It was around noon when Ivan got a call from his sister. He picked up the phone, already knowing what she was going to say.

"Hello? Vanya?" Yeketerina asked.

"Hello, Katya."

"Oh, my little brother! I heard what happened!" She exclaimed.

"Yes, well..."

"I heard that the next meeting will be here in Ukraine!"

"What? Oh...yes...yes that is right."

"I am so glad! I will be finally be able to see you and your lovely girlfriend!" Katya said beaming.

Ivan sighed, "Katya...Adriana and I are no longer together."

There was a pause.

"What! But just a few months ago I saw you two together!"

"Yeah well we're through!"

"Ivan!"

"Look Katya, I am very busy right now. Talking about someone who doesn't matter right now is not important."

Katya smiled sadly, "Oh Vanya..." she merely whispered.

"Well I just called to see if you wanted to come already to Kiev."

"Thank you, Katya. I'll try to see if I can come this Wednesday."

"Oh that is great! I'll get some things ready then! I'll need to get..." Katya trailed off, and Ivan let her talk, simply enjoying her voice. It had been at least two years since he had seen his sister.

Ivan smiled, "Maybe it was a good thing the meetings were rescheduled." He thought.

"Ivan," she softened her voice.

"Hmm?"

"I just want you to know that I am here for you and..."

"Katya, what happened, happened. It's all in the past."

"And even if it happened yesterday or three years ago, I will be here to listen and guide you as your sister."

"I know, Katya, it's just that...it's hard to explain..."

"It's okay Vanya. Just know that you can trust me."

Ivan sighed, "Alright, thank you Katya."

"You're welcome Vanya. Now I'm going to go and get some things ready for Wednesday. Plus I don't want to interrupt you and your work."

"Oh, Katya you never interrupt me." He said sincerely.

"See you later Vanya!"

"Goodbye!"
Ivan hanged up the phone. He cradled his head in his hands. "Tch- Katya always has her heart in the right place, but she sometimes is too naive to see otherwise."

"Wait...if the meetings were rescheduled? That means that...damn! Adriana will be there!"

"Adriana, ya llegue."

Antonio announced as he opened the front door.

He dropped the keys on the kitchen table and set the dog carrier on the floor.

"She must be asleep. She did say she was going to come home very late."

"I'll just start making breakfast, then she'll have to wake up."

Antonio chuckled and hurried off into the kitchen, humming to himself a tune.

"You got a message!" The cellphone text message sound went off, scaring Adriana half to death. She sat up on her bed, rubbing the sleep out if her eyes. With one quick flick of the wrist she grabbed her phone, "How'd the trip go?! -Feli"

"Ugh," she groaned inwardly, "not now."

"It's only," she clicked the home button and read the time, "10:40!"

"Crap! Antonio's gonna come over and-"

Adriana jumped out of bed, but quickly stood still. She heard the soft clatter of pans and someone singing off-key.
It took her a few seconds to realize it was Antonio and not some crazy freak who'd enter her house.

Adriana let out a sigh of relief and went to change. She felt glad she had decided to shower last night, even though it was very late. She looked at herself at the mirror.

"Parezco La Llorona." She shuddered at her reflection and shrugged making her way downstairs.

"¡Buenos días, Toño!"

"¡Adriana!"

Antonio quickly turned off the stove and walked over to her. He pulled her into a hug,

"I've missed you so much!"

"Toño, I can't-breath!"

"Oh, sorry."

Antonio took his sister's hand in his, "I'm just glad you are home."

"Thanks. And I've missed you too, and I'm so glad to be back."

Adriana's stomach growled loudly. She blushed, "I didn't eat anything when I got back."

"Well come on! I made you breakfast. Oh! Santos is in his carrier, you might want to take him out."

Adriana smiled, "Sure." She saw the dog carrier and pulled the Chihuahua out.

"Look at you, did you miss me? Huh? Did ya?" asked the puppy before setting it down. Santos wagged his tail and then raced to the kitchen hoping to catch some food.

Adriana decided to prepare some coffee as Antonio finished serving the meal.

They sat down to eat, and Adriana told Antonio how her trip had gone. They had gone taking without Antonio mentioning Ivan, when he innocently asked how he was doing.
Adriana froze and almost choked on her coffee. She coughed a bit and set the mug down,

"Ivan, um, he's fine."

Antonio noticed how uneasy his sister had gotten and became worried.

"Did anything happen, while you were at Russia?"

"I already told you everything. Plus you have nothing to worry about."

Adriana quickly dismissed the situation and took another sip of her coffee. She felt Antonio's eyes studying her and frowned.

"What?" She asked, slightly annoyed.

"Well, I wasn't going to say this, but you look like the living dead."

"Gee, thanks. You try sitting in an airplane for a day."

"Adriana, you know that is not what I mean."

"Then stop beating around the bush and get to the point!"

Antonio sighed, "Look, Adriana. Your eyes are red and very puffy-"

"I have-!"

"No. Don't say it's only allergies, because we both know that's not true."

"What happened between you and Ivan?"

Adriana ran her fingers to her hair. "We...we...ended things."

"What? Why?!"

She closed her eyes, "Please, Antonio. Not now. I-I'm still trying to piece everything together."

Adriana opened her eyes and met her brother's concerned green eyes.

"Okay. But you know, whenever you need me I'll be here."

Adriana slightly smiled, "Thanks."

"Now how about we clean up and then we go out somewhere, like the park or-?"
Adriana cut her brother off, "I've got to unpack first, but sure! I'd love to, and I'll bring Santos along, too."

-

Adriana sat on a park bench, texting Feliciano how things had gone. She skipped over the fact, Ivan and she had ended things, due to the fact that the issue was still too personal.

Of course it wasn't they who had ended things. It was their bosses and Alfred who had meddled in lot their private life. A small beeping noise brought back her attention.

An email from her boss.

There will be a meeting discussing the new deals next week. I know that the previous meeting was cut short, but I still expect you to bring in those reports. We will also discuss the new ally terms with Mr. Jones.

Adriana sighed and emailed back her reply. It wasn't like she had no other choice. Just as she had finished sending her reply, another email came in.

The new postponement date for the World Conference has been moved to next Wednesday to Kiev, Ukraine. We understand if you cannot be present due to lack of timing...

The email began explaining what to do if one was to be absent and the location of the conference and more. Adriana groaned and shoved the phone into her jean pocket. "Can't they just give me a break?" She wondered.

She got up from the bench and walked over to where Antonio was playing with Santos. She joined their games of fetch and felt her troubles temporarily melt away.

"Hey, Adriana?" Antonio called out to his sister.

"Yes?"

"I was wondering, since Barcelona plays today why don't I call the guys over and we watch the game together? That way you can relax and you know wind down a little bit."

Adriana picked up Santos, "I don't know. I mean, I just got back and-"

"Ahh, don't say that, we'll clean up after ourselves."

She eyed her brother, "You already invited them over, right?"

Antonio rubbed the back of his neck, "Pfft! No way!"

She raised an eyebrow, "Really? Fine. As long as we don't mention anything about my trip, then it's okay."

Antonio hugged his sister a bit too tightly, "Gracias."

"Pero nada de locuras, esta bein?"

"Te lo juro. Nada de locuras."

Adriana sighed and chuckled, as they both headed back to her home. Knowing her brother's friend, craziness would follow them everywhere.

Adriana was sitting in the living room. Santos curled in her lap, the TV announcer rapidly speaking Spanish as he tried to call out the plays. It really had turned out into a good day.

Well until Antonio, Francis, Feli, and Lovino entered the living room. The three singing very loudly and Lovino telling them to shut up and help him carry the plates of food to the room.

"I hope my kitchen will be spotless before you four leave."

"Don't worry, cherie, we'll take care of that later." Francis said.

Adriana looked at them, "Every time Barcelona plays, you guys come over and Francis you say the same thing every time."

"Well this time, Antonio made a bet."

"If Barca loses, he cleans. If they win, we clean." Feli explained.

"What?!" exclaimed Lovino.

"What the hell Antonio! I never agreed to that! Plus they always win!"

Antonio began to laugh, "I know that why I made the bet this way."

"Don't worry, Lovi. I'll help you guys out." Adriana said as she stood up and helped Lovino with the plates and drinks.

They men sat around the coffee table and on the couch, while Santos had woke up and recognized Feli sitting on the floor and jumped off Adriana and sat in his lap.

"Oh hello Santos!" Feli exclaimed happily, picking up the puppy.

They talked, cheered and most of all enjoyed themselves watching the game. Of course, Barcelona won 3-0, meaning everybody but Antonio would clean up. But at Adriana's request, he helped out too.

"So, Adriana, Toni here tells me, that you and Ivan broke up." Francis asked cautiously.
Antonio nudged Francis to shut up, but it was too late.

Adriana turned off the water from the sink and gave everyone a death stare.
"We'll clean up first, then talk."

About thirty minutes later, they all finished cleaning. They probably finished faster because Francis wanted to hear about what had happened to his little Adriana.

The five of them sat again in the living room, this time each drinking either hot chocolate or coffee.

Francis waggled his eyebrow, "Commence, cherie."

Adriana sighed and told her brother and friends what had happened at the train station. To her surprise, she didn't start crying. On the other hand, Feli had suddenly rushed to her side and pulled her into a bone crushing hug, almost spilling her drink.

"Why didn't you tell us sooner?"

"Because there is still something that happened that I cannot say."

Now this captured Francis' attention and he began to laugh his signature laugh.

"Well, mon cherie, that sounds a little heavy. So, tell me, did you and Ivan sleep together?" Francis purred with a wiggle of his eyebrows. He had been dying to ask that since they all had begun talking.

Adriana took a sip of her hot chocolate and almost as bluntly as Francis had asked, replied, "Well, yes."

An awkward silence filled the room and everyone gawked at Adriana who had gone back to sipping her drink.

Francis began to laugh nervously, "Well, what do you know, right Antonio?" He eyed his friend who looked like he was about to explode.

Antonio had turned bright red and began to swear in Spanish. He stood up from his chair and set his mug on the coffee table.

"So let me get this straight. Ese desgraciado te dejo, pero primero hizo que durmieras con el?!"

He began to raise his voice, curses and words, Adriana had never heard him say spilled out of his mouth.

Francis and Feli looked back at Adriana who seemed to care less and then back at Antonio. Lovino was pushing him down his seat and trying to take the phone away from his hand, muttering his own choice words.

"Shut the hell up Toni! You can't call the damn police to get him!"

Feli had turned bright red, and looked at Adriana and was about to say something, when Antonio beat him to it.

"And you!" He roared. "What was that about waiting till marriage?! Oh this is horrible. Didn't I raise you with morals! Oh Dios mio! Didn't I tell you, men, once they get what they want, throw you away?!"

Now Francis jumped in on the argument, "Hey! I do not treat women like a possession! I stay with them, until she or I decide it's time to move on!"

It suddenly dawned on her. Francis had meant 'slept together' as in the intimate 'sleep together'.

She turned red, redder than Antonio, and began to laugh out of embarrassment.

Antonio turned his head and glared at his sister. "And what is so funny, Maria?"

Her head snapped to face him, still laughing she managed to say, "I-you-oh Diosito-I did not sleep with Ivan."

"Oh no. You just said you did!"

"I meant that yes we slept together, sometimes, but not in that way!"

"What?" the four of them gave her a confused look.

"You mean, like you slept together, but only slept?" Feli asked, perplexed.

"Umm, duh."

Lovino let go of Antonio and he walked over to his sister.

"Maria Adriana Fernandez Carriedo, swear to me, swear to me that what you say is true!"

"Antonio! Why can't you believe me?!" Adriana whined.

"Maria." Antonio's voice grew serious.

She huffed, "I swear that I did not do anything inappropriate with Ivan. If I am lying, then the tomatoes are to die."

"Adriana!"

"What I swore that everything I say is true!"

Toni pulled his sister into a hug, "Don't scare me like that."

"Umm, if I do recall, Francis was the one who asked the dirty question."

"Yeah, but you were the one who said yes."

"Well, yeah, but I didn't realize he meant it that way."

Lovino leaned over to Francis, "You think she's lying?"

"I don't know. I mean she's old enough to have known what I meant, but still…"

"Well she better be telling the truth. If the tomatoes dies, that means no more pasta!" Feli cried.

"Oi, hate to interrupt the bonding fest but can we please get back to our talk?" Lovino said annoyed.

"Yes, Adriana if what you can't tell us wasn't that you two slept together, then what is the 'secret'?"

Antonio looked down at his sister who turned red again, and began to shift uncomfortably.

"Aha! She was lying!" Lovino shouted.

"Maria Adriana!"

"No! Guys, just shut up!"

"Then tell us now!"

"NO!"

"Adriana!"

"I. Said. NO!"

"You will tell me now or so help me I'll go and personally go and teach that Russian how to celebrate San Fermin! Beginning with how to enter a bull pen-"

"I AM ENGAGED TO ALFRED!"

They all stared at her, again confused.

She buried her face into her hands and her shoulders began to shake.

Antonio and his friends gathered around Adriana. "Hey, Adriana…" Antonio whispered.

She lifted her head and wiped her face, "There! Now you know! Are you satisfied?!"

"But, I don't understand, how?"

"Because Alfred mentioned that we should became trading partners and strengthen up a new, separate division to NAFTA. I said no because it wasn't even open yet, and I didn't want to risk anything, especially now."

"But he told my boss, and he told me to end any other relationships, Alfred and I would marry, strengthen the new division and become permanent allies."

"It broke my heart that I was treated to like a tool! And-and-then I had to tell Ivan, and—"

Antonio pulled her close and let her cry, rubbing soothing circles on her back.

"Shh, it's alright. I'm sorry."

Antonio held her and rubbed soothing circles onto her back. For a moment Francis, Lovino, and Feli stood in their spots not knowing what to do. Finally, Adriana's sobs died down and turned into small hiccups. She wiggled herself out of her brother's embrace and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

She sniffled and looked at her friends and her brother. Adriana smiled sheepishly and felt very embarrassed. "Oh, que pena. I'm sorry guys-"

Francis cut her off, "Non. Je suis desole. I should not have pried on personal issues."

Adriana shook her head, "Either way, you all had to know some day."

"Then when's the wedding?" Feli asked and received a hard smack on the head.

"Idiota! Can't you see she's hurt and you ask something so damn stupid?" Lovino snapped.

Adriana managed to chuckle, "It's," she sighed, "well I hope its months away, but next week I'm meeting with Alfred and those things will be discussed."

Antonio took her hand, "But you don't even like him!"

"Well, no. But's what is best for my people and I can't argue with that."

"Still, there are other ways to reinforce trade commitments."

"I know, I know!"

"But this time I have no say so. It was all done behind my back."

Antonio shook his head and ran his fingers through his already messy hair.

"Hay, Dios mio. Que vamos hacer?"

"Pues tu nada, pero yo tengo que seguir y ser fuerte."

Feliciano walked over to Adriana and sat next to her, "I was going to tell you this earlier, but then, well you know. But, here." He handed Adriana her cell phone.

"You have a missed call."

Cliffhanger! If you want me to translate some parts, tell me and I'll add the translations!

La Llorana is a Mexican folktale about a Mother who drowns her children and wails and cries every night and comes looking for young children (she's scary and is a ghost story :P )