could remember, I've felt the same for you. Nothing could ever change that. If I do choose to live in that other world someday, I'll always come back to visit. Their technology may be more a time my brain fits into, but no machinery can replace a human heart, or the people who live in the heart."

Mila hugged her father tightly.

"Mila... I love you so much." Bruno sighed. "I don't ever want to lose you. I just want you to be happy. If Tech makes you happy, you deserve someone like that in your life."

"I love you too, Papa. And thank you for being supportive."

The father and daughter continued to embrace each other tightly, and slowly, Bruno started to feel better knowing his daughter would never leave him forever.