After the incident with Frida leaving with her family, Manny, T.J, and Andrea decided to return to Miracle City. Carlos was taken with them and placed in the hospital unfortunately it cost an entire fortune to pay for the expenses. Andrea had a lot money saved from when she worked for a farmer back in Brazil but it still wasn't enough so she got a job. Emiliano had stopped paying for Manny's apartment so he moved in with T.J and his uncle.

"Thanks again for letting me stay with you guys." Manny said.

"Don't mention it the more the merrier and besides it gets a little scary when it's just me and my uncle." T.J said.

"Doesn't Andrea live with you?"

"Yeah but ever since she got that new job she's hardly ever around."

"So how are things between you two?"

"What do you mean?"

"Didn't you two hook up or something?'

"Yes but she thinks it wouldn't work because she thinks I'll be unfaithful."

"Considering that you're a perverted leacher I don't blame her."

"Hey I may be a pervert but once I'm in a committed relationship with a woman I will be forever true."

"So you want to be in a serious committed relationship with her?"

"Oh yeah? When was the last time you had a committed relationship?"

"Well...I don't know about that I mean...I'm not sure if that's how I feel about her and also I may have some commitment issues."

"Why am I not surprised? Then you might as well forget about Andrea, she told me that she descended from an Amazon tribe and Amazons are way into commitment."

"Oh crap I forgot about that. I guess that's why she's not really looking for a relationship with a man right now."

"Right now I think her biggest concern is her brother so if I were you I'd back off okay?"

"You're right. You know it's not fair, she finally gets her brotherback only to have to face the possibility of losing him again."

"I know. Life can suck so much."

"Listen I'm going to go buy some stuff from the store wanna come?"

"Nah I'll just stay here and unpack."

"Suit yourself man."

Days went by and things didn't seem to be getting any easier. Andrea was working day to night, hardly being seen by anyone and she was overloaded with stress. T.J tried to help her but she just told him to let her handle it on her own. Manny wasn't sure what to do. He spent most of his time trying to figure out what Davi meant when he told him about the person suitable enough to bond with the crystal. Someone who can give life and restore it. There was no human capable of doing that so what was the point of the plan to bring back Diablo? When he wasn't trying to figure out that irritating riddle he was thinking about Frida. He missed her but he was relieved that she was safe.

One night he changed into his spirit form and started jumping around rooftops and trees to clear his head. He remembered doing it when he was younger and it did him a world of good but now it just didn't help like it used to. After a few hours of doing he stopped by the woods and began to make carvings into some of the trees.

"So this is what you do in your free time? How pathetic."

He looked up to see Nicholas staring down at him from a nearby tree. He jumped down and landed right in front of Manny on his feet.

"What do you want?" Manny asked.

"I just wanted to see what my little cousin was doing. Apparently nothing important or counter productive."

"Screw you."

"Likewise. So where are your little inferior friends?"

"Why do you care?"

"Just curious. It's odd not seeing you with them especially that apostle girl. Where she's gone to?"

"I haven't seen her in almost a month."

"Really? I didn't think you could stay away from her that long. What's wrong? Did you have a fight?"

"For your information she left because her dad freaked out about the whole supernatural stuff. He threatened to kill me if I ever went near her again so no she's not with me."

"Humans can be so melodramatic sometimes."

"To be honest I'm kind of glad she's at home because at least she safe. Let's be honest being around me always leads to trouble. My mother was taken from me, my father's not allowed to even know me, my first girlfriend is dead, you were basically abused because of me, all I do is hurt people but I haven't hurt her yet and I pray to God everyday that I don't because if something ecer happened to her I don't think I could bear it."

Nicholas looked at him suspiciously.

"You're in love with her right?"

"Me?! In love?! No!"

"I thought you'd be a much better liar."

"I'm not lying! I promise!"

"Then what's that?"

Nicholas pointed directly over to a tree where Manny had carved something into it. It was a heart that had the words: Manny Loves Frida, carved in it. Manny's face turned burning red. Had he actually carved that? He didn't remember carving it. He was just carving while thinking about Frida and then...

"Well that's...That's not...It's not what it looks like I swear!"

"Oh please it's written all over your face, it's so onvious even a blind man could tell."

"Shut up! You don't know anything!"

Nicholas rolled his eyes.

"I can't say I'm surprised this happened after all you are the son of the only spirit who fell for a human so it's only natural that you've fallen in love with a human also, like father like son I guess."

"Nothing happened! I haven't fallen in love with anyone!"

"I know you only deny these feelings to protect that weak little heart of yours so I won't push you any further but here's some advice you should tell her how you feel. Your words might change her perception."

"What do you mean?"

"You say you want to keep her safe and correct me if I'm wrong but she seems like the type not to consider her own safety and may not fully understand the reason why you're so protective of her. If she knew then maybe she would be more cautious."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"I don't know."

"For someone who doesn't really care for humans or love you seem to know a lot about it." Manny pointed out. "Don't tell me that you love someone."

Nicholas grunted quietly and looked away. He was quiet for a very long time and started to walk away but just before he was completely out of sight he stopped and said.

"If I ever allow myself to give my heart to any woman no one will ever know, least of all you."

Then he was gone.

"Man that guy can be so creepy and what's he talking about? I don't love her! Right?"

His gaze went back to the carving he had made. Maybe Nicholas was right. Maybe he did have feelings for Frida. But he still wasn't sure so there was only one way to confirm it. It was risky but he had to know the truth.

He grabbed a bag which contained something, waited until Emiliano left on late night patrol, then sneaked over to Frida's house. Her father and his police dogs were no where to be seen but he did see her mother and grandmother sitting together in the living room. Her mother looked very sad and hurt.

"I spoke to a lawyer today." Her grandmother Sandra said. "If you two stop seeing each other for seven years you can remarry."

"Mother!" Carmela scolded.

"I'm sorry dear but the very nerve of that man just infuriates me! Abandoning my daughter, stalking my granchild, coming by just to make sure she's locked up while completely ignoring you! Why if I wasn't God fearing woman I'd shoot an arrow right into his good eye!"

"Mother you're acting like our separation was all his fault. Let's not forget I was dishonest with him for twenty two years."

"Still he should at least try to talk things out with you instead of just ignoring you. Honestly I'll never understand what you see in that man. He's stubborn, boarish, rude, hot headed, a real brute."

"Mother please don't say bad things about him at least not when what's happening between us is all my fault." Carmela sighed. "I just hope Emiliano knows that I still love him."

Manny was shocked, Emiliano left? He knew that he was mad about the whole thing but he necer thought that he would actually leave. Poor Frida must've been heartbroken. He climbed up the wall of the house to where Frida's bedroom was. He looked through the window, she was sitting at her desk writing in her diary looking worried and troubled. He gave her window a tap getting her attention.

"Manny?" She said opening the window. "What are you doing here?"

Instead of answering he threw his arms around her in a hug. It surprised her but she didn't push him away she just returned the hug.

"I've missed you." He told her.

"I've missed you too. But you shouldn't be here. If Dad finds you you'll be dead ans buried in the ground for sure."

"I know, I know but I had to see you."

She helped him into her bedroom and they sat down by the window.

"So I heard about your dad, did he leave for good?" He asked her.

"No he comes by nearly every hour of everyday to check on me and he follows me around to and from school, he refuses to let me out of his sight and he won't even speak to Mom. Manny it's horrible, I've never seen her so sad."

"I'm sorry I know it must be hard."

"Yeah but that's enough about me, how are things with you and the others? T.J and Andrea going study yet?"

"Hate to disappoint you but I don't hear any wedding bells for those two. Right now all Andrea can do is stay by her brother's side in the hospital and work twenty four seven."

"What about T.J? I bet since Andrea is so busy he's been using this golden opportunity to get some action right?"

"Oddly enough he hasn't been womanizing that much. So far the only lecherous thing he's done is fantasize."

"Really?"

"Yep so maybe that perv really does feel love."

Frida giggled.

"I miss you guys so much. It's so strange not being with you all for a month, to be honest I'm kind of lonely without you and the fact that Mom and Dad are having trouble doesn't help either."

"Well maybe this might make you feel better. I wanted to give it to you on your birthday but it wasn't ready."

He opened the bag he brought and pulled out something. It was the portrait he sketched of her which had been framed.

"You drew this?"

"You like it?"

"It's beautiful I love it. Oh Manny you're so wonderful."

She hugged him, he blushed and was instantly reminded of why he came here.

"Frida can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Do you still care for me?"

"Of course I still care about you."

"No I mean do you still...You know...Um."

"Do I still love you?"

Manny blushed again and looked away.

"Yeah that."

Now it was Frida's turn to blush. She looked down at her feet and nervously twiddled with her fingers for a moment before answering.

"To be honest...Yes I do but don't worry I understand that you don't feel the same way so I won't bother you about it. But why do you want to know?"

"Just curious. Listen do you think that you could ever not love me? You know find someone else?"

"Well it's not like I haven't tried I mean there are a lot of cute guys in my school and I've had a few dates but...I just can't stop thinking about you. No matter how hard I try I always think about you and I always worry about you. I know it's stupid to continue loving you even though you'll never return my feelings but I can't stop loving you. It's like my heart won't let me in fact I don't feel like my heart is mine anymore. What I'm trying to say you have my heart, I gave it to you and I don't think I can ever take it back."

As Manny listened to her words he felt as if something had pierced his heart. It wasn't a painful pierce but it felt weird. A good kind of weird and it was making his heart beat fast.

"Uh...You know I never asked for your heart."

"I know but that's thing about love. You don't have to ask for a person's heart, they just give it to you and I don't expect you to give me yours, I'm just happy being with you. But sometimes I get scared that one day you'll just leave and forget me so eventually I'll fade away. I know stupid right?"

"You're right it is stupid." He chuckled softly. "It's stupid to think that I would forget you. After all we've been through do you really think that I would just leave and forget about you all together? Look I know I don't always say it but you mean a lot to me and when I'm with you, you make me happy. Happier than I've been since my mother was taken from me."

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah and if you want to know the truth you're the most important person in my life."

"Wow...I never thought that I meant that much to you. I'm glad because you make me happy too and you're pretty much the only person who really listens to me. All I really want is to be with you so please just let me stay with you."

She felt his hand gently grasp hers, she turned to meet his gaze causing their eyes to lock.

"If that's what you want then I promise I'll never leave you and I'll protect you with my life." He vowed.

She was speechless, so was he. They couldn't move they could only look at each other. After a moment of motionless silence Manny began to lean in which made Frida very confused.

"Wait a minute is he going to kiss me?" She thought. "He is but why? I thought he didn't feel that way about me?"

She was about to question him about what he was doing but found herself unable to do so and leaning also. Neither of them were thinking, they were acting only on instinct which scared them but not enough to stop them. Her eyes closed, so did his, were they really doing this? If Frida's heart could be seen it would be glowing bright as a star and Manny's was on fire. Their lips were just about to touch when...

"Frida are you up here?" Carmela gasped.

Manny and Frida immediately broke apart from each other and she impulsively shoved him into her closet just before her mother could walk in and see him.

"Hi Mom, what's up?" She asked nervously standing against her closet door.

"I thought I saw someone sneaking in have you seen anyone sneaking around dear?"

"Me? Oh no! I haven't seen anyone."

"Okay then. I just wanted to see if you were safe."

"I'm safe Mom believe me."

"Listen honey I know things with your father and I have made things difficult for you and I want you to know it's not your fault. It's mine."

"Oh Mom I'm sure Dad will come around."

"I hope so."

She then left the room.

"Boy that was close." Frida said opening her closet. "You okay?"

"Yeah but next time warn me before you shove me into your closet because when you pushed me in here I fell on a needle. Yeowch!"

"Oops! Sorry."

"Also I'm stuck."

"Hang on, give me your hands."

She grabbed his hands and pulled with all her might. She managed to pull him out but he ended up falling on top of her. He quickly hoisted himself over her and they both blushed when they realized that the lower half of her body was between her legs.

"Okay I think that we can agree that this is beyond embarrassing. Heh, heh." Frida chuckled nervously.

"Yeah no kidding." Manny chuckled back equally nervous.

"Oh God what would T.J and Andrea think if they saw us like this?"

"You're right they'd probably think that we were um...Lovers."

"Yes so um could get off of me? Before someone sees us and gets the wrong idea someone like say my dad."

"Oh right! Sorry." He immediately got off of her and help her but while standing up she slipped on the rug in her room and fell forward into Manny's arms.

"Manny is it my imagination or are you trying to make a move on me?"

"Me?! No! Nonononono! No way!"

"I'm just kidding sorry that I'm so clumsy."

"Don't worry about it."

"Listen I've been thinking and I want to go back to helping you with the whole supernatural problem."

"But what about your parents?"

"Mom won't mind and right now I could careless what Dad thinks. I miss you and the guys so I'm coming back."

Manny tried to focus on her words but he was too busy trying to control his emotions. They were all over the place.

"What the hell is wrong with me?" He thought. "Did I actually try to kiss her? Oh God I did! I tried to kiss her! What's happening? And why is my heart burning? It feels like it's on fire. Oh Good lord in heaven Nicholas was right. I can't believe this, I'm in love...With Frida. I actually let myself fall in love with her! How did this happen?! Have I lost my mind?!"

"Uh Manny?" Frida asked interrupting his thoughts.

"Yes?"

"You're still holding me."