A/N – I'm SO SORRY I made you guys wait so long! Life's been treating me a little roughly. Here's a new chappie so you'll forgive me!

Tonyboy: I LOVE the fact that you've added a new chapter to your fic! I can't seem to review because every time I press the 'GO' button, this pop-up comes up and tells me that 'the server is too busy and blablabla'. Argh! I want so much to review but I'll make it up to you by putting it here for the meantime. The song is so nice and it was a wonderful touch. Leo sounds SO adorable and I love the way you described the porcelain dolls coz it's just soooo right on the target. I'm hating them already! Lol. I don't like prejudiced people and/or racists. They're not at all nice. Anyway about how you plan on finishing your story, I think it's a wonderful plot! Especially about the 'meeting in Heaven' part because that's where Maria can obtain total happiness and peace, being right back with God. I'd also love to read about Leo growing up and how he'll turn out to be! I hope he'll be a total sweetie like his Dad. :-) Thanks for always reading and reviewing!

Phantom1391: Thank you for the great review! I love Bernardo too! Do you have any fics? Maybe you could write a story about him:-) That'll make me REALLY happy! I'm glad you like my story!

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CHAPTER VIII: Shark-Infested Waters

Even now, as an old woman, I can still remember the tingling fear and excitement I felt when I first heard Bernardo call me while I was still with Tony. I felt as if I couldn't breathe and as if my heart had jumped to my throat. I felt for certain that Bernardo was going to catch us. I could almost see his face if he'd laid eyes upon eyes like that. Tony had been surprised when I'd interrupted him; he hadn't heard Bernardo yet.

"Maria," he said. "What's—"

"Sssh," I whispered, my voice shaking. "That is my brother. He is looking for me,"

"Are you sure? I don't hear…"

"Maria! Mika!"

"Yes!" I got to my feet, my heart beating so hard against my chest I thought it was going to burst through my skin. I pulled Tony up also and kept my voice at a low volume. "You must go! He won't like us together,"

"All right all right…"

"Maria?" Bernardo's voice sounded stronger and nearer. "Maria where are you?"

"Go!" I told Tony pleadingly. "Please Tony!"

"I'll see you again," Tony promised, looking into my eyes.

"I will wait for you." I replied. "But go!"

"Mika!"

At Bernardo's call, Tony gave me a last smile and hoisted himself up on the wall that hid the area from the sidewalk. In a second, he was gone. I was more saddened than relieved to see him go. Still, I hurried to gather my things to leave before Bernardo discovered me in our hiding place. He would have many questions that I wouldn't know how to answer.

I quickly gathered my books and my jacket, then discovered that Tony had left his Math book behind. In his haste he must not have noticed he had. But there was no more time for me to chase him…

"Maria!"

I whirled around and saw Bernardo approaching me. I quickly grabbed Tony's book and froze, not knowing what else I was supposed to do.

"Mika, what are you doing here? And what took you so long? I thought you were only going to be 10 minutes…"

He put his hands on his hips and waited patiently waited for me to explain myself. I clutched my books (with Tony's the closest to my chest) and tried to think up an excuse. My mouth felt as dry as cotton and my blood was pounding in my ears.

"I…I thought I…heard voices here. So…I came to see if there were people," I said slowly, forcing myself to meet my brother's eyes. If I didn't, I would have fared better by just telling the truth; Bernardo would know right away I was lying. I hoped that today he wouldn't be able to see through me.

"I heard you talking," Bernardo said. "Were you with somebody?" He glanced at the space behind me, his eyes darting carefully to see every darkened corner.

"No…no…I was talking to myself…" I said, saying the first thing I came up with. My brother moved from his spot as I was speaking and prowled around the area with careful strides, as if expecting someone to jump out from the shadows. When he saw no one, he came back in front of me.

"Are you sure no one was here?" he asked me again.

"Yes, Iargo, I am sure," Each lie was becoming more difficult to spit out but I still managed.

"All right…" Bernardo let out a defeated sigh. "Come on, let's go home…Mama is probably worried for us…"

He kissed me gently on the forehead and led me away from the area. I glanced back at the stone bench that Tony and I had just sat on, trying to remember the moment we were together. I had never felt so exhilarated my whole life and I almost felt sinful for liking a boy that much. Bernardo tugged at me to walk faster and I had to turn away from the bench. I had lied to my brother again and I didn't like it, but I'd seen Tony for the second time as well and I wished I could see him forever and ever, even if, God help me, I had to lie to Bernardo over and over. I had to see him again.

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Chino dropped by for dinner that night and he, Nardo and Papa had a rather hearty conversation over the callos and salsa. I'd been caught by surprise, seeing him there by the dinner table, ready with a small flower for me. I'd smiled, accepted his gift then had taken my seat between Mama and Papa, directly across to Nardo. Chino sat next to my brother. It was like old times, when we were all back in Puerto Rico and, though I had missed it, I did not want to see Chino that night since I wanted to be alone with my thoughts about Tony. I scolded myself for being selfish during the course of the meal and reminded myself to act properly.

Papa had led the prayer, as always, and unusually had a smile playing on his lips as he'd said it.

"Dear Lord, thank you for this wonderful food you have set before us," he'd recited with his eyes closed and head bowed. "My family and I have been so blessed even after coming to America. Thank you for my lovely wife, my beautiful children. Without them, I would be nothing. Thank you for having Chino with us tonight to share our blessings with him and for the wonderful company he provides us with. Bless him, his family. Bless our family as well. This we ask in Your Holy name. Amen."

The meal started after that.

"What has been going on with you, Chino? How is your family? Are they coming here already?" said Papa.

"Have some more rice, hijo," said Mama.

"No, they are not coming yet, Tio. I have to save up some more first…Thank you, Tia," Chino nodded graciously at my parents. I listened to their sliced conversations, stirring the food on my plate.

"Have you come to ask for my sister's hand yet, Chino?" I heard Bernardo say. My head shot up and I saw the mischievous smile on my brother's face and the scarlet color Chino's face had taken on. Chino glanced at me shyly, as if asking for my permission for something.

"Iargo!" I exclaimed, surprised my brother had asked such a thing.

"Bernardo!" my mother exclaimed as well. "I don't think that is any of your business, eh?"

Papa and Bernardo laughed. Chino received claps on the back, although he kept his head down, his eyes on his food. He was still blushing. He looked half embarrassed and half pleased that Bernardo had asked him such a question.

"Ah, Carmen, if he hadn't asked it, I would have. Our mija is growing up! She must have someone to marry before it is too late! And there is no one else I'd want for her but Chino," Papa said, beaming. I almost choked.

"Oh, Diego, let her finish her studies first! There will be plenty of time for marriage later," Mama said. "If Chino really loves her than he can wait, can't you, hijo?"

I was shocked that Mama had answered Papa since it was the first time she'd done it, but I was thankful as well. I wouldn't have won if I'd tried. Papa didn't seem to notice what Mama had said. He, along with Bernardo kept jostling Chino and encouraging him.

"I will have the best caterers in Manhattan when it happens!" Papa announced. "We will have the finest feast New York has ever seen!"

"Ah, Papa, do not forget Anita and I will need that feast too," Bernardo said, his eyes twinkling. Papa laughed even more.

"Oh yes, oh yes, who can ever forget my boy," Papa's voice boomed loudly and bounced off of the thin walls. "Be sure to bring me plenty of grandchildren, mijo, to spoil and coddle!"

"I will make sure of that, Papa," Bernardo elbowed Chino. "Eh, be sure to tell your parents now what you've been up to. We don't want them to look so surprised when they arrive here and see that they're already grandparents!"

I felt my face grow hot as I heard the boys talk and didn't feel as hungry anymore. I kept my eyes to my food and tried to continue eating, but I couldn't. I was between angry and embarrassed. I didn't want Chino, yet they were still forcing him on me. I didn't want him. I didn't think I'd ever want him. What if I liked someone else? How would they react to that? Someone…someone…

Someone like Tony, perhaps?

"Mija, are you all right? You haven't eaten much," Mama said, looking worried. I saw Bernardo and Papa look up and then Chino, all with the same concerned expressions on their faces.

"Are you sick, Maria?" Papa asked gently. He tried to feel my forehead but I refused.

"No, I am all right, Papa," I told him. "I'm just not very hungry. May I be excused, Mama? I still have a lot of homework to do,"

"Si, all right," Mama nodded and I gladly stood up to leave. I knew they were watching me as I went into my bedroom and I was glad when I finally closed my door to be alone.

Away from my family's prying eyes, I could finally think of Tony.

I went over to my bed, sat on it then got Tony's Math book from underneath my pillow. I held it close to my face and inhaled, hoping I could catch a glimpse of his scent. I detected a faint whiff of something sweet among the smell of musty paper, and recognized it as the scent Tony wore. I'd smelt it from him just that afternoon. It smelled lovely and sent my heart beating faster. I laid the book on my lap and ran my fingers over the cover. The book looked worn and tired, as if it had seen better days, but it was still presentable enough, even with the pencil marks and the small drawings by the title. I opened it and discovered Tony's name on the first page, written by his own hand: Anton (Tony) Wallace. I smiled when I saw the '(Tony)', imagining that someone else must have persuaded him to write his complete name against his will. Anton. What a lovely name. I thought it suited him just fine.

I leafed through the pages and discovered thousands of little drawings and comments. One page even featured a conversation between, I think, Riff and Tony about their teacher, whom someone had drawn on the page as a dragon-headed woman. Tony's handwriting was gentler in comparison to the jagged edges the other person's letters showed. Proof that it was Riff's handwriting vandalizing Tony's book I discovered later, upon discovering a drawing of two cartoon figures of a different style on one page with arrows pointing to each and the names written at each end. 'Riff and his buddy-boy' it said. Then directly below it, Tony had written: "Riff, why dontcha get your own book to draw on?" which Riff had replied to with a drawing of a smiling face. There were more drawings on the books than answers to the Math problems and on another page I discovered a well-drawn picture of the group of boys Riff led, only Tony had drawn himself together with them. I read the names: 'Ice', 'Action', 'Tiger', 'A-Rab'…and thought that it was strange that they called themselves that. 'The Jets', was written underneath the drawing, followed by 'Tony and Riff, 1956'.

'The Jets', I thought to myself as I studied the drawing. I suppose that's what they call themselves.

The middle part of the book was clean and no writing whatsoever. I guess they hadn't studied the lessons there yet. I continued flipping through a few more pages and was startled by a sudden discovery of a piece of notebook paper that had been wedged inside. I was surprised that it contained a beautiful drawing of a girl who looked remarkably like me.

It couldn't be…

But there it was, 'Maria' written at the bottom of the page. It was a drawing of myself sniffing a rose. It was so beautiful it made my heart ache. It was something that I presumed he imagined I looked while doing and the only thing I could do was marvel at his talent. I couldn't help but smile as I stared at it more.

Maybe Tony liked me as well…maybe even as much as I liked him! I could only hope that it was true…I felt my heart beat rapidly against my chest, like that of a dying bird's. My cheeks felt hot and a strange sensation was tingling across my whole body. I'd never felt so happy.

Was I in love? Was this love?

If it is, I figured, then it is the most beautiful feeling in the world.

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Present Day

I hold the yellowed piece of paper in my hands gently then start unfolding it with care. I do it slowly and carefully, afraid of what damage I may cause. I have not moved away from the altar and am still in my spot, facing the window, watching the sunrise over New York. The piece of paper feels creased and rough in my hands, like an old person's skin. I keep my eyes on it as I unfold it to ensure I can open it without tearing. It has been a long time since I've seen the drawing and I'm afraid that it may have already faded from time. It would be such a shame if it happened. It's such a beautiful drawing…

The paper becomes bigger and bigger in my hands and I give a contented sigh when it is opened. My heart leaps as it did many years ago when I first laid eyes on what the paper held, but now it is solely because I'm glad the drawing is still there. It has faded, but not enough for it to disappear completely, and some parts are already unclear, caused by the creases the paper has. But the main drawing is still clear…even with my weak eyesight, I can still see the pencil smile on my teenage face, the hair that's tied back by a ribbon and the rose in perfect bloom set in my smudged hands.

'Maria' is still there. The Maria I used to be is still there and I'm glad. I'm glad that the part of me that was truly happy is still very much alive, even though it is only on paper. I give the drawing a fond touch before folding it up again and putting it back in the tin box.

A/N:
Tommy: I'm glad you like my story! It was born because of that question too: What if Tony and Maria had spent more time together before the rumble happened? So I guess this fic is an AU, rather than a pre-movie thing I had originally thought it was. I'm sorry you too had to wait long for this chapter! I hope this can serve as an apology. Please keep reading and reviewing!