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The death of Maude saddened Michaela more than Adrianna could imagine. It was not like other deaths, where it was that a medicine wasn't working or they came there too late. It was that a medicine wasn't available. It was something very simple and elemental and could have been prevented.

Adrianna was eating dinner one night as she saw Michaela ponder what happened. Adrianna always had one thing in life that she did, something that she had followed, it was to stay out of everyone's business if she could. There were times that she broke this rule, like when she asked about Santis. She tried to follow the beliefs of the reína and become part of the background.

She couldn't do that today; she had to break the rule.

"It's not your fault." Adrianna said it out of the air and so unexpectedly that everyone froze, this was so unlike Adrianna.

"Excuse me?" Michaela said.

"Don't blame yourself; blaming will not solve a thing. You need to move on, remember the nice and sweet woman that was Maude and breathe." Adrianna said like it was normal.

"Oh. Thanks Ann, I will take your advice." Michaela answered and knew that it was time to take advantage of the situation."

"When we were waiting for the soldiers to attack when we found Brian, what did the female libertdad luchares mean when she said you did it before and when they explained that they couldn't do anything?" Michaela asked inquisitively.

Everyone seemed to want to know the answer, because they all stopped eating and looked directly at Adrianna, waiting for a response. She looked at them all, a little angry at the fact that she was asking something personal. This was why she kept out of people's business; they always wanted to know her business.

"It's something that is not important at the moment. You do not need to know about it. Please leave me alone. They all want peace." Adrianna then sat up and cleaned her plate. Everyone was in silence as she left the house and went into the barn.

"I guess she doesn't want to talk about it." Said Brian and everyone started to clean the table.

Adrianna walked to the barn, cold, but angry. What would an innocent little boy think about the fact that she killed U.S. soldiers and killed them? What would he think about the fact that she hunted them like they were animals? She loved Brian; he was a kind and considerate little boy that loved all creatures. She didn't want to even think about what everyone else would think about it. They would be ashamed. She would never ever tell them.

She took off her clothes and put on her pajamas. She lay down and tried to sleep. The blanket door that she had made was very well structured so that no one could come into her place. With correspondence from her sister, she found a way to muffle sound with placing of the blanket in angles. Isabella drew intricate diagrams of how the blanket should be placed with the angles and even where to cut the door. It muffled the sound really good and it sounded like a strange language when someone talked in the "room". It also meant that no one in the room could hear anything either.

Adrianna lay there wondering how she was going to avoid questions like today. They weren't going to stop and were probably going to persist worse than today.

She closed her eyes and soon fell asleep, worried about so many things.

Her assassin instincts would never disappear, no matter how much she tried to suppress them. She heard pounding and immediately woke up. She was fast asleep, far from the world that she was in now, but her training stepped into her subconscious and she awoke. She was wearing a silky pair of dark pants and black cotton piece of cloth that was tied in the back and covered her upper chest.

She left her room and slowly explored the barn, it wasn't until she went inside the house that she saw what had awoken her up. In there were a few Indians, Sully and one injured chief BlackKettle. She walked in ignoring that fact that she was not wearing much.

"What happened?" Adrianna asked.

"BlacKettle's been shot." Michaela said. Adrianna's eyes widened and she went to the side of the table.

"The bullet is in his neck. We must perform a tracheotomy." Adrianna said, ignoring all of the frequent glances she was getting toward her body.

Michaela held out a knife and the Native Americans thought that she was going to cut him to hurt him. Sully had to explain that it was for medical reasons. They did not look happy that it was happening but agreed. Michaela grabbed a feather off of one of Sully's necklaces, blew onto it and cut into his neck. Michaela advised Adrianna to take out the bullet and she shook her head. Adrianna then looked for some ether and was about to put it on and was stopped. She knew the basics of their language and tried to explain that it would stop the pain. She looked at him shake his head and explain that he was not afraid of pain. She smirked and took out the bullet with success.

After he was cleaned up, there was the question about what was to happen. Chivington would look for the body as a prize, and so he had to be hidden.

As Sully was explaining that, Adrianna came by, very determined to help.

"We must hide the chief. He can stay in my "room" for as long as he can." As Adrianna finished her sentence, Sully nodded his head.

"They will come here and we need to be ready. I will reluctantly play a poor Mexican servant who sleeps in the stall." Michaela smirked at that. She knew how angry she got when someone called her that.

"Are you sure about that?" Michaela said, jokingly.

"Sí, royals get special training in not being royal, as they call it. I learned how to become a poor Mexican pretty good. It is very believable. It is best if I do this. It will add to the reality of the situation."

Adrianna frowned and went to where wolf was and went to pet him. She smiled at Brian and he smiled back.

"I don't speak wolf, but I can tell that he is very happy." Adrianna said, smiling at the wolf. He went to her and licked her face. He then started to lick her shoulders where her tattoos were and she realized that they weren't covered. She stood up abruptly and fell back. She stood up determined to leave.

"What do those tattoos mean?" asked Michaela.

Adrianna looked at Michaela a little annoyed.

"Why do you keep asking me questions about my life?" she asked.

"I have known you for a couple years and you are still a mystery to you. From the cryptic things that people say to you and the tattoos and even that place below your stomach that you always have gauze over. What are you hiding?" Michaela looked very exasperated.

Adrianna's eyes widened in anger, she looked like she was about to blow up.

"My past is not perfect. My parents died when I was eight, I had to take my four month-old sister to a stupid orphanage where we were treated badly. I don't like to talk about it, ok!" she was almost yelling.

She then pointed to her tattoos. "These signify who I am. The ones on my left explain that I am a half-blood freedom fighter; these here on my right are the crests of my family. Carlucci is on the top and Martiz is below that." She then went through her pocket and took out a package that was the same size of the gauze. It was black and white and had writings in Spanish on it. She then ripped off the gauze and everyone gasped. There was the strangest sight. It could only be described as human gills. Six rows of skin with space between. It was the width of about an inch and two inches high. Michaela kept staring at it and Adrianna angrily opened the package, which contained six small glossy straps that fit onto the flaps of her gills. She then put the gauze over it. She had angry tears falling down her face, her breathing was labored.

"Do you see why I haven't told you? I am a freedom fighter, I am not normal in your standards. I will never be treated right. Do you understand?" She angrily walked out and went to the barn.

Later the chief came and he laid down there with the other Natives. Adrianna found a traditional dress that looked a little ragged, like it had been worn for a while. Adrianna was glad to say that the whole event went as planned. Michaela played a southern bell with great authenticity. Adrianna played a servant who didn't know that much English and had a hard time finding words. When she was this girl, she was reminded of her mother and so she pretended she was her mother. It was the closest that she had been to her in years. They searched the house and soon the barn. Adrianna had to make sure that they didn't see the blood that had leaked. That was the most dramatic part where she found a way to lay on the bed, making sure they could not see the blood. It worked and they left, not knowing that the chief had been there.

The chief soon came back and thanked both women for helping them. They both got names, Michaela was medicine woman and Adrianna was secret heart. Adrianna smiled at the name, knowing that she was very secretive, and didn't like to talk about herself. She smiled at him, liking her name.

After they left, Adrianna started to walk toward the barn.

"Ann…" she yelled at her. Adrianna turned around and stared at her, hurt in her eyes.

"What the hell do you want?" she asked angrily. "Want to know when I had my first monthly…or when I shared my first kiss? What do you want to know!" she said it angrily, hurt heard in her voice.

Michaela had a face full of regret. "I'm sorry. I really am." She said it, feeling very sorry. Adrianna looked a little warmer; she even cracked a tiny smile.

"Just don't do it again." She silently said and whistled for her horse and rode off with her.

Adrianna was so upset with Michaela that she stayed farther from Michaela. She spent time alone, thinking. She was always going to be different from the whites from all Sadícos. She was different and there was no way to change that. When it started to snow, she was forced to stay at home, in her stall. She didn't talk to Michaela, averting her gaze completely.

On Christmas Eve, there was to be a dance. Adrianna was not going to go, saying that she had nothing "normal" to wear. After all of the kids kept asking her, she decided that it was best to go, since she could not eat in peace. Brian wanted her to wear the black gauze dress that she wore when they first moved in here. She decided to do it and everyone was happy.

Maybe it was that she kept asking that the dance never happen, maybe it was a crazy occurrence. Any way it is thought of, they were snowed in. Adrianna cracked up a smile and was hit repeatedly by Colleen, who was looking forward to it, more than everyone else. She had made a beautiful maroon dress from the fabric brought that sad day in the mercantile when Maude died.

Adrianna had calmed down in the past two days due to the constant cheering up by the kids. She even forgave Michaela. So as they sat there, feeling sad, Adrianna sat there and brought out some worms, where she started to eat them.

"EWWW! That's disgusting Anna!" Brian and Colleen said, having said it in unison.

"Worms are part of the freedom fighter diet. Everything revolves around it. It is in food and drink." Adrianna said amused.

"Drink?" Matthew asked, looking horrified.

"Worm juice is a popular drink that involves squeezing a worm and taking the juices that come out. Some of it is digestive in nature." Adrianna said while everyone looked very sick.

"Then there is fermented worm juice, an alcoholic juice that can make you very drunk." Adrianna said is normally like fermented worm juice was a normal occurrence.

"Can you really get drunk from it?" asked Michaela.

"Sí. Do you remember Santis on the day we rescued Brian?" Everyone except Colleen laughed.

"Are you a Christian?" asked Colleen, making a very valid point.

"Sí. I am, as I was raised one. I am very religious." Adrianna replied seriously.

"But you don't go to church." Brian said.

"I know. I am a different type of Christian, I guess. We all believe in the same thing, but have different ways of showing that. I am a Catholic. I go to a Catholic church in a nearby town."

Everyone looked surprised at her declaration.

"Are freedom fighters Christian?" asked Matthew.

"They are whatever religion is prominent in their area. Freedom fighters in Saudi Arabia are Muslim, for example. They grow up like you, except that they are freedom fighters. The freedom fighters here are Christian Protestants. That is one reason that they didn't accept me at first."

Brain smiled and hugged Adrianna, obviously accepting her.

"Do you know any Christmas songs?" Michaela asked Adrianna.

"Do I know them? Yes! I even know them in Spanish!" she said and Brian and Colleen looked very happy at that.

"Can you sing one?" asked Brian.

"Sí, por supuesto!" Everyone seemed excited at that.

"Pick a song!"

"Silent Night!" Brian yelled.

"Ok! Here is goes:

Noche de luz, noche de paz; Reina ya gran solaz,
Do el niño dormido está, mensajero del Dios de verdad.
Duerme, niño, en paz, duerme, niño en paz.

Noche de luz, noche de paz; al pastor más trara's,
Luz celeste en gran plenitud, sontos coros que cantan salud:
Hoy nació el Señor, hoy nació el Señor.

Noche de luz, noche de paz; Ved la luz de su faz,
Es el alba de la redención, Dios en él, nos dará' Salvación.
Oh, bendito Jesus! Oh, bendito Jesus!"

After Adrianna finished singing the song, they all decided to eat supper. Michaela started to pray and asked Adrianna to finish the prayer. Adrianna said the prayer that her mother always said at Christmas dinner: God of love, Father of all, the darkness that covered the earth has given way to the bright dawn of your Word made flesh. Make us a people of this light. Make us faithful to your Word, that we may bring your life to the waiting world. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen

Adrianna had a tear in her eye and she really felt that there was no difference at that moment. They were all Christians after all.

Brian then asked something that moved Adrianna.

"Do you think ma would mind if I called you ma too?" he asked.

Michaela looked at both Colleen and then Matthew who both nodded slightly. She agreed and Brian gave her a big smile.

He then looked at Adrianna who gave him a warm smile.

"I would like you to be my ma too, if that's ok." Adrianna smiled deeply.

"How about Amiga? You already have two moms; I would not feel it is right." Brian smiled and agreed.

Colleen then asked about Isabella.

"What's your sister like?"

Adrianna got caught off guard and choked on the worm she was eating.

"Mi hermana? Well….she is interesting?"

"What do you mean?" asked Brian.

"She is not normal. She is a smart and brilliant girl…woman. She is your age Matthew. She also jokes around, a little too much. A lot of times I find myself very annoyed with her…. a lot."

Colleen laughed. "What does she do?"

"Right now she is in a freedom fighter college studying physics. She likes to do stupid things. One time, she mixed together a special type of acid so that she could break walls and beat everyone to class by running through the classes!" Everyone laughed at that.

"She sounds funny." Said Matthew. "Will we ever meet her?"

"I don't know. Maybe someday." Adrianna answered.

Then the door knocked at Adrianna grabbed her weapon.

"Open the door and I will stay behind you." Adrianna seriously said and Michaela obliged.

Adrianna put her weapon back when they realized that it was Sully and wolf. He seemed to be carrying something, but Adrianna could not tell what it was.

When he went to the fire, Adrianna heard whimpering. He tuned around and there was a little pup.

"Merry Christmas, Brian."

"Thanks Sully."

"Colleen." She gave her a beautiful wooden comb.

"Thank you Mr. Sully." She said happily.

"Matthew." He gave him a special tool, even though Adrianna did not know what it was.

"Thank you." He replied.

Then he took out something wooden. He smoothed it off and gave it to Michaela. Adrianna walked over and saw that it was a sign that read: M. Quinn M.D.: Medicine Woman.

"Now that's a shingle." He replied.

"It certainly is." And she gave a tiny laugh.

Sully then looked at Adrianna and she looked back at him.

"You didn't think I would forget you?" he asked.

"I don't know. Did you?"

He took off one of his necklaces, which was holding an old and worn ring. It was gold and had a chipped peridot gem on it. Adrianna thought that was an interesting gem and was strangely reminded that that was the color of the Carlucci royal family. He broke the string it was on and gave it to her.

"I found this a couple years ago, a U.S. soldier had dropped it and didn't know what to do with it. I want you to have it."

Adrianna blushed, looking at the ring. "I cannot accept this! I would not feel right. I do not wear rings and I do not think I would feel right having something this valuable.

Sully looked at her with a smile.

"Your mother's name is Carlotta, right?" he asked.

"Dios mio! How do you know that! I never told you!" she asked surprised.

"Read the inscription in the ring."

Adrianna's hands started to shake. She had a feeling that she knew what it was, but didn't want to believe it, it was too much to be true.

She looked in the ring and read the inscription out loud.

"A mi amor, mi princesa Carlotta.-Alejandro" Adrianna could feel the tears fall. She then fell to the ground, clutching the ring. She started to cry, cry harder than she had in years. She tried to compose herself and after a few minutes, she found the ability to form words together.

"This was my parent's wedding ring! I got lost when they died, someone had stolen it. I have looked for years, and could not find it."

Adrianna looked very vulnerable, like she was a little child that had to be separated from her parents, like she had all of those years ago.

"I don't have the palabras to express my gratitude. I feel closer to her than I have since that day I lost her. Gracias."

He shook his head and said, "Your welcome."

Then he looked at everyone and said, "Merry Christmas!"

"Well, good night, Merry Christmas." Being Sully, he started to leave but Michaela stopped him asking him to stay.

"I'd like that." He replied.

As everyone ate, Adrianna smiled. She had never felt like she was part of a family in a long time. She was always a loner and an outsider, someone who was always looking into the window, now she was looking out of the window. As she looked out she felt a tear fall. She was different, but it didn't matter to them. She was loved and she couldn't be happier.

She finally felt like she belonged somewhere.

A/N: I want to thank two sites for the information in this part of the chapter….

The first is: http/ I used this site for the Spanish version of silent night. It was very useful and I would advise that you go there for other Christmas songs in Spanish.

The second is: http/ I used this to find a Catholic prayer and is a very useful sight for information on Catholics.

I want to tell you that I am not a Catholic and am far from an expert. I am also not trying to convert you at all. I choose her to be a Catholic since the real Sineu is a religious city, mostly full of Catholic nuns, so it is realistic that Carlotta and Alejandro would raise their children as Catholics.

I want to thank all of my loyal readers for taking the time to read this seven part chapter and waiting for the uploads. The other chapters, unless they are based on two part episodes, will be one long chapter.

I also want to thank my family. They were the ones that had to look at a laptop for a child this past week as I worked on it everyday. Now your child is back!

Also, Custard was a real historic figure that is part of the first three seasons of DQMW. They changed things around a bit, but he is there, so it would be important to note that he will be in this story, especially with the fact that Annie hates U.S. Soldiers.

I just thought it would be interesting to note that this chapter was 54 pages.

Hope you loved it. Review! Now!