Author's note: Thank you all for visiting and reviews. We move on with the story and see a little of Maria's piece in this one. The main problem was that Maya is told from the princess 'point of view so there was nothing I could add, but I'm not out of bullets. So fear not. Let's go! ¡Allá vamos!

3. Xochiquetzal

As the sun rose in the distance, it was surprised to find Maria already awake. She seemed so happy, the warm rays reached to touched her. The woman remembered the view they shared that day under the tree at dawn and smiled. It had been at that moment when she decided to marry Manolo, who was still sleeping, and followed her heart instead of her head. A white light bathed San Angel, like a gentle song, and caressed the woman's like a mother's hand. Maria had always knew that somehow the Day Star was somehow always keeping an eye on her as if they had known each other for ages. After all, when she was bitten by the snake, it started to rain, didn't it? And that day in the arena, the sun shone on Manolo when he sang to her. It had to mean something, Maria was certain of it.

Chui rubbed his snout against her master's hand and oinked happily.

"It's going to be a wonderful day, you'll see. If the sun can be happy, so can we" they walked downstairs without waking up Manolo. Maria had heard him pain in his sleep and was worried that her husband was telling the truth about his dreams, but she had little time to think about. General Posada was in the large patio, putting his men to work. They had a town to look after.

"¡Mija! What are you doing awake? You should be sleeping. It's Manolo's job to get to work, not yours" Ramiro stated in anger.

"He's tired, Papa. Let him rest. He survived Chakal. Manolo could use some rest, you know! Don't be a pendejo!" his daughter had proven herself too against the Bandit King and was not going back down just because the fun was over. "I can handle, really"

"I'm not saying you can't, mijita, but you also fought Chakal, remember?" the General wasn't stupid.

"No, was that last month?" she joked and Ramiro frowned. "¡Papa! I'm not that stupid, of course I remember. I still have a few bruises to prove it"

"Exactly. If you want to go back to bed, you can. I'll go get Manolo" the old man headed for the stairs but his daughter prevented him from going further. "He's my son in law, it's his job"

"I know, but right now he needs to sleep, Papa. He has lost the only family he had left, Manolo is going through a lot right now" Maria requested softly. Ramiro looked at her and finally nodded.

"Very well, but just this once. C'mon. There is much to be done, mija. It's getting late already" they went to the main square and started helping all the neighbors. Pepe and his mariachis lend a hand too, along with Joaquin, Father Domingo and the Sisters. Around lunch time, San Angel was starting to look like its old self, so Maria decided to try something out for Manolo and went to talk with the nuns.

"Thank you so much for your help today, Maria" they said in chorus before singing. "Gracias!"

"Anytime! Uh, I was wondering if I could ask you something important. It's about my husband, Manolo. He's in a bit of a big problema" the woman sat beside them as they nodded.

"Anything we can do for you, name it" the nuns smiled. "Is there something wrong?"

"Well, he had a weird dream yesterday and I think it happened again today. I asked him and Manolo said that it was like a vision of the past, that he saw the ancient city of the Aztecs. But that is impossible, right? I mean that was four, three hundred years ago" the Sisters shared a glance and decided to take Maria to Father Domingo, who had the biggest collection of books after the General. Once Mss. Sanchez had finished explaining, their problem, the pastor went quiet and began looking through his books. "I once dreamed I was an Aztec princess but that doesn't mean it's real, right?"

"Who knows, Maria? God moves in a mysterious way" Domingo searched for quite a while, until he found something. "Christians don't believe in reincarnation, but other cultures do. There is so much we don't know about the Aztecs and yet, everything I found about it it's fascinating" the pastor opened the book and showed her a page with a statue of Camazotz, the Bat God. "Perhaps, no. But then, why not? You could try showing this to Manolo. If he recognizes anything, tell me. I'll see what I can do for him" the priest gave him the book.

"Gracias, Padre" smiled Maria. Once in the street, she decided to check on her husband when Chui came running. The pig seemed to know where the bullfighter was: at his family's office in the arena. The Sanchez empire in the bullfighting world, once colorful and thriving, was now empty. It was heartbreaking. Young Sanchez was staring at his family's portraits with lighted candles. He seemed pretty sad. "Manolo?"

"Uh, Maria! Hey! Good morning! When I didn't saw you, I was a bit scared but Pepe told me you have been busy. Demasiado, in fact. I'm sorry I wasn't there to help, love" Manolo sighed sadly and she kissed him softly.

"You have done more than enough, mi amor" they both turned towards the portraits. "I'm sure that they are more than proud of you, Manolo. Your father loves you and so does your whole family, just like me. No matter where they are" Maria took him to a bench and they both sat down.

"I dreamed of my father this time and again that life I don't remember having. What are these dreams trying to tell me? Have I forgotten something important?" the bullfighter sighed. "If I don't know if I'm a Sanchez or not, how can I be in peace with myself?"

"You ARE a Sanchez, Manolo. You saw them back in the Land of the Dead and you are every inch Carlos 'son, but perhaps there´s more. I told Father Domingo about your dreams and he has given me this book. Perhaps there's something in there you might remember" his wife smiled, giving him the tome. "I once dreamed I was a princess, you know? And if I ever once one, then I hope it was in a life with you in it, Manolo. We have always been best friends, and I can't imagine this world without you"

"Maria…" they shared a tender moment as the golden rays of the sun were finally able to reach them. All was perfectly quiet, until someone knocked. It was Joaquin.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything" their friend walked in, bearing a sheepish smile. "Your father is looking for you both for lunch, but I guess it doesn't matter if it takes a few minutes more" Joaquin smiled and waited a little before speaking again. "You know? This place could use some kids" that comment made his friends scold him softly with their eyes. "What? I mean it. A new Sanchez family and I could be the uncle. You're now Maria's man, Manolo, so I want the best for you both. A couple of boys and girls could do the trick"

"I like the sound of that" Maria looked at her husband.

"Me too. Gracias, bro" smiled Manolo.

"Anything for you, hermano" they shared a hug and the bullfighter decided to read through the book later.

I wasn't gonna leave Joaquin out of this, right?

In our worst days, it's good to have a friend nearby.

What will Manolo find in the pages? A memory? A nightmare? Nothing?

The goddess Xochiquetzal was the deity of Love for Aztecs.

More to come!