A/N: Thanks to those who've already reviewed! Here's a new chapter for you, showing the bond between Bernardo and Maria. Tony and the others are coming up soon! BTW, I made a mistake on one of the Spanish words in the previous chapter, where Bernardo tells Maria that she's beautiful. It's supposed to be "Mi hermana hermosa", not "mi bella hermana" because 'bella' is Italian. Oopsies. Sorry. Hehehe

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CHAPTER III: Iargo

Our new home that Nardo had already prepared for us was something he called a 'ghetto'. Basically, it was a row of buildings where, inside each building several families lived. We were in the same building as the families Vega, de los Reyes, Diaz and Jimenez. It was a nice place, with Spanish tiles all over and the walls painted a clean, Marian blue. Our part of the building, since Bernardo had already fixed it up and was actually already living in it, was quite comfortable. He had been there, he said, for quite a while. Tio Caloy had helped him out, and so had Anita. Papa puffed with pride and clapped Bernardo on the back when he saw the furnished rooms.

"There is Papa y Mama's bedroom, down the hallway," Nardo pointed to a path beyond the living room. "That is my room," he pointed to one of the closed doors near us then shifted to a pair of doors that weren't like the rest. Instead of plain wood, it was made up of wood and opaque, colorful squares of glass.

"Is that the prayer room?" Mama asked. She always wanted to know where the prayer room was. Bernardo smiled.

"No, that is Mika's bedroom," he said, giving me one of his fond looks. "Right next to my own,"

I gasped in surprise then had it followed by a squeal like that of a piglet's. I practically jumped onto Bernardo out of joy. I'd also thought it was a prayer room as the doors, to me, were far too beautiful to belong to a bedroom's.

"Iargo, Iargo, do you mean it? Do you really mean it?" I asked happily, using his pet name after having not used or heard it for a long time.

"Oh you'd better believe how persistent your brother was about that being your bedroom," Anita said, rolling her eyes. "He did the doors himself. Careful, Maria, you might find yourself being always under the careful watch of your bodyguard,"

"It is my duty to protect my baby sister," Bernardo defended himself. I laughed.

"It's all right, Iargo, I'd love to have my bedroom next to yours," I wrapped my arms around his neck and gave him a hug. "Oh Papa, Mama, isn't he the best hermano ever? Numero uno, el mejor!"

"Thank you, querido," Mama gave Nardo a kiss on the forehead, though she had to stand on tiptoe to reach him. "Todo es hermoso (Everything is beautiful). I want nothing more,"

"You have done well, mijo. I'm proud of you. Very proud. Anita's magic may be helping you after all," Papa said, his mouth stretched into a wide smile.

"Ah, she is magic, Papa," Bernardo said, reaching out to hug and kiss Anita.

"Ah, and you are a little boy who still has chores to do. C'mon, Nardo, your family must be starving. Set the table while I prepare to serve the dinner,"

Anita pushed him away as soon as she started talking then moved on to the kitchen. Bernardo followed her with a lovesick gaze.

"See, Papa?" he said, grinning. "If she weren't magic, I wouldn't even be thinking of doing the table setting. She has bewitched me…"

He followed Anita dreamily who, in turn, gave him a slap on the arm.

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My bedroom, though small, I soon discovered was quite a sight to behold. It was so simple yet beautiful that I couldn't believe Bernardo had fixed it up himself. If that were true, I figured I would have to buy him something in return for his efforts. I had my own altar in the room, as well as a soft bed with a beautiful wrought-iron headboard. There were also small chairs and cushions and I had my own bathroom. The bedside table also had a round vase filled with fresh flowers, filling the room with a most heavenly scent whenever a breeze wafted in from my open window. I couldn't believe my luck! What had I done to deserve such treasures?

"Are you liking your bedroom?"

I turned around and saw Nardo in the doorway, leaning casually on the doorframe and smiling. I rushed to him and hugged him for the millionth time.

"It is beautiful, Iargo, it really is. Oh, what have I done for you to spoil me so?"

Bernardo laughed and tapped my nose with his finger.

"Because you are my sister and I love you. You deserve every beautiful thing in the world," he told me. I smiled. I loved the attention I got from my brother. He had his faults, but he was always very sweet and kind to me, even though he was a bit overprotective at times.

"Where has Anita gone?" I asked, noticing her missing presence.

"She has gone home to let you all rest. But she has promised to be here tomorrow to spend time with you," Nardo said. He held my shoulders and frowned.

"Maria, your arms are cold. You should keep your windows closed."

He walked over to my window, which I had opened a while ago, and shut it with a snap.

"I'm sorry I couldn't afford to put in a heater," he said apologetically. "But if you close your window at night, it can get warm in your room. Also, I bought you a thick quilt,"

"It's all right, Nardo, I don't mind. Mama and Papa don't either, you know that. I'm just glad we're finally here. We should thank you. For bringing us to New York,"

Bernardo laughed and sat on my bed. He patted the spot beside him so I would come over.

"Come sit beside me," he said.

I obeyed but teased him a little by lying down, my legs draped over the side of the bed. I reached over, got a pillow and held it close. Bernardo leaned against the headboard and got a pillow for himself.

"No shoes on the furniture, Iargo," I reminded him. "You know Mama doesn't like that,"

"Ah Mika," Bernardo said, sighing happily as he looked at me. "I did miss you and your little reminders about what I should and shouldn't do. I missed Papa and Mama too. If it wasn't for Anita I probably would've gone loco,"

"Hm, let me guess," I counted using my fingers. "You missed me for being the one you bullied and for being the one who had to tell you what was right and wrong, Mama for her cooking and Papa for his words of praise and the way he spoils you," I gave him a teasing smile.

Bernardo sat up, went over to my side of the bed then suddenly started tickling me. I squealed.

"Say that again," he said, his mouth clenched into a tight smile.

"Iargo! No! Bernardo! Papa, help!" I laughed, wiggling and squirming, trying to escape from my brother.

"Don't say you didn't miss me for this," he said, tickling harder. Since he was stronger, he was able to keep me down so I couldn't get away.

"NO!" was all I could say. I was laughing so hard, tears were already stinging my eyes. I got my pillow and swung it at Bernardo. It hit him with a soft thump and sent him reeling. I immediately regretted what I had done when he fell off the bed soundly. Instantly, I sat up to see if he was all right.

"Nardo! Oh, I'm sorry! Are you hurt?" I asked worriedly. From his position on the floor, my brother raised his head and gave me a devilish smile.

"So that is the way you repay your hermano for fixing up your bedroom, eh?" he said, his eyes twinkling with glee. In his hand was a pillow also and he held it with a readiness that made me squeal.

"You wouldn't!" I said, my eyes widening and my heart pounding in excited fear.

"Oh I would," Bernardo said, starting to get up. He held the pillow at arm's length and my eyes were immediately drawn to his wrist. He was wearing a black band around it that I had never seen before.

"Nardo," I said, thinking it was some sort of indication that someone had died. "What is that?"

"What is what?" my brother replied, not putting the pillow down.

"That black band on your wrist," I said, pointing. He followed my gaze, saw what I was referring to and shrugged.

"Nothing important," he said. He swung at me. I ducked, laughing, though I was still thinking about the band.

"Has someone passed on?" I asked, inching myself off the bed as Nardo neared me, preparing to swing the pillow again. It was customary for us to wear something black when someone has died.

"No," Bernardo replied. He wiped the sweat that had collected on his brow from failed attempts of hitting me. "It's nothing. Trust me, Mika,"

"Why do you wear it then?" I asked as I gathered a pillow to strike him back with. I was already off the bed and eyeing my brother like a cat in case he tried to strike me.

"To count," he inched towards me, "how many times," he gave me a grin, "my baby sister would ask about it!"

He flung the pillow and hit me. It wasn't hard so it didn't hurt, but I was startled all the same. Bernardo laughed and laughed.

"You!" I said and swung the pillow I had at him. It hit and, pretty soon, we were chasing each other around the room, feathers from the pillows flying in all directions. It was like a snowstorm. The fight didn't last long, as the room was too small and was already getting a bit hot. When I finally surrendered, I lay on the floor and watched as the feathers slowly floated downwards.

"Oh Iargo," I said dreamily. "My first snowstorm,"

Bernardo knelt beside me and put some of the feathers in my hair.

"There," he said, smiling. "The beautiful Snow Princess,"

"Do you think I will be able to see real snow, Nardo?" I asked hopefully, looking at him. I hoped I would and I hoped Bernardo would say 'yes'. I trusted him enough to believe anything he told me.

"Si," he told me gently. "You will see your snow, little girl. But now, it is time for you to sleep,"

"Oh, Nardo, must I?" I was having such a good time.

"Yes, you must," Bernardo helped me to my feet and dusted off my clothes. "Or Papa will have my head for not giving you your rest. We will spend more time tomorrow if you wish." He gathered the torn pillowcases from the floor and put them in a pile on one of the chairs. "You can have my pillows for tonight since we have ruined yours. Anita can fix these tomorrow,"

He left the room, returned with two new pillows, kissed me good-night, wished me sweet dreams and then turned to leave again.

"Are you going somewhere, Iargo?" I asked, noticing the thick coat he had draped over his arm. Bernardo turned to face me, half-smiling.

"Yes," he answered. "I promised my friends I would meet them tonight,"

I bit my lip. I didn't want him to leave. I wanted my first night in America to be spent with my family under one roof. It had been so long since we were complete. Besides, I felt safer with my hermano around.

"Must you?" I said. Bernardo got a worried look on his face.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, approaching me.

"No, not really," I replied. "But can't you just meet your friends tomorrow? Is it important?"

I thought my brother would laugh at me and look at me as something silly, but, to my surprise, he didn't. Instead, he gave me a gentle look and shrugged.

"All right," he smiled. "I will stay. They can just meet me tomorrow. You want me to stay, don't you?"

"Oh thank you, Iargo!" I said happily, giving him a fond squeeze.

"Ah, sometimes I think I spoil you too much," he joked. "I give you everything you wish for!"

"Because that is your job as an older brother," I told him teasingly. He knew how fond I was of him and I did love it whenever he'd give me attention or little gifts and favors.

"I will stay, but now you must sleep. You are tired, I am sure, from the long trip," he patted my cheek as he spoke.

"You will not go anywhere while I am asleep?" I asked, to make sure he would not be sneaking out.

"Ah, how you ask a lot of questions!" Bernardo laughed. "I will be here all night while you and Mama and Papa sleep. I will be here when you wake and I will be here every night before you go to bed to say good-night. I promise."

There was always something in the way my brother spoke that made you believe anything he said. I trusted him with my whole heart and, convinced he wasn't going to leave me and Papa and Mama alone in the apartment during the night, I thanked him, gave him a hug and kiss good night and wished him sweet dreams. Before he left my room, he gave me a contented smile.

"You don't know how happy I am that you are all finally here with me," he said. "Good night, Mika,"

Then he closed my door softly as he went, as if I were already asleep.

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A/N: I figured Bernardo and Maria's bond would have to be established first before Maria goes out to explore the other characters. Next up, she'll meet the rest of the Sharks! Keep reading and reviewing!