Things were getting slightly better, but not by much. Alcina was now cranky, very cranky.

"I asked for something to eat," she snapped at the maids. "I expect it to be brought to me!"

"I'm sorry, my lady."

"There's no sorry about it," she snarled at the woman while backhanding her right into the wall. "Bring me my breakfast!"

Her daughters looked on, clearly not too distressed by her outburst as she had them a few times. She paced back and forth a little just as the doors opened and in stepped the maids, carrying plates of food for the four.

"About damn time!" she snarled. "And get rid of her!"

"Y-Yes, my lady."

The plates were placed down before the maid was disposed of. Alcina was quick to settle down to eat, her hunger was getting the best of her these days and the cramps were just making things worse.

"Mother, will you come read with me in the library?" Daniela asked.

Alcina pondered on the thought, maybe a distraction would be nice.

"Make sure there's actually something on my plate this time," she scolded the maid.

"Yes, my lady." The woman nodded as she left to go bring more.

Alcina wolfed down the next lot before standing to follow her daughter on to the library. It would be a nice change, she liked spending time with the three, whether together or separate.

"Will you read this one to me?" she asked, handing over a book to her mother.

Alcina sat with the book in one hand, while her other rested upon her abdomen, rubbing small circles to help ease some of the discomfort there. Daniela leaned into her, her hand resting upon her mother's belly to rub for her.

"What are you going to name her?" Daniela now asked to which surprised Alcina as she hadn't mentioned anything to them about the baby.

However, it pained her to see Daniela was growing attached to the still growing child, but to be asked what she would name her after knowing this wasn't exactly hers she didn't really know what to say.

"Well..."

"Will we be best friends?"

Alcina nodded with a smile. "I'm sure you will both get on just fine together."

Daniela smiled pleasantly. "So, what are you going to name her or can I name her?"

"It's actually slightly complicated, my sweet."

"Why?" she asked pulling away to look up.

"I..." Alcina shook her head as she pushed her daughter away. "I'm sorry, dear. I have to go."

Daniela watched her go, quite saddened by the fact that her mother hadn't finished the chapter. Instead she took up the book and finished it herself.

xXx

Ethan clearly had no idea that his own wife wasn't his wife. Everything seemed so perfect and normal, he couldn't possibly see anything different in her.

"I was thinking we could take Rose out to see the sights?" Mia pondered.

"Sounds good to me, honey."

"We should maybe go on a picnic or something?"

"Yeah, I'm so glad to have been sent here. It's certainly a change and a distraction from all we've been through."

"Oh, you have no idea, Ethan Winters." She smiled as she watched him now playing with Rose.

xXx

"Damn this dress," Alcina glared down at it as she tried to loosen it a little what with the growing tightness.

Eventually she just gave in, having to get a tailor in to fix it for her. The man said nothing as he worked silently on taking her measurements while loosening the fabric up here and there a little.

"Mother's starting to show now," Bela commented as they all watched from the doorway.

"She doesn't look like she's taking well to it though," Cassandra pointed out.

"I asked her what she'd name her, but she said nothing." Daniela added, sounding disappointed.

Bela was lost to her thoughts now, if this was Mother Miranda's doing then once that child was born she'd demand her to hand it over.

"Bela!" Cassandra smacked her. "Are you coming?"

"No," she frowned, snapping from her thoughts to then turn back to look at her mother.

Cassandra swarmed off with Daniela behind her. Bela now walked over to stand beside her mother as the tailor finished up with the last little tweaks here and there.

"Mother," she looked to her, a little nervous about how she would ask but she did.

"Hmm?"

"Is everything alright?" she asked softly.

"Everything's fine, dear. Why do you ask?"

"Well, we noticed you've been unwell and moody. We thought you were, uh..."

"I am carrying," her mother confirmed. "I mean it's pretty much showing now. I can't exactly hide it.

Bela lowered her head.

"Whatever's the matter, sweetling?" Alcina now asked, hooking her fingers under her daughter's chin to raise her head.

"I'm worried for you, mother."

"There's no need to worry over me, my darling."

"But isn't it Mother Miranda's doing?" Bela now spoke up. "She'll want the baby for herself won't she?"

Alcina lowered her hand to turn away from her. "Are you quite done?" she now snapped.

The man gave a quick nod.

"Good now take your pay and go," she growled.

"T-Thank you, my lady."

"I didn't mean to upset you, mother." Bela tried to apologise.

"Bela, please would you go join your sisters or find something else to occupy yourself with."

Bela nodded before walking out, clearly annoyed with herself over upsetting her mother. She decided to see what the other two were up too, Daniela was picking on one of the maids again and Cassandra was out back. She returned with blood soaked robes, which wasn't all her own.

"Why are you always causing a mess!?" Bela now lost her temper to her sister, who'd thought it best to drag the body of a werewolf right through the halls and into the kitchen.

"I was out there killing this and if you hadn't noticed my arm is bleeding!" Cassandra snapped back.

"It's your own damn fault!"

"What is your problem?"

Bela just transformed herself into a swarm to head out, Cassandra following on after her to find Alcina passing to head for the stairs.

"Mother!" she called out. "Mother, Bela's..."

"Not now, Cassandra!" her mother scolded her.

"But..."

"I said, not now!"

Cassandra swarmed off in a huff, smashing a vase on the way.

"Cassandra!" Alcina yelled.

She knew to hide for a good while, until mother was calmed. Well the three now knew to leave her a little for the time being.

xXx

"You're really going full native here," Ethan thought with a shake of his head.

"Why wouldn't I?" Mia smiled as she started to pour the wine for them both until something hit her in the shoulder.

Ethan was quick to look up, seeing blood now seeping from the wound.

"Oh, shit! Mia get down!"

She ignored him and in return was shot upon.

"Mia!"

Someone now walked in to empty a full clip into her.

"Chris! Why!" he yelled.

"Sorry, Ethan." Chris just said after killing the man's wife.

xXx

Alcina was sat in her armchair nursing a migraine of all things.

"When will this ever stop?" she frowned after heaving into the bucket for the third time.

Standing she wondered if it was a risk to lay down on the bed, she'd already thrown up once before on it. But she was just so damned tired and thoughts and worries plagued her just as much as it plagued her daughter Bela. Speaking of Bela, she wondered if she should have made it up to the poor girl. She hadn't seen or heard anything from them in sometime, were they avoiding her? Turning from the bed, she decided to push through the pain and discomfort to head out.

"Girls!" she called, grimacing at the loudness of her own voice. "Girls, where are you?"

They hadn't come to her call, which was puzzling to say the least as usually they'd be there straight away on the first call out to them. She made her way downstairs and into the living room to slump onto the settee, the small walk had done her in completely. Whatever this thing growing inside her was doing, it felt like it was slowly killing her. Is that what Miranda wanted? This child to drain her? To take her life force for her own? No, she couldn't think like that.

She ended up falling asleep in the end as a dream took hold.

"She's my daughter, Alcina!"

"But I'm the one that carried her and gave birth to her. She's my child!"

"Give her to me! She's mine!"

"No, I won't give her up!"

"Give her to me!"

"No, I won't let you take her!"

"You will hand her over, Alcina!"

"She's mine!"

"Then die!"

"Mother!" her daughters now tried to wake her while also trying not to get hit by her in the process.

"You won't take her from me! You won't! She's mine!"

"Mother, calm down. You're dreaming."

She eventually awoke to three concerned faces.

"Oh, daughters." She now grimaced as she pulled herself up, Daniela taking her hand to help her. "Thank you."

Daniela gave a nod as she then looked to her mother.

"Do you still feel unwell?" she asked.

"Hmm, a little hungry."

"I'll go make you something," Bela now swarmed off.

Once she was back, she handed over the plate of food for her to eat. She knew mother was eating for two and so had to make sure she fulfilled her hunger.

"Thank you, my darling." She smiled, giving Bela the proud feeling she deserved once again.

"I know I've been acting strange, but you already know that I'm pregnant with Mother Miranda's child. "I know how much you're concerned over me and I love you all for it. But things will work out, I promise you."

Bela seemed dubious about it, she would tear Mother Miranda's head off with her own hands if it came to her hurting mother.

"You're really alright with this, mother?" Cassandra now asked.

Alcina just nodded, but her daughters could plainly tell.

"Please don't let Mother Miranda take her from us," Daniela now leaned over to lay against her with her hand on her mother's slightly swollen belly. "I want to welcome a new baby sister to our home."

Bela and Cassandra shared a look that said they would protect each and everyone of their family members no matter what it cost. Alcina now stroked her daughters hair back in thought, she'd have to find a way to keep the child if she can.

"Everything will be alright. I swear to you. I won't let anything come between us."

"Thank you mother."

The distant sound of a phone ringing had Alcina groan before having to lift Daniela from her knee.

"Can't you just ignore her?" she whined at having to move.

"You know fair well I can't, sweetheart."

"But you promised," Daniela pouted.

"I will inform her of me not feeling well," she reassured them as she ducked under the doorway, which was also starting to become a hindrance to her.