Disclaimer: I do not own West Side Story or any of the characters contained therein. Raquel, however, is mine, so please don't steal her!

Author's Notes: Thanks to those of you who have read and reviewed! It makes me happy! lol. This fic is too much fun... BTW, notes to reviewers are at the end of the chapter.

Chapter 7: Prayers and Dreams

Raquel was smiling when A-Rab brought her some clothes to change into. "Gracias," she said as she took the garments from him.

A-Rab grinned. "They're a little too big... and they won't look near as good as that dress did, but it's all we got. Ain't much call for chic clothes 'round here. Not even for Anybodys."

Raquel had to laugh at that remark.

As A-Rab walked closer to her, Raquel knew what he wanted. So she gave it to him... Another long kiss.

She broke the kiss off, saying, "Now go! I must change. And do not watch my shadow through the sheet, either."

A-Rab grinned mockingly. "Not me, Raquel. Scout's honor," he added, holding up two fingers in a Boy Scout salute.

"You are bad," she said with a smile.

"But you're pretty da-- good, if I do say so myself," A-Rab said smoothly.

When A-Rab walked out of her "room," Raquel began to change her clothes. She took off the filthy dress, which had been so beautiful only hours earlier. Then, she pulled off her slip, and slipped into a pair of jeans. She guessed they were Baby John's from their size, which still required her to wear a belt and roll up the ankles. Then, she pulled on a white t-shirt, and tied her sash back around her waist, for one, because she needed to add her feminine flare to the boy's clothing, and two, because she needed to keep her weapons close, just in case.

She teased her hair a little, trying to get it to do something, but it proved to be a waste of her time. It was pretty hard to improve a pair of jeans a size or two too big, and a t-shirt.

She walked back toward the main area, where the Jets were talking. She heard one of them mention Chino, and stayed quiet, hoping to hear good news of her brother.

She heard Ice say, "They sentanced Chino today."

"Yeah?" Mouthpiece said. "And what was the outcome?"

Ice shook his head. "Lethal injection."

Raquel nearly choked on the knot in her throat as Action voiced his opinion. "Well, I say the da-- spic got what was comin' to 'im."

"Easy, Action," Ice said.

"You shouldn't talk like that," A-Rab added. "'Specially not with Raquel here."

"Why not?" Action demanded. "She's a no-good spic, too."

At this point, Action had pushed Raquel past sadness to anger. "Oh I am, am I?" she growled.

"Sorry, Raquel," A-Rab said. "Sometimes Action has a big mouth."

Action scoffed at A-Rab's evaluation.

Raquel looked around the room, and into each face. It wasn't long before she noticed that Baby John was avoiding her gaze. She couldn't help wondering why.

A-Rab, in the meantime, was grinning at her. "You sure look alot better in them clothes than we do."

Raquel smirked. "Your dead bodies will look good in these clothes to me," she thought.

Baby John looked at A-Rab angrily. He'd thought A-Rab was his friend. His best friend, in fact. But he'd turned on him. A-Rab knew Baby John liked Raquel, and he had kissed her anyway.

"Looks like your meat idea helped, Johnny-boy," Big Deal said.

"Yes, it did. Gracias, Baby John," Raquel said.

"No problem," Baby John mumbled, still not looking at her.

Raquel didn't know why it bothered her so much that Baby John wouldn't look at her. He was a Jet, one of the murderers in her eyes. But she couldn't stand the way he was avoiding her.

OoOoOoO

Del Campo was still sitting on the sofa with Raquel's ring in his hand. It was one of the first things he'd really worked for in America, not taken by force. He had planned to ask Raquel to marry him very soon. He'd kept the ring in his pocket, waiting for just the right moment. He had already picked out a flat for them to live in and to raise their kids in. And he couldn't believe that, just like that, his dreams of marriage, and a life with Raquel were gone.

And the worst part was, she hadn't even told him why.

OoOoOoO

Baby John was lying alone in his own dark corner of the cellar. He was still hurt and angry. He couldn't believe how much things had changed in just this one day. He'd fallen for a girl. And his best friend had turned on him. And he hated it all so much. He wanted to go back to the day before. Or better yet, a year before. When Riff and Tony were still alive. Heck, even Bernardo. Baby John had never wanted Bernardo to die. He'd just wanted the Sharks off of Jet turf. Did people really have to die for that?

Baby John wondered what things would have been like if Tony, Riff, and Bernardo had lived. He wondered if Tony would have married Maria, or if her family would have forbidden it. He wondered if Tony would have been the father of a house full of little half-Puerto Rican kids, and if maybe, someday, Riff and Bernardo would have gotten past their hatred. He wondered if Maria and Tony's love would have had so much effect on others had he lived. He wondered if, maybe someday, the Jets and Sharks would have made nice... been friends, even.

But he knew that there was no use in wondering. They couldn't go back and change what had happened.

But still, he sure wished Tony and Riff were still around. Tony had been such a great friend to him... He'd been there for him. Even saved his neck a time or two. He felt sure Tony would never have turned on him like A-Rab. Of course, Tony already had a dame, so it was a little different. But still, Tony was a real pal when a guy needed him.

OoOoOoO

It was late, and Raquel thought noone would be awake. It was then, and only then, that she let her sorrow over Chino's sentance out. The tears streamed down her face in the dark. She silently prayed the Hail Mary, the Our Father, and every other prayer she knew, begging God and the saints to spare Chino's life.

She began to wonder if God and the saints even heard the prayers of one who was trying to murder and avenge. She wondered if there was any point. But she kept praying.

She sniffle, then cringed, hoping noone would wake up.

As she lay there, she saw the sheet opening. A tall, lanky figure walked into her "room," and just before she could scream, the figure spoke. "It's just me. Baby John"

Baby John wasn't sure why he'd left his semi-comfortable pallet in the floor to come check on Raquel, but he knew that the sound of her crying had refused to let him sleep. And he knew that, even though she had hurt him, he couldn't stand for anyone to cry.

"Baby John, what are you doing here?"

He looked down at his bare feet. "Nothin'," he replied.

"Well, what brings you to my lovely mod bedroom?" By this time, she had dried all of her tears.

"Well... I was up... and... uh... I couldn't help noticing... you were up, too... and... well... anyhow..."

"You were wondering what is my problem?"

"Well, when ya put it like that..."

"It's OK... It is my fault. I am a bit... um..." she searched for the English word. "Sarcastic."

Baby John smiled like he hadn't smiled in quite a while. Then, he snickered. Her accent amused him.

"Are you laughing at me, you silly boy?" she asked with a laugh.

"Why, no! Of course not. I got stict rules against laugin' at pretty girls."

"So, you think I am pretty?" Raquel asked, the slightest hint of a smile playing at her lips.

Baby John blushed. "Maybe..."

Raquel grinned. "It's all right. I'm glad you maybe think I'm pretty."

Baby John looked at her... Or looked at her outline, which was what it really was in the dark room. "I... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that... I mean..."

"Shouldn't have said what?"

"That you're pretty."

"Why not?" Raquel asked.

"Well... I mean... you and... I guess, you and... A-Rab... and... well..."

So this was what he was upset about. Raquel smiled. "A-Rab and I... well, I don't love A-Rab..." She found herself wondering if this was the first truthful thing she had said since she'd met Baby John and the others the last night.

"Huh? I mean... well, I seen you two... kissin'... and..."

Raquel couldn't help feeling sorry for Baby John as he stammered through what he was trying to say. "So I kissed him," she said. "It's just a kiss. It means nothing."

"How could it mean nothing? I mean... It's a kiss."

Raquel shook her head. Was he really that innocent? Could he really think that every kiss had meaning?

"Have you ever kissed someone, John?" she asked.

Baby John was a little surprised at the sound of his proper name. Noone had called him John in a long time. It was always "Baby John," or "Johnny-boy," or even "jailbait." But not John.

"Well," he said, when he recovered his senses. "I guess... well, no. Not a real kiss."

"Hm..." Raquel shook her head. "And how does a handsome boy like you make it this far in life without a kiss?"

Baby John shrugged. "Handsome" was another thing he wasn't used to being called. In fact, if he remembered right, he hadn't been called handsome since he'd last visited his Grandma on his Ma's side. Which was over a year before.

"Well, I have a feeling you will be kissed soon enough," Raquel said. "And I, for one, think that a kiss from you would have alot of meaning."

"Really?" Baby John said. "I mean... thanks... I mean..."

"No problem," Raquel said with a smile. "You know," she said, strangely enough, still being honest, "You're an easy fella to talk to."

"Thanks," he said, smiling.

But still, he couldn't help thinking that Raquel and A-Rab's kiss had meant something. No matter what she said.

She yawned. The he yawned. Then she yawned again. "My goodness!" Raquel exclaimed. "I did not know how contagious yawning could be."

"Me neither," Baby John replied, yawning again. Raquel giggled, surprised at the sound of her own true laugh. She hadn't truly laughed, truly felt so happy, since Bernardo's death. That event had seemed to have taken away her ability to laugh.

But here she was, laughing. With a Jet, no less. And it scared her.

"I should go to sleep," she said. "Es tarde."

"What's that mean?" Baby John asked.

"It means 'It's late.'"

"Oh. That's true.

"Buenas noches, John," Raquel said, patting his shoulder. "Thank you for the visit."

"Buenas noches," he replied, stumbling a little on the unfamiliar words. "And you're welcome."

Raquel watched him get up and walk out, and she found herself thinking that someday, before Baby John died... or before she had to kill him... Someday, he needed one good kiss.

OoOoOoO

A/N:

Eaglesgirl- I guess you could try. lol.

daddy's little star- Thanks! I'm glad you like it. It's all good about being in school and all. I most definately understand. D Can't wait for an update from you!

Ash- Lol. Your review made me laugh my ever-lovin' head off. Yeah... No problem with the note... 'tis fun stuff. I think Ice is too cool. You said, "I'd also think that he would believe in hitting girls, even Anybodys." Did you mean he wouldn't believe in hitting girls? I'm glad about the in character-ness. lol. Yeah, I just love A-Rab. He makes me laugh, and I could just picture him hitting on a girl. Even before any of the other Jets... Good ol' A-Rab. lol. Yeah... Big Deal callin' Baby John "Johnny-boy" came from a couple of things. First of all, when I first saw WSS, I thought they were calling him Baby Johnny... I know, retarded but true. And then, I figured out that it was Baby John, but I still thought Johnny was cute. Plus, I liked a guy named Jonny. Then, I started calling both of them Johnny-boy, and I passed it on. lol. Randomness is MINE! Glad you can see where I was goin' with the Maria thing. Also, Del Campo has a huge thing for Raquel... so anyways... Yeah... Poor Chino. I agree. I love the Jets and the Sharks, so I am unbiased. lol. I love long reviews! lol. You sound like me and my sis. Yeah, I'm sure my sister and I would love havin' Baby John for a brother... I'd also like Riff, Chino, or Bernardo as a husband, and Ice as my man on the side. lol. But life goes on.

Tonyboy- Glad you liked the chap! As far as what will happen... I say nothing. lol. I know what you mean about waiting for auditions. I nearly freaked, because when we had Phantom tryouts, my chorus teacher made us draw numbers to see who would go first, and I had to go first the first song! Ugh! I nearly died. I laughed when I read the part that said you know "ALL the songs," because it made me think of my friend Johnny singing "I Feel Pretty" and stopping before he said "gay." lol. I bet your drama director will give you a fair shot. Especially since you suggested it in the first place. I wish it had been longer ago when our choir did WSS, because maybe we'd have a shot at doing it again this coming year (My senior). I wish I could. Unfortunately, Kansas City is a little farther than I'd be able to go. Which sucks! Ah... if only I lived near there so I could see it. I loved Russ Tamblyn as Riff. He was such a good Riff, so I, too, am glad that they asked him to try for it. I don't know what people's problem with Richard Beymer is. I thought he was awesome... I agree... Alot of people don't know talent from Adam's housecat. lol. Did you also know that Elvis was supposed to be in WSS. I am a huge fan of Elvis Presley, but I'm glad he turned down a role in WSS, because I think that would have taken away from it... It's just that every movie with Elvis in it is automatically "an Elvis movie" and I think people would have payed less attention to the story, and would have missed out. It's nice to have people around (like your choir director) who support you. I think your choir teacher must be a loser. Someone with a range like you have... (which I would love to hear you sing, btw) should definately make better than freshman choir. I know what you mean about the novelization. Anita was not that mean. She wouldn't call Maria a whore over and over like that. In the movie, she seemed to understand Tony and Maria. I just don't like the novelization that much. There was some stuff in it that was cool though (such as giving the last names of Riff, Tony, Anita, Maria and Bernardo, and Chino), but other than that, they can keep it. lol. You know, I never want to update until you review, because your reviews just make my day. Thanks! BTW, do you mind if I use your idea about Anita having Bernardo's baby? I want to use it for another story, but also tie it in to this one. I won't use anything else of yours, but the actual idea of Anita being pregnant/having a baby... Anyways, this is very long, so I better stop. Bye!