Much love to all of you that reviewed. :)

Maddie xo

Tony hadn't stopped running since he slipped out of the bridal shop. He was certain a fist fight would be what would save everyone – he was willing to face anyone for Maria. He ran past Doc's shop and into the alley, where he turned to find himself under the highway. The Jets and the Sharks had already congregated there and were staring at each other menacingly.

"Hey! Stop!" Tony yelled. No one responded. "Riff, buddy boy!" Tony tried again.
Riff turned to him and gestured for him to come closer. He was explaining the rules to the Sharks, telling them to pick their strongest man.

"Diesel," Riff demanded.
"Wait, I thought I'd be fighting him!" Bernardo interrupted, pointing at Tony. "What, he can't fight his own fights?"

"Riff," Tony turned red. "Just a fist fight."
"No, buddy boy, that's what they think." Riff murmured under his breath, almost making no sound. "Hey, you fight, you take this."

Riff slipped something into Tony's pocket. A knife? Tony felt a surge of anxiety and moved Diesel out of his way to stand in front of Bernardo. He felt his hands shaking.

"Will you-?"

Bernardo knocked the wind out of Tony before he could speak. The Jets ran up to defend him, taking hits at all the Sharks. The knife was still in Tony's pocket. He tried to get himself up but instead stared at the fight in front of him, dazed. But with the help of Baby John, he got to his feet and ran up to Bernardo.

"-nardo…"

Bernardo let out an indistinctive yell, stopping the Sharks. "You will call me Bernardo!"

It felt like the whole world was watching Tony in this moment of tension.

"I-I'm sorry, Bernardo. I just want to tell you that your sister…"
"…should not be talking to you, and will not until the day I die."
"I love her, Bernardo, like you love Anita."

Bernardo stared coldly into Tony's eyes for a moment. Was he thinking? Was he ever going to respond?

"Someone like you cannot love. Someone like you jumps people the moment they step foot on a new country." Bernardo closed his eyes for a moment then snapped. "Sharks."

The Sharks reluctantly retreated, jumping at and threatening Tony. He threw the knife on the ground next to Riff and ran after them.

"Hey! I've changed! I love Maria! I'll do anything, Bernardo!" Tony was starting to shake again. "Hey!"

He stopped for a moment, unsure of what to do. He ran to Doc, sure that he could help him.

"Doc?"

The frail man looked up at Tony in wonderment. "I thought you already left for the day."

"Doc, I need help. I-I told you about the girl I met... I..."
"Is she hurt?" Doc's old eyes never were twinkled in a carefree way.
"No! No, I want to get out of here before she is, Doc. I don't know what to do, please, I thought you'd know..." Tony's speech got faster with every word he said.

"Tell you what, Tony," Doc walked towards the door. "I'm going to get you some money."
Tony opened his mouth to protest.

"Do with it what you will," Doc interrupted, "Consider it a severance package."
"Doc..." Tony didn't know what he'd be doing after he got this money.
"I don't want anything else to worry about. You'll be okay, Tony. Follow me."

Doc led Tony to the bank, which would soon be closed.

"Maria!" Bernardo bellowed.

Maria skidded from out of her room into the hallway to face Bernardo. Anita stalked out of her room.

"Bernardo?"
"Do you know who I saw today?" He was steaming, pacing back and forth in front of Maria's door.
"No," she tried not to look any different than she would normally "Everyone? The boys?"
"You're not being cute." Bernardo retorted.
"Well, tell me what happened, 'nardo..."

Anita walked closer to come behind Bernardo. She put her hands on his shoulders. "Bernardo..."

Bernardo walked out from his girlfriend's grasp. He began pacing again, trying to think of how to bring everything he needed to up. He couldn't just talk in front of the audience of girls peeking out of Maria's room.

"Look, I saw a Jet that was... different, or so he says, today." He met Maria's eyes, which were listless.
"What happened?" Responded a chorus of girls.

He sighed. "Let me talk to my sister alone. Go, go back to your party."

Rosalia turned away quickly, leaving Fernarda and Consuela to give annoyed looks to Bernardo before retreating.

"Mira," Bernardo whispered, "What happened with you and that boy you met at the dance?"
Maria looked down, almost ashamed.
"Just talk to me, Maria, I am tired of all this."

Her eyes met Anita's face. She had a look on her face that screamed "I told you so", eyes shooting straight to the back of Bernardo's head.

"Maria?"
"I..."
"Maria!"
"Please, Bernardo, I... I..." Maria looked from Anita to her brother. "I don't like Chino." She said, almost to herself.
"Just get to know him, Maria, I didn't like this one..." Anita pushed Bernardo out from between her and Maria.

"Never say that again, Bernardo Reyes." Anita said. "Maria, what did I tell you earlier? Your brother is just like a little old lady."

Maria stifled a laugh.

"Bernardo, when are you going to stop this war? They aren't going to stop so you need to be the bigger person. You can stop this."
"Anita, these people hate us! Don't you see...?"
"It takes two people to fight! Two gangs! Let it go and leave your sister alone!"

"Anita,"
"No! Maria, come here." Anita held Maria at her bosom. "She just doesn't want to be set up with someone she doesn't like! Do you need a translation?"
"Oh, you don't understand what they think here! That boy is going to take advantage of my sister and I can't let..."

Anita held Maria closer to her chest. "Maria is grown and Maria can fight her own battles."

Bernardo tried to argue again when Anita took Maria away into her room.

"I'm done with this." Anita said to Maria.
"Bernardo is just..." She sat on Anita's bed.
"Being your brother. Leave him be."

Anita took her hair out of the bun it was in. She posed a few times in the mirror as she spoke.

"That boy didn't seem all that bad, I guess..."
"You were scared."
"He snuck into the shop! I don't know, but I've been thinking about it..." She put her hair back up and turned to Maria.

"We've got to be here. So," she raised her voice, knowing Bernardo was listening, "we need to exist with them too! In peace!"