This story will soon be coming to an end soon. I feel like the 'loose ends' of the story are coming together. Of course a happy ending is promised, but it will be bittersweet.
The lemons will be posted separately after the story is finished. I think there will be three for Anita and Bernardo and one for Maria and Tony. They will be titled very planly in the summary. I think the name will be "Shimmers in the Night" because of how Anita describes Bernardo's eyes when they look at each other. I hope you will read them. Like I warned at the beginning, they will be extremely detailed, so if explicit scenes aren't your thing, well, don't read them. So here is the next installment of "Happier Endings." I hope you enjoy and don't forget to review!
Anita walked into Bernardo's room. It was the final time she had to change his bandage. They were one week away from the wedding. She walked in there. He was playing with his thumbs. He looked up. His eyes shifted to the gauze in her hands. His eyes were cloudy and uncertain. Anita's honey eyes drifted to the gauze he was staring so intently at. He sighed and looked at her. When their eyes met, the cloudiness and worry melted away. She couldn't look at him for long.
"Anita," he said, as he lifted his shirt for her to remove the used bandage. The stitches were out. She threw the old bandage off. She wrapped the new one around his toned abs. He kept watching her. She couldn't look at him straight in the eyes anymore. A guilty conscience hung over her.
"Anita, what is it?" he said, taking her hand. She looked away.
"I betrayed you," she said, sniffling tears. He sat up.
"What?"
Maria and Tony walked into the doctor's office. Tony was concerned for Maria. Lately, she had been very sick- throwing up with cramps and a constant headache. She had mood swings, bit he was scared she was too sick to make the train ride that was scheduled for tomorrow to New York. They sat down and waited for a doctor. Finally, Doctor Ramer came in.
"Hello. I'm Doctor Ramer and you guys came to see me why?" he said. Maria told him all the symptoms. He nodded, a small smile growing on his face.
"When was your last period?" he asked. Maria looked at Tony.
"Its actually really late- later than it's ever been before-" she said.
"How late?" the doctor said.
"Almost three weeks," she said, holding her breath. The doctor stood up and smiled. He nodded to the nurse and she ran to get something. She returned with a small cup.
"Urinate in this, then bring it back to me, okay?" the petite nurse smiled. Maria went into the bathroom and did that. She returned the cup to the nurse. She walked out quickly. Tony moved from from the seat so she could sit. Within twenty minutes, Dr. Ramer came in with a smile.
"Well, Mrs. Maria, you're pregnant," he said.
Earlier that week, Anita had met with Graziella. Since both of their guys had been hurt, they had bonded. Anita had ignored all Bernardo's warnings earlier about Jet girls. They were just as dangerous as the boys.
"I talked to Riff about a peace concil. He said he wants to talk to you and Bernardo over dinner with me and him," she said. Anita was still wary of her, but was still very apreciative of Graziella's effort to reach out for peace. She just wanted the war between the Jets and Sharks to end. Now they had a new matter to deal with- a new group of teens from Cuba- the Vultures. They had invited Bernardo to join the Sharks to the Vultures as one, but they had to give their girls to the Vulture boys. The leader, Ma olo had an eye for Anita. Bernardo rejected the offered without thinking. Man olo threw a fit. He was so upset that he sliced Bernardo and Riff in the stomachs to prove they were strong. Anita had met with Graziella everyday after work to discuss peace and just normal stuff behind Bernardo's back. She had scheduled dinner for a week in advance, the last day that Riff and Bernardo had to change the bandages.
"What do you mean?" Bernardo said in pure shock.
"I've met with Graziella, Riff's girl, for the past two weeks after work to discuss a peace treaty. She said that Riff wanted to take her out for dinner and that he wanted to discuss peace and ways to rid the Vultures with you. He said that I could tag along-" she said. Bernardo just couldn't believe it.
"You talked to her and scheduled a dinner with her and Riff? Anita? Really? When is the dinner?" he said, getting up.
"Tonight," she said, looking down.
"Tonight? Anita, why?" he said, clasping her arms.
"They want the same things we do, 'Nardo. Peace. And freedom from the Vultures. And Riff is tired of fighting. Graziella said that he tells her that all the time. That he only has the tough act around the Jets-" Anita said. Bernardo shook his head.
"They are lying. It's just a trap. We will go, but I will have my blade with me-" he said, getting up.
"Okay," Anita said. He put on a hot pink button up shirt with a black tie. He put on his sportscoat. Anita put on the matching hot pink dress like her lilac one. When they had freshened up, Bernardo walked her downstairs. At the bottom, he ordered Pepe and Indio to guard the place. When they walked out the door, Riff and Graziella were waiting. Graziella wore a slinky teal boatneck number and Riff wore grey slacks and a matching sportscoat. He wore a teal button-up with a white bowtie to match Graziella. He opened the door for Anita. Bernardo sat in the front with Riff, eying his every move. Anita and Graziella were engaged in conversation. When they pulled up into the resturant, both guys opened the car doors for their girls. Anita was linked around Bernardo and Graziella with Riff. When the ladies walked inside, Riff told the front desk his reservation. The two couples followed the waitress back to the most secluded table in the resturant. Bernardo took a seat next to Anita and Riff next to Graziella. When they ordered their food, Bernardo broke the silence.
"So, what is this pow wow for, Riff?" Bernardo said, his Latino accent running through every word.
"I'm not so sure. The ladies dished this out on us. I really didn't want to meet with you," Riff said honestly. Bernardo snorted.
"Same, so why don't we say our goodbyes peacefully before we slit the others throats, eh?" Bernardo said throatily. Riff smiled.
"Be my guest," he said, showing Bernardo the door. Graziella shoved Riff. She whispered something in his ear.
"Stop it, now," she said. Bernardo got up and offered his hand to Anita. She was close to taking it, but Graziella shook her head.
"Sientase por favor," she said. Bernardo sighed and sat down once more.
"This better be good," he said. Graziella started the conversation.
"Guys, we've been fighting for months and it's gotten us nowhere. Now there is a huge threat in town, and I think it's time we put our differences aside and work together to eliminate this threat. It's going to take both gangs working together to beat the Vultures. That is what Anita and I have been discussing because-" she ran out of breath. Anita jumped in.
"Because as your girls," she said towards Riff and Graziella,"And as your fianc ," she said to Bernardo, "I believe Graziella agrees," Graziella nodded feverently,"I couldn't bear to lose you. So I believe in what Graziella says when she says our two gangs need peace and we need to work together to defeat them," she said. Bernardo looked at her tenderly. He had a thoughtful expression on. He was hesitant, but then he looked at her. She had a pleading face on. He gave in and squeezed her thigh.
"Anita- I agree. Riff, come on, please. Our girls can work together then for sure we can work together. I'm not sure how it will work, but we can try-" he said, sticking his hand out. They were intterupted by the food coming out. Bernardo moved his hand to Anita's and said the blessing.
While the couple said their prayers in Spanish, Riff watched them. When Anita repeated them in English, so Riff and Graziella could understand, that struck a tender spot in Riff's heart. Graziella was right. They just wanted peace. They were marrying in less than a week and just wanted to move on with their life. And by Anita saying the prayer in English, he felt like she was reaching for them. When the prayer was finished, they ate their food. Riff watched Anita. He felt so guilty for abusing her. She and Bernardo shared a plate because they couldn't afford much more. It was a plate of spaghetti. They didn't have much material wise, but they had tons emotionally and spiritually. They had love and now peace. Riff pulled out the money for their plate when the check came. Bernardo gave the money back, insisting he had it covered. Riff gave the money to Graziella and told her to give it to Anita tomorrow, certain the two would meet up. When Bernardo got up to leave and Riff did the same, Riff stuck out his hand.
"Bernardo, you have yourself a peace treaty. You tell your gang and I'll tell mine, okay? We'll meet up with everyone for a concil-" he started.
"After June 6th," Bernardo replied.
"I'll give you and Anita the weekend, so we'll meet the following Monday. I expect a rumble on Wenesday or Thursday with the Vuls," he said. Bernardo shook his hand.
"Most definately," he said in return. They got in the car and dropped off Bernardo and Anita. Anita hung back for a second. Bernardo was waiting for her at the door.
"Thank you, Riff," she said and walked inside to join Bernardo.
"See they aren't as bad as you thought. In fact, they are extremely nice," Graziella smiled. Riff drove.
"I was surprised. They are nice," he said, pulling into their apartment. When they got inside and changed, Riff got on one knee. When she walked into their bedroom, she gasped.
"Graziella?" he said. She ran to him.
"Yes!" she said. He laughed.
"I didn't even ask you yet. Maybe I was just bending over to tie my shoe- you never know, 'Ella," he laughed. She sighed.
"Oh. Well nevermind," she sulked.
"Ella. I do have a question though," he smirked.
"What Riff?" she replied. He pulled out a diamond ring.
"Will you marry me?" he said. Graziella jumped into his arms and repeated the yes fit over and over again.
"Pregnant?" Tony said in disbelief as they walked to the train station.
"It was in the back of my mind," she said. "The doctor said I concieved a month ago." They looked at each other. They boarded the train.
"I concieved during the night of the rumble. I concieved out of wedlock!" she exclaimed. Tony laughed.
"But now we are in wedlock, so it doesn't matter," he said, putting their suitcase below them. He allowed her to sit first, then he sat next to her. She snuggled into his shoulder.
"I can't wait to see them," she said gazing into Tony's green eyes. He swam in her honey ones.
"I know," he said, as the train chugged past.
A/N
Please read the A/N at the beginning! It explains alot of stuff.
So this was a happy chapter (not as much drama) but a few nice turns in the story. I can sense a nice fight scene coming up. Not to mention the wedding scene. This doesn't seem like a cliff hanger chapter as much, so I hope you like that. So please read and review. Thanks to all of my four reviews. You guys are nice. I wish I could have more, but hey, I'm happy at least someone took the time to read. :)
Love,
MusicNerdd