Summary; Even in a world where Claudine didn't grow up on the isle, she and Lefou Deux were destined to meet.

Inspired by; Claudine's gift by dragoneyes618 on tumblr.

Trigger warning; Kidnapping, implied racism, implied abuse, etc.

Rick is 21.

Claudine is 19.

Rachel is 18.

Miguel is 17.

Rory is 16.

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Claudine Esther-Mary Madrigal had few memories of her life before the Madrigals. And all of them were vague.

A Creperie where she did all the work despite being too tiny to reach the stove.

A Church that turned away people who looked different. Turned away people who looked like her new family did.

A bonnet that was so tight that it almost strangled her.

Burlap sack dresses and a tall bell tower.

A closet that was small even for a toddler—more like a cupboard, actually—filled with crosses that made her heart tighten.

A looming shadow.

A woman falling.

Another woman teaching her how to speak English and a few other languages in bits and pieces, warning her not to tell him .

Her older brother, Rick, somehow had even fewer memories than she did regarding that time of their life.

A big man yanking him around by the arm.

The same big man screaming in face because he had helped a woman pick up the things she had dropped, yelling something about savages.

Eating out of a dog bowl with his puppy, Prometheus.

Having to wear boxes for clothes and being constantly hungry.

Tears and bruises that were only met with yelling and even more bruises.

And their younger siblings—Rachel and Rory—remembered absolutely nothing.

None of their memories painted a pretty picture. Especially not when put together with the faded scars they both had and their family's retelling of her and her brother's 'surprise adoption'.

So it should be no surprise that Claudine never really went digging into her past. Nor should it be that she never bothered asking.

After all, who would want to know more about such terrible things when there was a high chance that it would only drudge up things that should stay forgotten?

Things that they didn't want to know about...

Things that they didn't want to remember.

But that didn't mean that she knew nothing about it . About where she came from.

When Prince Ben first made his proclamation, word traveled fast—even to the Encanto—and Her Papá had sat her and her siblings down (separately) and finally explained just where he had gotten them.

Claudine had been in shock for a while afterwards. Not quite knowing what to think about the whole thing.

Rory cried.

Rachel wasn't sure why he even bothered to tell them since it didn't matter in her opinion.

And Rick had refused to speak with them about it and preferred to just act like the conversations had never happened.

Claudine wasn't really sure she could blame him.

After all, how was one supposed to react upon finding out that they had essentially been kidnapped from a villainous religious zealot and a power hungry, greedy bigot who had been locked away among other villains who also had children? Children who weren't lucky enough to have been saved like she and her siblings had been.

Once the shock wore off, Claudine became invested in everything to do with the isle. And had quite possibly cheered the loudest when the barrier had been brought down f or good.

Which led into the current predicament her family was arguing about where little ears (Aka Miguel, Rachel and Rory and the others) couldn't hear:

New people had come to the Encanto.

All under 30.

3 boys not much older than her (twins 21, one 20).

1 not much younger (17).

1 only ten years old.

1 girl not much younger (17).

And 5 little girls (twins 8, one 7, one 6, and one 4).

All in bad shape, the oldests willing to work.

All refusing to say where they came from or how they knew of this place.

Abuela, cautious as ever in her old age, didn't like it. Feared that their sanctuary could be fully exposed if they allowed them to stay.

No one else in the family agreed, even as she tried to get them to see her point of view. She even slipped up and asked Dolores to eavesdrop on them, something she hadn't done since Claudine was little.

Of course, Dolores refused and (gently) reminded her that times had changed. And then everyone else had gotten a chance to argue their case.

Tío Agustín and Tía Julieta argued they couldn't stay hidden forever, which Prima Isabela agreed with—citing the fact that if these kids and her luv, Bubo, had found them that others would come after. Whether or not they liked it.

Primo Antonio and Camilo along with Prima Dolores and her luv, Mariano, said that it was nice to see some new faces around. And that they could do some good for the town.

Luisa and Maribel just thought that they should give them a chance, which Claudine herself silently agreed with—and Rick not so silently.

Tía Pepa and Tío Félix then made the strongest point. Getting emotional as usual, which was certainly warranted in this situation.

"Mamá , they're your Bisnietos' ages and they clearly need help. How can you be suggesting that we turn them away! Isn't that what the Encanto is for? Protecting people. "

Abuela cut in "It's for protecting our people —" but Pepa wasn't having it.

"The moment they stepped foot in the Encanto they became OUR people!"

Félix hastily added in his own two cents "and if the Encanto allowed them in, then they must really need the help. Besides, when has the Encanto ever let anyone dangerous in? How dangerous could a bunch of children even be ?"

"We don't even know where they came from!" The Matriarch of the family protested, though it was weaker than it was.

Claudine looked over at her Papá to see what he thought, since he hadn't spoken up yet, just in time to see him stand. He said one thing and one thing only that would shock them all:

"They're from the isle of the lost."

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Abuela ended up letting the gaggle of children stay after that and few in the Encanto protested.

They all remembered what Claudine and Rick were like when Bruno first brought them here. And even if they didn't, there were things that convinced them not to kick up a fuss about the arrangement.

Things like the scars that varied in age that couldn't be explained away by falls and other bouts of childhood clumsiness that mirrored the faded ones Claudine and Rick had.

Things like the haunted looks in the older kids' eyes that Claudine and Rick saw every day in the mirror in their own reflections.

Things like the slowly fading bruises and the whispers of dead siblings and cousins who never reached adulthood.

Things like the broken arm the littlest boy had and the large hand shaped bruise on the youngest girl's cheek.

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Claudine wasn't sure how to feel about the new arrivals. Other than intrigued and sad, that is.

Would she have turned out as snarky and skittish and bitter as the oldest ones were had her Papá never came to save her and Rick?

Or would she have turned out worse somehow? Meeker like Carlos had first been? Quieter like her father had once been?

Or would she have died long before she got to that point?

The possibilities haunted her, almost as much as the implications of what the newcomers' had been through did.

She knew it bothered Rick too, even if he wouldn't admit it.

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Claudine was a curious girl.

She was even what some would call nosey .

But she just preferred the term 'thorough In her research'.

Which is what she did when someone (a friendly and unsuspecting Luisa) was finally able to pry last names out of the newcomers.

Leprince. LeGume. Bimbette.

Those were their last names. Or at least the ones they had given. And with those last names, 18 year old Claudine was able to find a series of documents that proved her father's words true.

As well as many of the rumors that had been flying around town since the children had gotten here.

Birth certificates.

Badly done School Records.

Medical files published by one Harry Badun.

A Kidnapping report on King Ben that named Gil as one of the ones who had nabbed him.

A report on what had happened during the 'Queen of Mean' Incident that named Gil as one of the people who had helped save Auradon.

Missing persons reports on all of the kids that were currently in the Encanto.

And most horrifyingly of all, she found obituaries also published by Harry Badun for other relatives of the New comers.

Siblings and cousins.

Siblings and cousins who didn't make it to 18.

Nine to be exact.

Nine dead kids.

Six Boys.

Three girls.

Claudine wished she had abandoned the investigation before it even started.

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The LeGume-LePrince-Bimbette cousins settled into the Encanto rather quickly and were met with little resistance, much to their surprise.

They moved into a small, fixer upper, 'work in progress' house with just enough backyard for the kids to be able to run around in and got to work.

Junior and Bronze became movers and mechanics.

Gil arm wrestled people and babysat for money.

Claire became a seamstress and a dual teacher.

And Lefou Deux or Lee, as he went by now, became a toy maker while their little cousins and siblings went to school.

All of them were less than enthusiastic about becoming high school dropouts but knew that it sadly had to be done. How else were they supposed to be expected to keep a roof over all their heads?

And sure, it wasn't the most glamorous roof — being thin, uninsulated, and filled with holes. But it was a roof.

And sure, it was crowded since they all had to share rooms but it wasn't all that bad since they didn't have any furniture to crowd it more. And sure, it was so cold that they had to huddle together for warmth most of the time but it was better than nothing.

At least that's what they told themselves until they could get something better.

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4 months after the newcomers had arrived in the Encanto, Claudine stood outside of the toy shop— invisible to the naked eye, watching as the tallest and lengthiest one ran around the shop. Fixing things.

It had become a habit of hers for reasons she could not explain. One that she wasn't sure her family knew of or would approve of.

She knew it was weird. And that some would even call it a bit creepy but she just couldn't help it.

The redhead worried about him. Had been worrying about him ever since she heard her Abuela and Tías fretting over how he needed to eat more about a month after he arrived in town.

After that, Claudine just hadn't been able to get how thin he was out of her head.

So, she had gotten into the habit of following him around and sneaking extra food into his lunch bag and groceries. And so far, he hadn't seemed to notice.

Which Claudine was thankful for, since she wasn't sure what she'd do if she were ever caught.

Probably turn invisible and stay that way until he forgot what she looked like.

Annnnnnnd she was starting to sound like a stalker, wasn't she?

Claudine swatted that thought out of her head, noticing that it was nearly the boy's lunch break and quickly snuck into the small shop. Making sure to keep a tight grip on her bag when—

WHAM!

Claudine fell back, becoming visible as the contents of her bag spilled everywhere. Mixing with toy parts.

All the color drained out of her face as she slowly lifted her head and spotted the newcomer, who was clutching his now bleeding nose and looking at her.

"Oh my god, I am so sorry. I didn't see you there—" the dark haired boy stammered, quickly helping her gather the contents of her bag. Including the wrapped arepas that Claudine had been planning on sneaking into his bag.

Claudine was sure that she was probably as red as her hair by now and waited for him to call her out on being the one who had been sneaking food into his bag, dreading it, but to her surprise he said nothing.

Holding them out to her.

"Uh gracias. Muy apreciada" she muttered meekly, snatching it back from him and shoving it back into her bag. Where her rats were still hiding, thankfully alright.

"No problemo miss. It's the least I could do after rudely running into you like that. I don't know how I could have missed you. I should probably get my eyes checked " He joked, fidgeting with his gloves. Clearly expecting to get yelled at.

Claudine's heart ached, remembering how quick she was to expect the same for things that weren't her fault when she was younger.

"No, no. It was my fault. I should have been paying better attention" she rushed to assure him, not liking the far off look he was starting to get in his eyes.

"I'm Claudine by the way. Claudine Madrigal" She held her hand out to him in invitation, silently hoping the change of subject would work.

It did.

He quickly accepted her hand, grinning widely in a way that gave her butterflies before introducing himself. "Nice to meet ya Claudine, I'm Lefou Deux LePrince but everyone calls me Lee."

Looking into his eyes, Claudine was sure of one thing;

She was doomed.