Something else you've been waiting for! Happy Thanksgiving, y'all (if you celebrate)! Enjoy lots of delicious food and drinks! What's your Thanksgiving specialty, if you have one? Mine is pie, I make it every year! If it's just a regular Thursday for you, have a nice day :)

As soon as all the food is ready, the huge party moves into the dining room where the long table is set, nineteen chairs on each side and one at both ends. There's a white lacy cloth draped over it with silverware, decorative napkins, and red candles, which Fahri immediately starts lighting. They take their seats and one side is made up of Vasily, Lida, Theresa, Yuri, Charles, Diane, Alex, Katie, Adarsh, Daya, Flaca, Maritza, Elena, Ceci, Milagros, Lourdes, Julio, Benny, and Gloria in that order. Fahri is in the center of Gloria and Leon at the head of the table. Next to Leon is Aleida and her five kids with Lucy in her high chair beside her mother. Eva is also in a high-chair, and then Emiliano is between her and Christina. To the left of Christina is Raiza, who's directly across from Alex with her Dora plushie on her lap and a bib around her neck-similar to the one Benji is wearing. Blanca and Diablo are sitting adjacent to each other on Raiza's other side, and then there's Laronne beside his dad. Ramón, Karla, Benji, Farah, Alison, Hassan, Maxsim, Tricia, and Red fill the rest of the row respectively. Pavel is way on the opposite end of the table, in the middle of his wife and Vasily. It's a pretty good setup. Everyone is in jeans and sweaters or jackets except Alex, who's wearing a cute black and white plaid dress.

"Fahri, may I say Grace?" Lourdes asks.

"Sure!" They all join hands and close their eyes. For a quick second, Maritza sneaks a peek at her mami's reaction to this. Blanca and Diablo both shake their heads while smirking. Diablo rubs his thumb along Blanca's knuckles and her cheeks grow red. Flaca's hand is so warm around Maritza's, and although blessing the food is silly, a sense of calmness washes over her.

Ever since Red had mentioned Nicky, Maritza connected the pieces in her head and part of her wanted to say something and give Red the young woman's exact location, but the rest of her thought better of it. She can't explain how she knows Nicky is a sex worker in a brothel hidden behind the Indigo Club, without admitting she's one herself. Now, she can expose the whole business and mention someone told her about it, but nobody would believe that she'd just heard it out of the blue. It's not anything anyone talks about randomly in public and she only has private conversations with her fellow teenagers, Raiza, Blanca, and Karla. No one else has spoken about Nicky either, the adults and Tricia only appear to be sad she's not present, and Maritza assumes they don't want to make Red or themselves even more upset.

She doesn't know what to do, but Flaca grasping her hand somehow takes all of her worries away for the moment. She feels girl power flooding through her veins. Elena's grip is lighter than Flaca's, but Maritza still senses unity and solace radiating off of her, too. Suddenly, a daydream flashes before her, of them both smacking Ian across his stupid, smug face. Maritza gasps sharply when it's over and lets out a tiny giggle. She squeezes her eyes shut and takes a few deep breaths to calm herself. She has no idea where that came from.

"Lo siento," she mutters, bowing her head further down.

"Gracias O Lord for this food we are about to receive and the opportunity for us all to be together on this day of thanks," Lourdes recites. She then does the sign of the cross.

"Amen!" everyone says in unison and crosses themselves. Even Blanca and Diablo do the motion, but Maritza assumes they're just playing along. They all start to eat straight after and talk between bites. The families and friends are getting along quite nicely and Maritza is really enjoying this peaceful atmosphere. The food is great and everyone compliments Red and thanks Blanca for providing the wine for the adults.

"Oye, ¿estás bien?" Flaca asks. "You seemed like you were in another world earlier..."

"Oh, um...I'm fine, don't worry. My focus drifts sometimes is all. Changing the subject, I have to say, my favorite is the mashed potatoes. Also, the sweet potatoes," Maritza says.

"Girl, I know, right? I love the turkey with gravy slathered all over it, yum!" Flaca tells her eagerly.

Red smiles at them. "Thank you!"

"You're welcome," the two answer in unison. "Jinx!" They hook their index fingers together while giggling.

"How are your mother and sister doing?" Blanca asks Diablo.

"Adriana has long moved all the way across the country, to California, and my mom was sent back to Honduras a few years ago. Her green card expired," he informs her sadly. "They didn't let her have a chance to wait for a new one."

"Aww, lo siento," Blanca murmurs, squeezing his hand. It's innocent, and Maritza tries to think of it as a comforting gesture, because that's what it is, really. It's terrible that his mom had been deported like hers was.

"Gracias…I called 'em today, though! I wished them a happy Thanksgiving. I wanted to ring them first and have Laronne talk to his abuela y tía."

"That's nice, I bet they were happy to hear from you guys! What made Adriana choose California, the weather? It looks so sunny there."

"Oh, sí, on both counts. It is pretty warm…even in the winter, it isn't as bad. Only fifty degrees."

"Hm, reminds me of Arizona, only Arizona was much worse…way too hot," Blanca informs him. "Sweltering in the heat was extremely jarring…kinda like summers here, so not much of a change, but this state is my home. It's where mi gente is."

my people

They're all mostly catching up, discussing work and school. The little kids are quiet as they eat, but sometimes, they play with their food until their parents stop them. Only Benji and Farah stare at each other and giggle a few times and Emiliano makes faces at Christina. She responds by sticking her tongue out at him. Theresa and Yuri seem to be flirting, as well as Blanca and Diablo.

Maritza winks at Flaca. "Yo, check out your mami hitting on Red's oldest son," she whispers as Theresa rests her hand on Yuri's outstretched arm. He doesn't move away from her either.

"I think it's the other way around," Flaca murmurs, and Maritza can tell she's trying not to stare at them. Theresa laughs at one of Yuri's funny stories about his Salon Du Chocolat trucking job with Maxsim and how they drive around pounds of nougat during the cool nights because one day, all of it melted and they had bags of chocolate soup. It's in the way she's leaning into him, with her chin resting in the palm of her hand, their eyes glazed over in interest, their skin flushed, and their eager smiles, that shows Maritza that Flaca's mother and Yuri are vibing hard during this boring chitchat. It's easier to focus on them-and Aleida and Leon exchanging adoring looks, too-rather than her own mami and Diablo putting the moves on each other. Even if he'd said hi to her and Raiza so kindly with a broad grin on his face, Maritza had just given him a wave and a fake smile in response. She hates them making googly eyes at one another. She had seen their almost kiss in the foyer but backed away and chose not to say a word about it, except tell Gloria to cockblock Diablo by interrupting them.

"Nah, it's both," Maritza tells her friend. "I bet one of them will ask the other out on a date."

"Okay, ¿diez dólares?"

ten dollars

"I'll take you to the movies if I'm wrong," Maritza promises her. "You can pick the película."

"That's fine conmigo, but what if you're right?" Flaca wonders in a hushed tone. "I hope he at least teaches me Russian swear words if he's gonna be my mami's novio."

with me

Maritza chuckles softly. "Si I'm correct, puedes llevarme a comer pizza. I'll choose the restaurant if that's cool with you."

you can take me out for pizza

Flaca shakes hands with Maritza. "Sure, you got yourself a deal."

"Alright!" Maritza says happily.

"I'm a seamstress," Theresa is telling Yuri proudly.

"Oh, nice! You must save on expensive clothes, if you make 'em yourself."

"I do. I just made a dress for this fifty-seven-year-old woman named Mrs. Ramirez with a nice back. She makes me jealous. No way will I look like her when I get to be almost sixty."

"I'm sure you'll age gracefully."

Theresa beams. "Gracias."

"Aw, cute," Maritza whispers and they stifle snickers behind their palms.

"Girls, por favor, él tiene una esposa, she knows that," Karla lectures them under her breath. She's right across from Maritza. "Ellos tienen hijos. Basta ya."

He has a wife, they have kids. Enough already.

Flaca sticks her tongue out discreetly. "Spoilsport," she hisses.

"Yeah, anything can happen," Maritza insists just as softly. "Ella no está aquí con él. ¿Y por qué no?"

She's not here with him. And why not?

Karla shrugs. "No lo sé, pero…nada más, okay? Deja de mirarlos."

I don't know, but...nothing more. Stop staring at them.

"¿Qué pasó?" Blanca wants to know. She's a few people down from Karla.

"Yeah, what's going on?" Katie chimes in. The Mendoza sisters look over at them in curiosity, as do Daya and Adarsh.

"I'll tell ya later," Maritza says. "Es un secreto."

It's a secret.

"You okay though, right, Marisol?" Theresa asks, and Maritza jumps. Had she heard anything?

"Sí," Flaca guarantees her quickly.

"How are you doing in school, girls?" Gloria asks her daughters.

"Fine," they mumble.

"They're doing very well," Milagros confirms. "Elena, why don't you tell your mami about your Frida Kahlo paper?"

"You did an assignment on Frida?" Gloria asks, beaming.

Elena nods proudly. "The teacher loved it."

Gloria's smile gets bigger. "That's wonderful!"

"She was the best artist of all time!" Ceci joins in, much to Maritza's surprise. Maybe discussing the Mexican painter with Gloria would help Ceci become closer with her mother, although they're Puerto Rican. For her friend's sake, Maritza certainly hopes so. "I wanna visit La Casa Azul sometime."

"Salma played her in a movie once. Frida's her idol," Flaca points out, seeming much happier now. Of course she would be when speaking briefly of her favorite actress.

Daya smirks. "Okay, you owe me twenty bucks, Ma. Flaca mentioned Salma Hayek. Pay up."

"Shit!" Aleida mutters, rolling her eyes.

Farah gasps and points at her. "Ooooh, you said a bad word!"

"We have young ears here," Alison reminds Aleida firmly.

"That's a quarter for the swear jar, Mommy," Christina adds.

"Aleida, por favor, no en frente de los niños," Lourdes scolds her.

please, not in front of the kids

"What, you two bet on that?" Flaca asks and then buries her face in her hands. "Really?! I get it enough from putas at school. I mean, I'm proud that I can't go ten seconds without speaking her blessed name, but it ain't cool when Charlene and co call me a dyke for it. She even says I'm a beaner Cher." Maritza's heart breaks for Flaca instantly.

"Well, that's just racist and homophobic in the same package," Fahri mutters, shaking his head.

"Uh oh, that's not nice!" Raiza points out over Lucy's babbling and Eva's squealing.

"You gots to do something," Benji adds.

"Blow that meanie-mo a raspberry!" Emiliano suggests.

"Yeah, that would be really funny!" Christina says and the four children snicker in unison. "Put a whoopee cushion under her butt!"

"Make her step in caca!" Benny recommends.

"Good idea, hermano," Julio tells them and then all of them slap each other's palms.

"Brilliant advice, kiddos!" Fahri remarks.

"Yay!" the little ones cheer together.

"Yeah, one time I got in a physical fight with Litvack and Dean because they were terrible to me about the silliest thing...treating your mami with respect, Benji," Ramón says, ruffling his son's hair.

"Oh man, you too?" Diablo asks and Ramón nods. "Yeah, those two were the villains of our time."

"I'd usually say violence isn't the answer, but defending the honor of someone you love is definitely a good reason for it," Charles says.

"We tell Charlene and her crew to step off and give 'em the finger, but they still badmouth Flaca," Katie complains, mostly to the adults and teenagers.

"I shoved one of those nasty girls," Maritza chimes in proudly. "It's like I had superstrength or somethin'. She started to hit me back, but Karla stopped it."

"Oh, good," Blanca says, smiling at her best friend and giving Maritza a thumbs up. She switches her attention to Flaca. "Hate speech is so ugly. I'm sorry you had to deal with that, nena."

"I'm glad Karla was there," Diablo puts in.

"What's so bad about loving Salma Hayek anyway?" Leon asks rhetorically. "She's everyone's celebrity crush."

"Also Hispanic representation!" Gloria says. "There's also Selena, may she rest in peace, and JLo, and Shakira."

"Right on, sister! I told 'em that Maritza was just standing up for her friend and if they ever picked on Flaca again, that they'd be in detention for even longer than they are now," Karla murmurs.

"Marisol, you never told me you were being bullied," Theresa says worriedly.

Flaca shrugs. "I didn't feel the need to."

"Many kids don't want to speak out about it, although they should," Yuri says. "I was a target for my claustrophobia, and I wasn't comfortable talking with my mom on the subject until she eased it out of me."

"Well, thank you for coming to us with this, Flaca. We'll make their food spicy," Blanca promises her, and both Maritza and Flaca snicker together.

"Yes," Red agrees. "I'm also going to add laxatives to their meals. Just tell us each of their names please."

"Charlene Teng, Badison Murphy, Kasey Sankey, Brandy Epps, Helen Van Maele, Jennifer Digori, Anders Harding, and Brent Moxley," Flaca reports with her eyes fixed on her plate.

Blanca gasps for an unknown reason, but doesn't say anything. She places her hand on her heart and gives Flaca a sympathetic look. "Oh, not surprising, I had to boot them out of Friendly's forever for being racist and abusive," Diane mutters. "I apologize, sweetheart."

"Gracias."

"We didn't mock your obsession, I promise! It's just light teasing since I'm your friend and Aleida is like a teen girl herself," Daya assures Flaca.

"Mhm, we didn't mean nothin' by it," Aleida chimes in.

"I know," Flaca mumbles. "I'm glad you're not like them at all. School is pretty great, though, except for that lousy gringo crowd."

"Children can be quite cruel. I remember they used to call me Lidacaine in school, making fun of my name," Lida informs Flaca.

"At least until I punched this one guy in the face in her defense and several of her friends called them lame and told Mamochka," Vasily says.

"It was great, she embarrassed those punks in front of the whole school!" Maxsim puts in.

"Molodets, Galina," Pavel praises his wife.

Good job

Red smirks. "Spasibo. No one offends people I care about without getting through me."

Thank you.

"It's part of why I love you, my strong woman," her husband tells her sweetly.

"Lidocaine, like the medication? They just switched the O with the A?" Tricia asks.

Lida nods in confirmation. "They even thought I was Lyda for short and that I was actually named after a pain reliever. It's like no, I don't have a long I sound in Lida."

"Wow, that's stupid! People look at me and my homegirl Mercy weird when we hold hands. They're just homophobic, so we try our best to ignore them."

"Yeah, some dumb boy named Michael accused me of liking him and wanting to kiss him. Yuck! I don't even wanna do that with girls!" Laronne says bitterly. "He also calls me a four-eyed freak."

"Well, there's nothing wrong with being gay, buddy," Diablo tells him. "Tell him your glasses make you intelligent, unlike him."

"Your papá's exactly right," Blanca puts in.

Alex grimaces. "I've heard that one before, kid. I went through a lot of bullying when I was ten, simply for being poor and wearing glasses. You know what, though, I'll tell you something my mom said to me back then. You're gonna grow up cooler than him. You're already better than him. You too, Flaca and Tricia, about your tormentors."

"That's correct!" Diane chimes in.

"Thanks," the three of them say in unison.

"Some jerk pulled off my hijab once when I was eleven," Alison says darkly. "They got in big trouble and Gloria comforted me afterward, but I still felt violated."

Hassan puts his hand on hers in a comforting manner. "Oh, my love, that bothers me every day, people can be so rude."

"Mm-hm," everyone murmurs in agreement.

"Yo...off this depressing subject, I adore that outfit you're rockin', Alex! I've been meaning to say that for a while now," Flaca compliments her.

Alex beams. "Why, thank you!"

All of a sudden, the doorbell rings and everyone glances over at Fahri as he jumps up to get it. Once he reaches his fancy front door and opens it, he pauses, frowning at the guests in confusion. "Nobody's there...and a package wasn't delivered."

"That's strange," Gloria mutters. "Maybe a prank to annoy homeowners?"

"Mm-hm," they all agree with her.

"Come on, Shani."

"This was your idea!" the Egyptian woman protests. "She's your mother, basically. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to come back to her, and I wanna get away from those creeps once and for all!"

The blonde tugs on her girlfriend's hand to get her away from the large house. "No, it was a mistake. I think up stupid shit on a daily basis. Let's just leave, I gotta get high again anyways. Actually...no one is forcing you to be in the slut business. You can go in there if you want, but I won't."

"No. Not without you, Nicky. I can't survive with you not around me. You make me feel like a human being...alive. You know I need you like a drug, and you're being fucking selfish and not thinking about me!" Shani pouts and folds her arms across her chest as they walk further away from the billionaire's property. "Don't you love me?"

"Of course I do! I really wish I didn't have this addiction. Then I wouldn't be in this jam...but it's a sickness, babe, you gotta understand that."

"How about getting some counsel-"

"Stop! Don't finish that sentence," Nicky grumbles. "It won't work."

"It might. You don't need to be so hard on yourself."

"Shani, I'm gonna go back to the brothel. If you wanna see Red and the others who have erased me from their memories, be my guest. You deserve to be in a better environment." Nicky stomps away from her as tears slip out of her eyes. She inhales and exhales shakily and wipes her damp cheeks.

"They don't care about me in there! Sweetheart, we didn't go all this way for nothing!" Shani's ragged breathing gets clearer as she catches up to Nicky's fast pace. She clutches Nicky's arm. "The only reason why I'm not carrying you back to the place is that my feet hurt walking in these god damn six-inch stilettos."

Nicky sniffles. "That's exactly what we did. Let's flag down another cab."

The young couple had taken a bus to Red's market and then followed her to this location in a taxi. They both pleasured the driver in exchange for the ride and then they'd waited until they supposed Thanksgiving dinner was being served. It took them fifteen minutes to hike up the hill in the darkness. "This was a total waste of time!" Shani rests her head on Nicky's and they hold their thumbs up.

"I know, darling. Sorry I dragged you along with me."

"We really need better jobs."

"Yeah, but...I think we should stay, just for the newbie, who also happens to be the smallest sex worker. She's only eighteen. I know there's Daddy too, but the kid seems so much younger...and more nervous and innocent than lustful. Then again, some of the pimps and customers like that."

"Yessica?"

Nicky nods. "She's a baby! Why else do you think Vee braided her hair? They put Brook's hair in pigtails for the Asian schoolgirl fetish, but Yessica doesn't provide that, obviously. She's Hispanic, so they put her in the maid costume. Her face is a little softer than ours and more rounded instead of angular. We gotta protect her. From a short chick's perspective, I'd want someone watching out for me, too. So, that's part of why I'm glad you're in the prostitution ring with me. I feel safer."

"Just because I'm tall doesn't mean I don't get scared and grossed out by those animals," Shani mumbles. "They're all disgusting and they could snap my bones like twigs! At least you got a little more meat and muscle on you, and it doesn't hurt when they penetrate you."

A twinge of guilt floods through Nicky. "You're right. Shit..." She smacks herself on the forehead. "Why do you stay with me if I'm so stupid?"

"Hey, that's my girlfriend you're talking about!" Shani wraps her arms around Nicky from behind and kisses her cheek. "Baby, you're not dumb...I love you too much to let you go. I enjoy our conversations and how your body molds so perfectly against mine."

"I love you, too." Nicky grins and they begin to make out, forgetting their issues for now. "You're so beautiful..."

"Aw, that's sweet, thank you! You're equally pretty!" Shani tells her in between kisses.

"Thanks, honey."

"You're welcome."

"Your pumpkin pie is delish!" Flaca moans in delight as she eats more of the dessert.

"¡Gracias! Wow, you dug in fast!" Maritza exclaims as she sprays whipped cream on her own slice.

"I couldn't wait to try it. I've never had your cooking, chiquita. They say the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach, but the same goes for a woman, too. You've won me over, you're my new best friend now." Flaca grins and Maritza blushes. "Don't tell Cat, but you're also a lot more fun than she is."

"Espera, really?"

"Sí. My taste buds are in heaven!"

"So are mine," Blanca murmurs.

Karla rubs her tummy. "Mmm, same here!"

"I was afraid I'd drop one of my fingernails in there. I had my mami's help, I'm really a bad chef," Maritza admits. "She had to make sure I didn't mess up and that I had the right ingredients and amounts. I did it mostly independently, though."

"Well, I don't expect anyone to be perfect, except Red, of course," Flaca says as the older Russian lady passes them and sits down with her plate of the treat.

"I approve!" Red tells Maritza after diving in.

"Thank you!"

Everyone comes to a unanimous opinion, that Maritza's pie is extremely delectable. She's so proud of herself, even if she had some assistance.

Most of them are going home by now or they've already left. Vasily has a rugby tournament so he and his family have headed out first. The guests all hug each other goodbye and Blanca kisses her daughters on their cheeks before they go to their respective friends' residences to sleep over. Raiza will be spending the night with Farah and Christina at Alison and Hassan's apartment while Maritza is attending a slumber party at Katie's house with Flaca, Elena, Ceci, and Daya. All of the adults except Karla are still a little buzzed.

"Yuri and I exchanged phone numbers," Theresa announces when it's just her, Blanca, Diablo, Laronne, Gloria, Fahri, Karla, Ramón, and Benji remaining. The boys and men are watching cartoons on Fahri's large television while the women talk on a red leather couch in the family room. "Not in front of his mother, of course, she'd get the wrong idea."

Karla smirks. "Oh, did you now?"

"Mm-hm. I didn't wanna mention that in front of Aleida because her teasing would be endless and Lourdes and Milagros would just accuse me of trying to date or flirt with a married man and call me a homewrecking whore. I would never break up a family like that, though, I know it's sinful! They have children together, for Christ's sake. Diane and Alex are with all the teens and we know how nosy my daughter is when it comes to my nonexistent love life. I would never hear the end of it from her!" Theresa pours herself, Blanca, and Gloria a glass of wine.

"Well, from what I hear, Yuri is in a gigantic argument with his wife," Gloria says after sipping some of her drink. "Aleida informed me that they might get a divorce. They even had breakup sex. That's why she wasn't here. She didn't wanna see him today or this evening, like at all. Aleida does Sparkle Tits' nails a lot, I guess."

Blanca, Karla, and Theresa burst out cackling hysterically. "Oh my god, I'm fucking drunk," Blanca murmurs and sets her glass down on the coffee table, as do Theresa and Gloria. "Are we really calling her that? I never found out her actual name. None of us did."

"I feel bad for cracking up, this is a mother..." Karla trails off into more giggles as she leans on Blanca.

"A motherfucking cunt! There, I finished your thought," Gloria says craftily. "Seriously, she's so evil to him! Ella se burla de él siendo claustrofóbico y lo llama un debilucho. She treats him like he's nothing and turns the kids against him! He only stays with her so he can see his niños. That's what Lida reports to Aleida. She and Red both hate Glitter Boobs. Nah, let's stick with Tetas Brilliantes."

She makes fun of him for being claustrophobic and calls him a wimp. Sparkle Tits

"No, no, stop..." Theresa tells them though trembling gasps of air. "Does she wear sparkles on her-on her nipples and then just lets it all hang out?"

"Maybe that's her slut name," Blanca guesses and covers her mouth as she squeaks and throws her head back. Her eyes fill with happy tears. She's laughing so hard she's crying and so are her friends.

"Ay dios mío, you're probably right," Karla murmurs through an amused sigh as she brushes tears out of her eyes. "It's so dumb, they've been an item since they were in college, but the love between them has gone away!"

Gloria lets out a breathless chuckle. "Well, what are you gonna do?" she wants to know. The women try to calm themselves down from their giggling fits.

"Lo que haría cualquier mujer inteligente. Wait for him to dump her ass, or the other way around. I just won't be able to look at his wife or question what her name is without a straight face," Theresa responds.

What any smart woman would do.

"Well, you don't have to, you can discuss other things, like ask how his kids are doing and keep talking about your jobs and your own children," Blanca suggests. "Solo sé su amiga y sal al cine, al café o algo...no tiene que convertirse en nada más."

Just be his friend and go out for the movies or coffee or something...it doesn't have to turn into anything more.

"Sí, como hacen Blanca y Diablo," Karla points out. Gloria sniggers. "What?"

Yeah, like Blanca and Diablo do.

"I caught them about to smooch."

"Gloria!" Blanca practically hollers. "That-eso was not-no fue nosotros-no-I-" she stutters as her cheeks burn furiously. "Yo, what the fuck? Please don't tell me you told Aleida, she'll spread too many rumors!"

We didn't

"She finally formed a complete sentence," Theresa murmurs and Karla grins like the Chesire cat. "Two, actually, we'll give you some credit, Blanca."

"I ain't spilling your secrets to Aleida, she has no filter. We won't repeat this to anyone else, don't worry," Gloria assures her.

"Oh, gracias," Blanca mutters sarcastically while the others unsuccessfully hide their giggles.

"De nada," Gloria answers anyway.

Karla gives Blanca's hands a gentle squeeze and cups her chin. "It's okay, hermana. You can trust us. We're not blabbermouths."

"Lo sé, pero...I kinda wanted eso privado. I would've eventually said something, I guess. Just not right away."

that private

"Speak of the devil," Theresa murmurs as the door to the family room clicks open.

"Es el diablo mismo de hecho," Blanca mumbles, following Theresa's gaze and seeing Diablo stroll into the room.

It's the devil himself indeed.

"We'll give you some privacy," Karla says pleasantly and beckons the rest of the ladies to follow her. They do so, much to Blanca's relief.

"Gracias, Karla."

"De nada," Karla answers over her shoulder as they exit the room. Diablo takes their place next to Blanca.

"Hola...¿qué pasa?" she asks.

What's up?

He fidgets with his hands in his lap, appearing a bit nervous. "So, here's the thing. Me gustas. More than as a friend."

I like you.

She blinks. She opens her mouth, but nothing comes out. The words are stuck in her throat. Blanca has to be in one of her dream worlds again. His tone of voice is so sweet and he's smiling at her eagerly. Diablo holds both of her hands in his and she gasps audibly at how badly she's wanted this for so long. Their close proximity sends her heart racing at full speed. "You can pull away from me if you'd like to." She doesn't, obviously, so he continues. "No tienes que decirlo de vuelta, you don't have to do nada...I just wanted you to know. Lo siento if I creeped you out."

You don't have to say it back

"Gracias," she breathes out at last, still batting her eyelashes at him. His skin is flushed and she's warm all over, almost hot. Their strong eye contact doesn't break. "I have a crush on you, too...quiero ir a una cita contigo. One on one."

I want to go on a date with you.

His smile only gets bigger. "¿Estás segura?"

You sure?

Blanca nods silently and scooches closer to him. "Sometime in the near future, sí. I'll have to tell my girls. They need to get used to you being around."

"Está bien. I'll still be here when you're ready."

That's fine.

She beams and wraps her arms around his waist and he pulls her close to his chest, his massive arms holding her in a secure embrace. This has always felt right, the warmth and love that washes over her in his arms. Diablo strokes her hair while they cuddle and then he moves his thumb up and down her jawline. She hums as she rests against him, feeling every beat of his heart. "Bien."

"Damn, you're so pretty. I just enjoy looking at you. ¿Puedo besarte?"

Can I kiss you?

Blanca's cheeks hurt from smiling so much and she's feeling very flushed and giddy. They may have flirted a few times in high school, him more than her, since she had someone at the time, but now, he's actually admitting he's practically in love with her. She's amazed that he still wants her after so many years, even though they'd gone their separate ways with different people for a while.

"Gracias...pienso que eres guapo. Mm-hm. Me encantaría que me besaras."

I think you're handsome. I'd love it if you kissed me.

Then their faces come closer together, Blanca is hesitant and anxious and she can sense Diablo is, too. They stare into one another's eyes and then their lips hover inches from each other for a few seconds before they just barely brush. It's only a soft press, but it ignites their entire bodies. Their pinkies link afterward, still wanting to be close, and both of them look down, smiling softly.

They glance up at each other again, eyes glazing over with desire, and they grab one another's faces. Their mouths collide, tongues tangling, tasting one another as they carry on with making out passionately while quietly moaning in unison. It's majestic. Magical. Wonderful. It's like she's flying, she feels so light.

He's a much better kisser than Dean, that's for sure. Diablo is superior at making Blanca feel good, but she's always known this, deep inside. He's taught her what love is like and that's why she has so much faith in him that he'll keep her warm at night-all the time, in fact, and be her knight in shining armor.

Or a rippling and mighty unicorn to her dirty sprite. She'd been extremely lost in the woods, but he'd found her in the end.

Thanks for reading and reviewing, Juliette45 and MsSchneehiede!