Disclaimer: I do not own DQMW and anything else that you recognize. Adrianna and all of her painful feelings belong to me. Now reply…either here or at the Dr. Quinn forums.

Adrianna could sense the sadness and anger around her. She took it in and knew that all three kids were going to find it hard to adjust to life without their mother. Brian was the youngest and least understanding of the situation. She was only a few years older than him when her parents and sister were killed and so knew a little of what he was feeling. She also knew that he would not understand and probably think that their mother was really alive. Colleen seemed nice to Michaela and did not say much. She was silently sad, mourning for her mother by crying at night when she thought that everyone was asleep. Now Matthew had gone in anger, hating Michaela and her. At the funeral he gave the shovel to the barber instead of Michaela.

During the funeral, Adrianna felt like an outsider. She never had a real funeral for her parents and sister and never felt part of a close knit community. She realized that will all of their faults, the whites of this community were close. She didn't want to be part of this and so she went to Sully and his dog. He was standing by the tree and she lowered her head during the funeral. When it was finally done she pet his wolf and nodded her head to Sully, he did the same and she went home.

After it was decided that the boarding house needed to be foreclosed due to unpaid bills and that the children were to move and live with Michaela and Sully, Adrianna knew that this was not going to be easy. The day that they came, Adrianna decided that she was going to stay home and rest. This was the first day that she had done nothing and found that the day was longer than usual. She heard a wagon approach and knew it was the children. She put on a more traditional freedom fighter dress. As with most freedom fighter dresses, it was made for physical activity, something that Adrianna really liked about their outfits. She hated the corsets and dresses that white women wore, since it purposely made women feel like they were weak and pathetic. This dress always caused white men to look at her twice since it looked like she just wrapped gauze around her body, except that the color was black. The gauze started at her arms where it wrapped around her and stopped just short of her shoulders. It continued at the way top of her cleavage and continued to the end of her abdomen. Then it continued to make a skirt that flowed freely. The skirt ended at her boots and covered her long black socks. She was also wearing her special freedom fighter glasses.

She heard Matthew say that the wagon and things were theirs and said he was sleeping in the barn. He went in and bumped into Adrianna.

"Do you sleep here?" he asked angry. Adrianna gave him a scrutinizing stare and walked out of the barn. She walked next to Michaela who stared at her like she was crazy.

"I sleep in the biggest stall; I am hardly there, except at night. You can sleep in the little enclave if you wish." Adrianna smiled and went to the wagon. Brian did not look very happy to be there, and either did Colleen. She walked up to Brian and looked him in the eye.

"You want to be with your Madre sí?" she asked Brian and Colleen. They looked at her confused.

"What does Madre sí mean?" asked Brian. Adrianna smiled and picked him up from the wagon and held him.

"Madre means mother and sí means yes." She put Brian down and frowned.

She then stood up and looked at all of the three children. "I know how you feel. You are angry and confused. Why did this happen to me? Was it my fault? I was eight when I lost my parents to a deadly sickness. I had to take my little four month-old sister and take care of her. Unlike you, I was forced to live on an orphanage where I was treated badly because of my skin color and accent." They all looked surprised at her declaration.

"I and Michaela will take care of you the best we can. I took care of my sister and she is now sixteen, and is a good kid…at least I think so." Brian laughed and went to hug Adrianna. Colleen smiled, but Matthew did not look very amused.

"Where is this sister?" he asked. "Why should we trust you? Look at yourself. I would not trust you to take care of a fly!"

He then went to her face and said, "You think you will be our mother?"

Adrianna turned her face to the side and stared at him angrily.

"Sometime you have no choice in the matter. My mother died and I was taking care of my sister. You're getting off easy. I am had to work my whole life for what I got. My whole life I have been treated differently from others because I am from Spain. I am treated even worse because I am a freedom fighter and have a different culture. You don't want to be my enemy!" She looked at him in anger. Michaela came over and put her arm on her shoulder. For the first time Adrianna shoved off her hand and sat on the deck of the house.

Michaela walked up to Matthew and tried to make amends with Matthew. He didn't look interested at all.

Colleen was now off the wagon and standing next to Brian.

"I want to go home!" he said, angry. Adrianna looked at him and thought of herself when her parents and little sister had died. She wanted it to be the way it was, with her mother but it could never be.

"You cannot change the past. When you think that way, you become sadder." He then started to run and Adrianna went after him, as did everyone else.

"Where are you going?" asked Matthew.

"I'm running away to live with the Cheyenne. Let go!" he screamed.

"Calm down!" Matthew said.

Adrianna nodded her head and said nothing. She instead kneeled down and looked at Brian.

He struggled and soon enough went to hug Adrianna and started to cry. She flinched at his touch and fell on the ground and became a little unnerved. He didn't realize what had happened, but instead tried to find her; he instead found Michaela and cried on her dress.

Adrianna laid there, confused about her reaction to Brian. She stood up and put her head on her forehead. She shook her head and walked back to the barn, feeling apart from everyone else.

Adrianna never considered her weak. She was strong. She was an expert at many fighting styles and she couldn't forget her power, one that was very rare and only came around in a family every 600 years. As she sat in the wagon to go to town and buy supplies, she felt weak. She was afraid of a little boy who would never cause harm to her.

If she was going to be honest with herself, she was afraid of being close to anyone. She kept to herself, even to Michaela. She tried, but was afraid that they would die like her little sister and parents did. She even treated Isabella like that.

They finally came to the mercantile. Adrianna walked in telling herself that she would never get close to anyone and never say anything out of line. She just couldn't do it anymore.

She watched as Brian broke a jar with candy and as the shopkeeper scolded him. $1.50 was put on the bill and Michaela told Brian that he had to clean the jar. He actually told her that he hated her and Adrianna just stood there. She felt pain, so much that she had to leave the store.

Michaela came out a little while later, saying that she had to send for some digitalis. Adrianna walked with her and said nothing. Michaela looked at Adrianna concerned.

"What is wrong Ann?" she asked looking concerned.

"I don't want to talk about it. Just leave me alone." She said rather forcefully.

Michaela was a stubborn woman and wouldn't stop there. As they were walking to the telegraph office, she stopped and Adrianna stopped too and looked at her angry.

"Why did you flinch when Brian hugged you? Why do you keep to yourself?" she asked, hoping for a response. Adrianna instead stared at her, not saying a thing. Soon enough she looked away and stared back at her again, fighting tears.

"You don't know at all what it's like to be me! I have to go through being treated like nothing every single day! You wonder why I like to be alone. I know I will not be treated badly then!" she then continued to walk and Michaela followed her, knowing that she would say no more.

Even with the heartfelt declaration that she gave to her, Michaela felt that there was more that Adrianna was not telling her.

They soon came to the office and Horace looked at Adrianna, wondering if there was going to be another fight. When she didn't approach, he held out a letter that was addressed to her. It was from her sister and she took it. When Michaela told him why they were there, he didn't respond. He explained that he was hard of hearing. Michaela wanted to find out why and he seemed hesitant, looking at Adrianna like this was some act of revenge from her. Michaela walked to him and asked what ear it was. Soon enough she had out some tweezers and the wax was gone. To barter, she sent out the telegraph and they left.

As they were going back to the store, a punta from the saloon came and whispered for both of the women. She needed their help, Adrianna instinctively held on to her weapon. They both walked into the saloon and knew that they were in a place that didn't want them there. All of the men looked at the women like they were undressing them with their eyes. Adrianna gave one man an angry stare and he just smiled. The bartender did not look like he wanted them there either.

"I gonna have to ask you to leave miss. And you Mexican, I think I have some room for you in room two." Adrianna looked at him, and took out her weapon briefly before putting it back, she didn't say anything.

"Then I am going to have to refuse." Michaela answered him. He looked angry at her statement. He then whistled and said, "Ladies aren't allowed."

"I'm not a lady, I'm a doctor." Michaela bravely said and Adrianna gave him an evil smile as she followed Michaela and the punta into a room.

She and Michaela sat down while Adrianna stood.

"What's your name?" asked Michaela.

"Myra." She answered.

"I'm Doctor Quinn and that there is doctor Martiz." Michaela said, pointing at Adrianna.

Myra looked at Adrianna. "I know a little Spanish and have met a few Mexicans. It is a beautiful country."

Adrianna gave a laugh that sounded more like a bark. "I'm not from Mexíco. I was born in Sineu; it's a city on an island called Majorca. Majorca is an island close to Spain. I have never been to Mexico and do not plan to." Myra looked a little upset, "I'm sorry, I thought you were."

Adrianna sat on the bed next to her and put one arm around her shoulder. "It's ok. We're all citizens of this great, big earth!" she said it in a very sarcastic tone. She then stood up again and stood against the wall, crossing her arms and saying nothing.

"I like what you said out there about not being a lady." She was now talking to Michaela.

"I don't approve of male hypocrisy." Michaela replied.

"No, me neither."

"Tell me what's wrong with you?"

"Ooh…well…I've got a…you know a…know a…." she trailed off.

"…female problem?" Michaela asked.

Both women smiled and even Adrianna found a way to crack up a smile.

"Have you ever been examined before?" Michaela asked.

She shook her head. Michaela got up and said that there was nothing to be afraid of. Adrianna went over and helped get the pitcher of water ready for the examination.

Adrianna was starting to feel better. The positive human interaction seemed to help her, because she was starting to laugh and smile again. She was even telling a funny story about her sister to help calm Myra.

When her examination was finished Michaela gave her some instructions to help her problem. Myra gave her some beads and a lot of thanking occurred.

"So we have to tell Hank the bartender that she can't work for a month?" Adrianna asked Michaela.

"I'm afraid so." She answered.

When they got out there, Adrianna took out her weapons and put her finger in the direction of the long sword. She took out the other one also and put it in the direction of a long metal rod.

"Hank, I'm giving Myra orders to remain chaste for a month." Michaela walked up to the bar as she said this.

"Chaste?" he said and Adrianna walked so that she was halfway from the wall to the bar.

"That means that she doesn't perform any sexual activity…idiota." Adrianna replied malevolently.

He laughed, "She works for me." Then a man sitting down said, "Unless you'd like to take her place lady?" Everyone laughed.

"I'm afraid that is not my line of work gentlemen. As I said before, I'm a doctor and I'll like to hear from any of you foolish enough to spend time with Myra before that month is up."

Hank asked her to come closer where he said to get out. Michaela walked closer to Adrianna who looked very amused. One man walked up to Adrianna and looked at her body with hunger in his eyes. "I want to teach the Mexican some lessons." He said and instead of looking scared she smiled.

"No, I'm the one who wants to teach you some lessons…señor!" Then she pushed the sword and it went against his neck drawing up blood.

"Kinda feisty huh, Carl?" One man said, thinking it was funny.

"Michaela."

"Yes?' asked Michaela who looked a little scared at the maniacal look in her friend's eyes.

"I want you to either get down or get out of here. I am going to contaminate my swords with white man's blood."

Michaela looked at her a little frightened. She got down as some men on her left closed on Adrianna.

"Well señor's, let's do this!"

As Michaela got down on the floor, Adrianna threw out the metal rod and it hit four or five men who were running toward her. Adrianna jumped onto a chair that was behind her, cutting Carl from his neck to his shoulder. She moved the knobs so that they again became an innocent looking rectangular object. She jumped high from the chair and landing on the same chair, her hands holding her body there, so that she looked to be lying down on her stomach with her hands on the seat, slowly heightening her. It took a month to practice that move, she started to think. The men that she had hit with the metal rod had been thrown to the bar all the way to the left. One had hit the bar and was almost thrown back, his body getting whip lashed. One man had fallen over him and into the floor before the back of the bar. The other two men had fallen above them and fell into glass and wood. They had pieces of glass in their body, one of the two had it in a place he wished he hadn't.

Meanwhile, Adrianna was on the chair and in a split second, being that her hands were dangerously on the edge of the chair, fell off from the side, her hands balancing her body off the dirty floor. She fell to the left where there were no longer any men. She abruptly got up and looked around for Michaela. In all of the crashing, she had left the bar and she saw that Sully was now here and so had another man. They were in a man to man fight. Adrianna walked backwards, listening for anyone who would want to take her from the back. She stopped at the wall and the two remaining men that were not injured walked to her, thinking that she was cornered. She actually was anticipating this move and took out her two weapons. When they were less than a foot away and laughing, Adrianna feigned a look a defeat. They laughed.

"You are ours Mexican. I will enjoy your screams as I enter you!" As one of the men said it, Adrianna held out her weapons.

"Fine, take my weapons, just don't hurt me." She said shakily. She threw them the weapons and they again smiled. When the weapons finally went into the hands of each of the men, they were electrocuted with at least 10,000 volts of electricity. Both men were dead in about ten seconds. When they were finally dead, Adrianna took the weapons and looked at Hank, who looked scared for the first time.

"Everyone knows that once you own a weapon, no one else can touch it! At least I thought everyone did!" She then took out one of the weapons and it became a shorter sword and she pierced it into the back of the man Sully was fighting. She put it in the area where she knew the heart was. He died instantly. She took out the extremely bloody sword and put it back. She put both weapons in the protective pockets and Sully pushed the corpse off of him. He looked very surprised and looked at Adrianna's outfit. The black absorbed the blood and made it look like she got a little water on her.

"I now know why you wear black." He didn't look happy at what she did and at that moment as she gave one last look at all of the dead bodies, she felt an incredible amount of guilt wash over her. She walked with Sully to the wagon where she got on it, without saying a word. Sully briefly held Michaela's hand as she started the horses of the wagon and they left town.