Contigo

Since he was a small boy, the world was full of what if's. And Mateo— Mateo has always wondered.

What if music wasn't illegal, he thought as his mother twirled him around, shades drawn and music low. Peels of laughter surrounded the room and the five year old found it hard to imagine something this fun could be a crime.

'What if my grandfather never had to leave?' he used to think as he sat in the damp room beneath his home— scrolls littering the floor and candles flickering around him.

And what if his mother had encouraged his curiosity for magic?

—What if his father wanted to stay?

"There is no use dwelling on what could have been," Rafa chided, as she continued stirring the cocido. Mateo sat backwards on the chair as he watched his mother, his eyebrows drawn together as he processed her words.

"But Mami, don't you ever wonder how different our lives would have been?" The sixteen year old asked.

Setting down her spoon, Rafa sighed dramatically. "Ay, Mateo. It doesn't matter. I have you. And you have me." She answered as she walked over to retrieve a spice from the countertop, pressing a quick kiss to the top of his head as she passed. "You are the Royal Wizard of Avalor, just like your abuelo. And," She smiled coyly as she met her son's eyes.

"And you have Elena."

Rafa knew her son well enough to know that the boy was quickly developing feelings for the crown princess of Avalor. And watching his face burn red at her comment only confirmed it.

"Mami.." Mateo groaned as Rafa laughed in amusement. She spooned a bit of the cocido and brought it to her lips, tasting it again.

Of course he had Elena. And after the danger had gone and a few years had passed, he would still have her.

In more ways than he would have ever hoped for.

Which, coincidentally, made him wonder one day how different his life would have been had they not managed to rescue her from her jewelled prison.

Would he still be lurking in the basement of his mother's home? Would Shuriki still be in power?

And what if she had never been trapped in the amulet? She would have been 57 and without a doubt things would have been different. But what if he had been born sooner? What if he knew her then?

"What..?" Elena laughed, a surprised lilt to her voice.

She was leaning against a giant tree trunk, shaded by the branches and leaves that swayed with the breeze. On her lap Mateo rested his head, and Elena threaded her fingers through his hair soothingly. He gazed up at her mildly amused eyes with adoration, a smile on his face.

"I wonder how different things would have been If I had known you before you had been trapped in the amulet," he said again.

It was a sweet sentiment, the thought of them knowing each other even then, but impossible. Elena shook her head with a chuckle. "Mateo, that was 20 years before you were born!" she laughed.

"Yes, but what if I had been born sooner?" He prompted, his eyes following hers.

"Well, I'm not sure I would like that." Elena answered, her fingers continuing to weave through his hair. The thought of her knowing him, then being trapped in the amulet for 41 years while he aged outside was a thought she didn't want to consider. "Me stuck in that Amulet. You outside— waiting hopelessly. No— I wouldn't have liked that at all."

"I could've helped you—"

"—And gotten yourself killed by Shuriki?" Elena interjected, "If I had lost you, I would have spent the eternity in the amulet living with that pain. No. I don't think I could bear that either."

"That would never happen." Mateo murmured.

"No?" Elena wondered, curiosity piqued. Her hands stilled from their ministrations, and Mateo glanced up at her again, smiling reassuringly.

"No." He repeated. "There's no way you would have been trapped in the amulet alone, because I would have never left your side." Reaching up, he grasped her hands and brought them down to his lips. He placed a brief kiss against her fingers before continuing, "I would have fought Shuriki with you. And if she had still managed to beat us, I— I would be right there with you in that amulet."

Elena smiled heartbrokenly.

"What a sad ending that would be," Elena murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "For both of us to spend an eternity in that prison."

"It wouldn't be an ending, Elena. Not for us. We would have found a way." Mateo replied. "And you would never have felt alone again because I would always be right there at your side."

He watched as Elena's eyes glimmered and her eyelashes fluttered once the sentiment reached her. Smiling, she cradled his face and leaned over to place a gentle kiss to his lips.

He felt his heart flutter as their lips met, and a comforting warmth spread through his chest. Pulling away slightly, Elena gazed into his golden eyes.

"You'd go through all that so I wouldn't be alone?"

"Yes." Mateo whispered. "And More."

Elena's lips captured his, again, the moment the words left his mouth.

Mateo twisted in her lap, lips never breaking contact as he sat up and pulled her closer against him, both completely lost in the moment. As they embraced, Mateo felt a sense of relief.

Though he would always wonder what if— he was thankful he wouldn't have to trade this for anything in the world.

.end

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