Andrea watched over her brother's body while clutching his hand lovingly. It had been months since they saved him from Sartana and he still hadn't wakened from his comatose state. It broke her heart to see him like this. When they were children he had always been the strong one. The one who would protect her when she was in danger. The one to comfort her when she was sad. The one to take care of her. But now, now it was the other way around. Now she had to be the strong one. But it was hard. So very hard.

"Hey you feeling okay?" She heard a voice say. She looked over and saw that T.J had entered the room.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"I came to check on you."

"Why? So you can take advantage of me in my time of need?"

"No. No of course not. I maybe a womanizer but I would never do such a despicable thing. That would be taking advantage of a lady's feelings and that is unclean. No I'm here because I'm worried about you."

"Really?"

"Yes. So how is he?"

"Still not waking and the bills are getting higher and higher, I'm having trouble keeping up with enough money to pay them. It's low pay where I work and it's gotten so bad that I've had to sell my father's watch."

"Watch?"

"Yes my father gave it to me just before I left, it's kind of a family heirloom. It was crafted by my great grandfather who gave it to my grandfather who then gave it to my father and my father would have given it to my brother had he not been taken so he gave it to me. But I promised myself that when I found him I'd give him the watch because I believed that it was rightfully his, looks like I'll have to break this promise."

"What did this watch look like?"

"It was a gold pocket watch, handcrafted with a macaw engraved on it."

"And where did you sell it?"

"The pawn shop down town. It's the most precious thing I have but it's worth giving up for Carlos's sake."

"I'm really sorry Andrea. Come on I'll take you home."

"No I can't leave him."

"He'll be fine besides you need some sleep."

"I'm fine." But that was clearly a lie. She hadn't slept in a week and she looked like she was about to drop dead. In fact she ended up almost dropping to the floor but T.J caught her.

"Come on tough girl." He chuckled. "Let's get you to bed."

He then carried her back to his house. Manny had accidentally fallen asleep in her bed so he tucked her into his bed and slept on the floor. The rest of the night was very peaceful but in the morning when Manny and Frida got back from picking up doghnuts for breakfast they heard the sound of Andrea screaming followed by shouts of pain from T.J.

"You pervert! You beast! You leacher!" Andrea screamed angrily.

"Andrea stop! It's not what you think!" T.J shouted.

"Here they go again." Frida sighed munching on a powdered doughnut.

"Five bucks says she kills him this time." Manny said chewing on a chocolate one.

"You're on."

T.J came running downstairs and into the kitchen with Andrea chasing after him with her spear. Manny and Frida watched them run around and around the room for hours until finally they got bored and decided that enough was enough so Manny and Frida restrained her.

"Alright Andrea what did T.J do to piss you off this time?" Manny said.

"He stole my virtue!" She cried.

"I did not!" T.J said.

"Then why did I wake up in your bed?!"

"Because Manny had fallen asleep in yours and I doubt that you wanted to share a bed with him or my uncle so I let you sleep in mine."

"Oh what?! And you just crawled into bed with me and didn't touch me?!"

"No! I slept on the floor!"

"What?"

"I slept in the floor. I told you Andrea I don't take advantage of a woman who's in pain especially not you. All I did was make sure you had a proper night sleep that's all I swear."

When Andrea calmed down Manny and Frida released her. She was speechless, did he really not take advantage of her? Could he be lying? He was a pervert after all but she saw sincerity in his eyes so she believed him.

"Okay now that that's settled who wants doughnuts?" Frida asked.

After breakfast they went to see T.J's grandfather. He had come to visit T.J in Miracle City and he invited them over for tea because he claimed that he had great news for T.J's future.

"It's good to see Grandpa." T.J said hugging him. "So what do you think of Miracle City so far?"

"From what I hear it's a mixture of chaos and peace." He chuckled. "But enough about me, you're probably eager to hear about the great news I spoke of yes?"

"Uh-huh."

"Well do you remember my old friend and fellow shaman Dante?"

"Yeah."

"And do you remember his niece Iris?"

"Yeah I remember her she used to stop by and bring herbs for Mom and Dad to use, sweet kid."

"Yes well she's a woman now and she's of marriage able age."

T.J felt a frightening feeling in his chest.

"Grandpa where is this going?"

"Tulio Julian the second the time has come for you to become a man and I have brought Iris here with me because you two are betrothed."

T.J dropped his teacup in shock, Andrea spat her tea out, Manny and Frida looked confused and shocked.

"We're...Be what?"

"Betrothed. It was decided when you were children, you've known about it for years."

"He has?!" Andrea hissed underbreath.

"Well yes...But...But I thought that was forgotten after the village was destroyed. Grandpa I can't marry Iris!"

"Why not? Don't you like her?"

"Of course I do but it's been elven years, we haven't been together since I was eight, and besides you know I'm not the commitment type."

"It's true he's not." Manny said.

"I'm sure you'll change your mind once you see her again. Iris dear please come in."

"Grandpa please there is no way that I-" But he found himself unable to finish when a very pretty and attractive portuguese girl walked into the room. "I can ignore a meeting with an old friend."

Manny face palmed, Frida shook her head, Andrea glitched her teeth.

"Hello T.J it's nice to see you again." Iris said smiling.

"You too Iris, wow I can't believe it's you." He said taking her hand and stroking her hair while eyeing her large bussom. "You look enchanting."

"Thank you." She said blushing. "And you look so handsome now, oh I cannot wait til we are married."

"Yeah about that-"

"Come let us discuss the matter of the wedding privately." His grandfather said leading the children into the other room.

Andrea was seething. Her cheeks were blood red with rage. She didn't know what she hated worse the fact that he stroked her perfectly shiny and well kept amber colored hair, or when he became beguiled by her sparkling make up, or when he eyed her well developed and tempting breasts. It was probably the breasts she hated the most. She'd never admit it but she suffered from what was known has a-cup angst. Meaning her breasts were a little on the flat side and whenever she saw a girl with bigger and more developed breasts like Frida or Iris she would often feel a mixture of rage and embarrassment.

"Andrea are you okay?" Frida asked.

"I'm fine. Just peachy." She said between her teeth.

"You don't look fine." Manny said. "In fact you look like you're about to explode."

"I said I was fine."

"Are you upset about T.J getting engaged?" Frida asked.

"No! Why would I be upset about him getting engaged?! I told him I didn't want a relationship with him so what reason could I have for possibly being upset about him marrying some girly big boobed bimbo with perfect hair?!"

"Andrea I think you need to calm down."

"I am perfectly CALM!" She crushed her teacup to pieces in rage. Manny and Frida began to back away from her real slow like.

"A gorilla demon?" T.J said as he listened to his grandfather explain things.

"After the village was destroyed Iris was kidnapped and held prisoner by a rival tribe who worship the gorilla demon Tabqui. When she became a woman they offered her to Tabqui as a bride but my men and I managed to rescue her however I fear that Tabqui and the natives from that village will be searching for her."

"So what exactly do you propose we do?"

"If you cannot marry Iris then at least pretend to be engaged to her. At least until it fools the natives and Tabqui into forgetting her."

"Very well. I'll accept but only until the heat dies down."

"Oh thank you T.J. You're my hero!" Iris said hugging him. T.J hugged back and was about to grope her when suddenly he discovered something. He couldn't. He wanted to but he felt like something was holding him back and Andrea's face was now in his head.

"T.J are you okay?" She asked noticing his confusion.

"Yes I'm fine. Worry not Iris with you as my fiance you shall be safe."

"WHAT?!"

The door was then broken down by an enraged Andrea who had eves dropped and only heard part of the conversation.

"Sorry man we tried to stop her but she bites." Manny said clutching his wrist which had bite marks. "Hard. Geez and they say I'm vicious."

"So when I talk about having a committed relationship you claim you're not ready! But when some girl you haven't seen in elven years comes by offering marriage you say yes right away?!" She shouted.

"Andrea please let me explain-"

"I don't wanna hear it!"

"Look I don't know what the big deal is? There's no way T.J is going to marry her." Manny said. "He's way too much of a womanizer."

"Yeah I agree with Manny." Frida said.

"Actually guys I-"

"He is going to marry her." His grandfather interrupted. "T.J maybe a leacher but when it comes to family and tradition he will stick by it."

"Well if that's the case I wish you both a long and happy marriage!" Andrea walked out slamming the door.

"We'll go get her." Manny said as he and Frida went after her.

"Grandpa why can't we tell Andrea and them the truth?" T.J asked.

"We can't risk the natives finding out the truth. It's too risky, we'll tell them the truth as soon as they leave."

"Okay I just hope I'm not dead by then."

...

"Andrea! Come back!" Frida called as she and Manny tried to catch up with her but all too soon she was out of sight.

"God she's fast." Manny panted. "Maybe we should just head back? She'll be okay she just needs to cool off right?"

"Yeah you're probably right still she must be really upset."

"Why?"

"Duh! The guy she loves is marrying another woman."

"Really? Who does she love?"

"T.J you idiot! Keep up!"

"Alright I'm confused. You say she loves him but she beats him up and says she doesn't want a relationship with him in what universe does that say I love you?"

"Typical men, as usual you are oblivious to any kind of feeling or emotion. Love is never simple Manny, she does love him but she's afraid and confused."

"Why?"

"Because she doesn't want to get her heartbroken. That's the worst pain in the world. It's horrible to love someone and for them to not love you back. Sometimes it can hurt so bad that you don't want to live. I know I've felt it."

"What are you talking about? When have you ever- Oh you mean back when I..."

"Yes."

"I hurt you that bad? So bad that you didn't want to live?"

"Okay it wasn't that bad I wasn't suicidal but it for a long time and I...I've learned to live with it. Why am I even talking to you about this? It's not like you understand. You've never been in love and you don't know anything about love. So I guess I can't blame for being oblivious to it. Right?"

"Right."

"Let's go back they're probably getting worried."

The roads and sidewalks in town were swamped with traffic and crowds so they decided to take a short cut through the woods only to walk right into a trap. It was a net covered by leaves, all it took was for Manny to step on it and they scooped up into the net. Next thing they knew they were surrounded by men with war paint who tied their wrists with ropes that restrianted their powers and abilities.

"Uh...We come in peace." Manny said.

"We seek the old man who has our master's bride." One of them said.

"Who?" Frida asked.

"The Portuguese woman with Amber hair."

"You mean Iris? There must be some mistake she's engaged."

"What?! You mean she's been with another men?! She is unclean!"

"If it means she's another guy's woman then yes." Manny said.

"Tabqui will not be pleased! He will only take a pure woman! We must find him a new wife!"

"What about that one?" Another native suggested pointing to Frida. "She's young, beautiful, and appears to be untouched."

"Me?! Oh no! No! He wouldn't want me! Believe me! I'd make a horrible wife!" Frida cried.

"Looks like a virgin to me. Take her to him."

"No! Stop!"

"Hey! Get your hands off her!" Manny demanded.

They grabbed her and began drag her along. Manny tried to break loose but the ropes were specially made to keep him from transforming or breaking free. Desperate to save her he panicked and said the only thing that might prevent her from being the bride of God knows who or what.

"Wait! You can't have her because she's already married to me!" He shouted.

The natives stopped. Frida looked at Manny confused and not sure if she heard correctly.

"What did you say?" The leader asked.

"She's my wife! I'm her husband! She's not a virgin! We...uh... What's that word? Compensated!"

"It's consummated you idiot!" Frida said.

"Right! We consummated! So she's no good to you! Now let us go!"

The natives began talk among themselves for a few minutes then turned to Manny and Frida.

"You're right she can't be his wife if she is no longer a virgin." The leader spoke.

"Phew!" They both said in relief.

"So you'll both be sacrifices."

"WHAT?!"

"Lock them up!"

The two were then locked in one of the cages Tzekel used to trap T.J and Manny back in his village.

"Come on can't we talk about this?" Manny asked. "I'm too young to be sacrificed!"

"Silence!" The leader snapped. "The both of you keep quiet! And don't even think of trying to escape because you will be guarded by our hounds!"

"Oh please like some dogs can scare me."

But he was proven wrong when huge, rabid, vicious, and slobbering black hounds with souless eyes came to the cage bars snapping their jaws and trying to bite the two and tear them apart. Manny and Frida clutched each other in fear.

"Wha...Wha...What kind of dogs are those?" Frida trembled clinging to Manny's neck and side.

"Tho...Tho...Those are supposed to be dogs?!" Manny shook with his arms around Frida's back and shoulders.

"Don't try anything because they're favorite food is human flesh."

The natives left, the hounds continued to growl, snarl, and snap. Each time one of the hounds came a little too close Manny and Frida held each other tighter instinctively thinking that it would keep the other person safe. At last the hounds calm down and fell asleep.

"Oh thank God they're asleep." Frida sighed.

"Are you alright?" Manny asked her.

"Yes I'm fine."

"Are you sure because I felt your heart beat. It felt like it was about to explode."

"So was yours. Never thought that you would be on the same level as scared as I was."

"Well since I'm half feline I kind of have a small fear of dogs."

"You don't say. Um Manny?"

"Yes."

"We're holding each other right?"

"Huh? Oh! Funny I didn't notice I was too busy praying that those mutts wouldn't use me as a chew toy."

"We should let go right?"

"Right?"

They parted akwardly.

"Now what do?" She asked.

"I don't know but I've been in this over grown bird cage before and it keeps me from using my powers."

"Well how did you get out?"

"T.J used some sort of shaman stuff."

"Great so I guess we must resign ourselves to being sacrifices."

"That's quitter talk and in all my years of knowing you, you've never talked like that."

"Well what can we do?"

"I don't know but I'll think of something. I swear you will not be sacriticed! Not while I'm alive! Now we just need to think of a way to break these bars without waking those beasts out there."

"Alright then let get thinking and by the way if those dogs start barking you're not gonna grab me again are you?"

"Of course not but you better grab me again."

"I won't. That was just a reflex."

"Same here, believe me it will never happen again."

Just then one of the dogs started barking again and the two started holding on to each other in fear again until the beast settled.

"Um...This is just a coincidence." Manny said.

"Oh yeah totally." Frida agreed.