Everyone was having a great time dancing in Antonio's room. Music played, the animals frolicked and danced around, even Abuela joined in the fun after Felix pulled her in. Then, all of a sudden, two twin cousins burst into the dance floor with a message.
"The house is in danger!" Mirabel shouted. And all the music stopped as quickly as a record scratching.
"There were cracks, the tiles were falling, and the candle almost went out!" Mirabel continued.
"It's true! I saw them too. So did Papi." Mila added in support.
"Show me," said Abuela.
But, when they all got out there, the cracks were gone.
"But- but they were there. Abuela, I swear. There really were cracks." Mirabel said.
"Yeah, you can have Antonio ask Chika. She saw them too." Mila said.
Chika barked as though agreeing.
"Mama, they are telling the truth," said Bruno.
"I don't know what happened-" Mirabel started, but Abuela raised her hand for herto stop.
"Nothing is wrong with La Casa Madrigal." Abuela announced. "The magic is strong and so are the drinks. Music."
Luisa held the piano up sort of awkwardly, Augustine played a dance tune, and everyone went back to the party.
Abuela just... She doesn't believe us? Does she really believe we'd want to ruin Antonio's night?
Mirabel just ran to the nursery and lay face-down on her bed in frustration. Her mother Julieta joined her, hoping to comfort her.
Mila tried to follow Mirabel, but was stopped by her father's hand on her shoulder.
"Give her some space, Mija." He said.
Mila didn't feel like going back to the party, so she just went to her room and locked the door again.

Mila couldn't fall asleep that night.
"Alright, Chika. It's time to really get serious." She got out some of her chemistry equipment and notebooks. Then she summoned as many books about genetics, natural disasters, and house building as she could find. "There's a reason the house is cracking, and I'm gonna find it."
Looking at her notes, she came upon an old hypothesis.
"Maybe something is wrong with the candle again," said Mila. "I just need to get a better sample of it. Maybe it'll have answers this time."
Mila quietly snuck out of her room and started climbing the tiles of the Casita up to the window where the candle sat. But then, she nearly lost her balance when she saw Mirabel doing the same.
'What are you doing here?" Mila said in sign language.
Mila had a real gift for coming up with ideas, as well as learning many things quickly, including languages. With Dolores hearing everything, secrets were not so easily kept. Therefore, Mila saw fit to learn sign language, and to teach Mirabel since they talked to each other the most, and it was helpful when they didn't have any paper or writing tools to make notes.
"I should be asking you the same thing," signed Mirabel.
That was when the girls heard their abuela and saw her talking to a picture in a locket of her late husband Pedro, who Mila's little brother was named after.
"Ay, Pedro. I need you. Cracks in our casita. If our family knew how vulnerable we truly are... If our miracle is dying...We cannot lose our home again." Abuela sighed. "Why is this happening? Open my eyes. If the answer is here, help me find it. Help me protect our family. Help me save our miracle."
"I will save the miracle," whispered Mirabel.
"How?" Mila whispered.
Mirabel was silent, but was clearly uncertain.
"Well, I figure out what's hurting the miracle." Mirabel said quietly.
Casita moved some tiles, asking Mirabel how she planned to do that.
"I agree with Casita," said Mila.
Mirabel thought for a moment, and then she had an idea.
"Who do we know who would noticed something was wrong from anywhere?" Mirabel asked.
Mila smiled as she knew exactly who her cousin was talking about.
"I knew I wasn't the only genius in the family."
But, that was when they heard a baby crying. Mila knew exactly which one it was.

Mila gently picked up her little brother and gently rocked him in her arms. It was a good thing Rosella was a deeper sleeper, otherwise it would've been a bigger problem.
"Is he okay?" Mirabel asked.
"Yes. He isn't hungry and doesn't need a change." Mila said. "He probably just had a bad dream."
Pedro started wailing again. Mirabel quickly and quietly shut the door so the noise wouldn't wake the rest of the family.
"Shh. Shh. Esta bien, Pedro." Mila cooed. Then, she sang a little lullaby Bruno and Julieta sang to her and Mirabel when they were little. Dos Oruguitas. Mila even got Mirabel to sing along, and little Pedro's eyes slowly drifted back to sleep.
The cousins gently kissed Pedro's head, and Mila carefully placed him back in the crib beside his twin sister.
"We're gonna save the miracle." Mirabel said. "For the twins, for Antonio. For the family, and the Encanto."