Welcome to new readers and welcome back to old readers. Next up we have Graziella. Her relationship with Riff is something I wish we saw more of in the film. The chemestry that Paloma Garcia Lee had with Mike Faist was incredibly realistic.

As usual I don't own West Side Story.

For Graziella, Riff was the person she loved more than anyone. Sure, she had loved Tony when they were together, but it was a whole different level with Riff. If he asked, she'd marry him in a heartbeat.

Tony had been a gentle lover. He could be cruel when with the Jets but he was kind to her, not assertive or a jealous type.

Riff was different. For someone as charismatic as he, Graz had come to learn that Riff feared losing those he loved. He was perfect to her. He rarely announced his feelings, he wasn't that type of guy. He showed it in the way he wrapped his strong arms around her and gave bone chilling glares when another boy hit on her. He showed it when he let down his walls when they stayed together at night. It was in the gazes he would shoot at her when they were out and about on the west side to make sure she was okay.

Checking her impeccable blonde curls once more in the mirror Graziella grabbed her purse and left her house to meet with Riff.

"Riff?" She said with surprise. Her boyfriend looked over after glaring at a couple Puerto Ricans who wolf whistled at her appearance. "I thought I was meetin ya near Valentinas store."

Riff stood to his full height and walked over to his girl. Gripping Graz by the wrist gently, he pulled her to him, wrapping his free arm around her to rest his hand on her waist. "I couldn't wait no more." He told her, arm tightening protectively. "Decided to come to you."

Her hazel eyes softened. Graziella leaned into his side. "Shall we get goin?" She tilted her head to look up at Riff. "The others will pester ya if we wait too long."

Riff rolled his eyes though he knew his girl wasn't wrong. "You ain't gonna wear a jacket?" He asked. It may be spring but it was still cold. when Graziella shook her head he gave an exasperated expression. "I'm tellin ya I told you so when you get cold."

Graz gave a soft smile. "You'll give me your jacket." She said with a sweet, innocent tone of voice.

Riff eyed Graziella for a moment before he let out a laugh. He knew she wasn't wrong but he also knew what she was doing. "You just want to take my clothes." He lightly accused with a grin.

"They're comfortable. And they smell like you."

Riff just shook his head with a smile. Keeping his arm securely around his girl he lead her to Valentinas. Graziella kept herself pressed against Riffs side with a small smile.

The duo spent a few hours with the Jets before they went off to spend time together without the whole crew. Sure enough Graziella had gotten colder the later in the day it got. Noticing this, Riff took off his jacket and put it on the blonde girl.

Graz snuggled into the larger warm jacket breathing in her boyfriends scent. Riff watched her with a small grin as she snuggled closer to his side where they sat in a broken down trailer.

"I told you so."

She looked up at him, hazel eyes showing amusement. "You ever get tired of being right?"

A quiet chuckle escaped him. "Not really. Warm enough?" He inquired rubbing Graziellas arm. The blonde Jet girls heart warmed at the note of concern in his voice that one wouldn't notice if they didn't know him.

"Between you and the jacket keepin me warm I'm good." She answered shifting so she could rest her head on Riffs chest.

Riff responded by wrapping his other arm around her. He held held her close and fell silent. The silence was a comfortable one between lovers. When he felt Graziellas breathing rythym change and slow, Riff knew she'd fallen asleep.

Gently he ran his long, slender fingers through soft, healthy blonde curls. The soft tresses felt silky from the care and time Graziella put into her hair maintanance.

When Riff heard cops poking around he knew it was time to go. Not wanting to wake up the sleeping blonde he quietly gathered her in his arms. At the change in position Graz shifted to rest her head on Riffs collar bone. His heterochromic eyes softened as he left the broken down trailer and went to his apartment.

It had gotten really cold when night fell and after struggling a bit with the door he opened it closing it quietly behind him. The soft click roused the sleeping blonde.

"Riff?" She questioned sleepily. She lifted her head.

"It's okay. We're at my apartment." Riff spoke in a soft, soothing tone. "You can go back to sleep." Riff knew Graz hadn't slept that well for the last couple days due to her parents fighting. This made him more protective of her knowing her vulnerability slipped out more when she was really tired.

Graz hummed softly resting her head on Riff shoulder. "Ya could have woken me up instead of carryin me back." She let out a yawn.

Riff looked down at her with the soft, loving gaze he reserved for Graziella and Graziella alone. Privately, he found the sleepy yawn adorable. "I ain't gonna wake you when you need the sleep. I know ya ain't been sleepin well if at all."

Riff began walking soon entering his bedroom. he placed Graziella down and got in beside her pulling the covers over them. He didn't try to take his jacket off the blonde as she used it as a warm cocoon.

Graz turned around to face Riff and snuggled against him, burying her face in his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and she slowly drifted off feeling warm and safe.

For Riff, Graziella was his girl. She was his to love and cherish, his to protect and keep safe. While he wasn't the best with kids, if she wanted them he'd try his best to be a good father and not run off on them like his father had done to him and his mother. Riff didn't see a way out of the violent life he lived, and he knew people like him always died young, but the sleeping blonde in his arms was the one bright spot he'd fight every day to keep.

For Graziella, Riff was everything she wanted in a man. He was rough around the edges with others but he was the boy who made her smile and laugh even when she was in tears. He protected her and made her feel safer then she'd ever felt. He made her feel loved and she never had to question how he felt about her. She knew that she'd love him eternally and wouldn't have it any other way.