Behind the Castle's Door [COMPLETED]

Forty-Fifth Door

"How did it go?" Miranda inquired, tapping her fingers on her kitchen's marble countertop.

It was early in the morning when Alcina called her to tell her that she'd be here today to take Clementine out for the day, as though the two of them were bonding outside of the castle. She's been trying to come up with something since her failed proposal, and now she's chatting to Miranda, who appears irritated with her, well what's new? She's always irritated but today just seemed different.

"It didn't go well," Alcina said, her lips pressed together as she grasped the mug in her hands.

Miranda sighed and rolled her eyes. "Of course, what am I supposed to expect? Your confidence, no matter how tall or large you are, is so little that I scarcely see it. So, what exactly are you waiting for? I thought you love my daughter? I'm giving you the blessing of settling down with her or are you not marrying her? If you do that, Alcina, I promise I'll have your head hanging about in my office."

"Of course I won't do that, why would I? I can't seem to get the timing right!" She sighed. "I attempted for five days, but we were constantly interrupted and whenever I would have her alone I would always stop talking like I don't have any tongue at all!"

Miranda made a sneering remark. "And I thought Donna was too shy to propose to Mallary, but she's outrunning you. What are you waiting for, Slowpoke? An eternity? You're lucky she loves you."

"How come I hear people arguing?" Irish stated as she walked into the kitchen.

"I'm scolding her because she's too slow," she shrugged. "If I were you, I'd probably be married right now," she said as she sipped her coffee from the mug.

"If you were so quick, why aren't you married to Irish? Huh?"

Miranda choked and spat her coffee, throwing Alcina deathly glares while secretly giggling at her.

"Because we're not a couple, mine and yours are distinct. Stop putting me into this conversation."

Irish shook her head and sat next to Miranda, a bowl of granola cereal in hand.

"You're not a couple, but you're acting like one," Alcina said with a tsk. "Stop being so in denial, Clementine is starting to resemble you."

"Of course she'll be like me; after all, I'm her mother."

"That's hardly anything to be proud of. You don't want Eva to grow up to be like you, do you? You're basically bad shit but with a beautiful face." Irish remarked.

"Sure go on, join forces to annoy me. You two will be added to my long list of traitors." Miranda clicked her tongue.

Alcina and Irish broke out laughing, while Miranda scowled at them, wanting to laugh as well, but she kept her severe expression. When the phone rang, they all stopped laughing and looked to Miranda.

"Donna's calling me," she puts the phone to her ear. "How are you doing today, my dandelion?" In a cheerful tone, she inquired.

"How come Donna has a nickname but I don't?" Alcina cocked her head.

Miranda covered her phone with her hand. "I gave you a nickname, I called you my failure with a heart on the front," she smirked as she returned the phone to her ear.

"Don't believe her; I spotted your name in her contacts and she called you—" when Miranda put her palm over Irish's lips, her words were cut short.

"Snooper," Miranda whispered to her. "What? Did I heard it right?" She gasped and nodded. "Oh, you're engaged," she teased Alcina with, emphasizing the word engaged with a sneer. "That's fantastic news; we should have a party for the two of you together with the family. Of course, how about a trip to the cabin coming Saturday, let's have a lunch buffet? I'll tell Salvatore, don't worry; he still can't go out because he's still learning how to properly use his human legs. Congratulations, my dandelion, I love you as well," Miranda smiled as she hung up the phone.