The Mercer Experience *Guillermo*

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

"Coma su relleno, hay un montón de alimentos. n la timidez en esta mesa, señor." Fernando told him.
"Sigo tratando de decirle a ser menos educados, pero creo que él piensa que estoy bromeando." Rose teased, and her hand rested on his leg. He smiled softly at her.
Fernando smiled warmly. "Bueno, la cortesía se agradece. Y ciertamente raro aquí."
He shrugged a bit shyly.
"Rose, pass them spuds. Hey Guillermo, Rose said your in college. Whatchu studying man?"
"Well, I never really decided on a certain occupation, but I have an emphasis in English and communications. I taken a lot of language classes. I'm pretty horrid at math and science, so I decided to stay away from that."
"College? Certainly an upgrade from Ludo the Hobo-"
"Hey Hiro, whatever happened to the last girl you dated? You know, the one with the gap in her teeth that you could kick a field goal in? I forget her name-"
"Marcia. And be nice, she had a lovely personality."
Rose laughed warmly, then caught his eyes, directing his vision to Misa and Stefano. She raised her eyebrow scandalously, then put a finger to her lips slyly.
He caught Stefano's eye and grinned.
"Sabes, Guillermo, que caben en tan bien aquí, usted debe considerar trabajar aquí. Sería un buen cambio para conseguir a alguien con alguna ética de trabajo aquí. Y Rosa es sin duda parecen sonreír más, cuando estás cerca."
"Muchas gracias. Eso es muy amable de ustedes. Sin duda tendrá en cuenta," Guillermo said, giving Fernando a grateful smile.
"Oooh, are we talking about Bruja de la Rosa?"
"He was just saying how you're secretly in love with me, which would explain why you can't get my name out of your mouth." Rose said.
Hiro blew her a kiss, "Don't talk like that Baby, I'd hate to get tackled again."
Rose laughed as Misa leaned over the table, speaking to him directly. "When Hiro first met Rose, two years ago, he tried... hehe... wooing her if you will-"
"Boy wanted to tap that." Stefano grinned as Fernando glared at a curiously evasive Hiro.
"Anyway, after weeks, and weeks-"
"-And weeks-"
"-And weeks-"
"-Y semanas-"
"Point taken!"
Everyone laughed, even Hiro.
"Rose finally said yes. They went out, had dinner, so one, so forth. Time comes for the door scenario. He's thinking he might stand a chance, and suddenly Fernando comes out, shotgun in hand. I'm not even talking about a b.b. gun, I mean a big gun. Well, because Rose doesn't look Latina, Hiro had had no idea that she was the bosses niece. Fernando starts raving crazy like, screaming right there in the hall of that old apartment and cussing at him in Spanish-"
Rose's coppery hair flipped slightly as she shook her head.
"No, he wasn't really cussing. He was actually saying the order he needed to fill out the next day, just in a loud voice, so that he would remember." Fernando poured some Tequila for himself, laughing loudly.
"And Rose starts telling him: 'HE KNOWS WHAT WE DID! HE KNOWS WHAT WE DID!' and poor Hiro was yelling back 'TELL HIM THAT WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!' and Fernando holds the gun up and pulls the trigger. And BAM! An parasol pops out of it, and Rose and Fernando burst into laughter. Hiro peed himself, right on the spot!"
Guillermo laughed harder than he had in a while, savoring the mental image of a terrified Hiro and a snickering Rose hiding behind Fernando.
He made a note to keep Jenyfer away from Hiro, should she and his father ever visit.
The phone rang suddenly and Fernando rose to answer it. "Mantener comer, voy a estar de vuelta."
Guillermo smiled at Misa.
"So I'm guessing that the relationship ended there. Dating the boss's niece is not the smartest thing. Or the most comfortable thing. I've been there."

[ROSE MERCER]

"So I'm guessing that the relationship ended there. Dating the boss's niece is not the smartest thing. Or the most comfortable thing. I've been there."

Rose spoke incredulously, as if personally stung. "I asked him the next day if he wanted to go out again, but he blew me off." She stuck out her lip, pouting slightly, before giggling. "Incidentally, how many bosses niece's have you dated?"

Rose was instantly distracted from the conversation, hearing her Uncle talk on the phone. "Hola, Juguetes rotos ... oh. Hola Maria. Sí, ella está aquí. Hace unos quince minutos, con un nudo en la cara del tamaño de un huevo. Sí, sí, estoy seguro de que fue un accidente. Jesús , María, puede ser patético a veces. No, no me arrepiento. Si la elección no es tan simple para usted como lo es para cualquier persona con un cerebro .... ¡NO!" Rose slunk in her chair again, sinking at her Mother's persistence, as her Uncle held his hand up in apology and took the phone into his bedroom.

Stefano cleared his throat, returning to the conversation. "Ring, ring?"

Hiro pretended to pick up the phone. "Uh, hello."

"Hey it's kettle, can I speak to pot please?"

"This is Pot speaking, what can I do for you man?"

"I just wanted to let you know your black."

"Well, now that's just ironic." They hung up their pretend phones, laughing at their own stupid joke.

Misa looked amused. "That was frightening. You two spend way too much time together... Guillermo, can you pass the Sweet Peas?"

Rose glared at them, her eyes flashing dangerously. "What exactly is that suppose to mean?" If they had something to say, they should just say it Misa held back a smile, though not exactly well, as Hiro and Stefano stared back at her, not an ounce of contrition in their faces.

"Well, why the interest in homeboys past, Babydoll? It's not like yours is spotless." Rose raised her eyebrow, as if challenging him. "What about Skinny-Soccer-Boy or Angel-face-dude, or Vin-Diesel."

"You dated Vin Diesel?"

Rose rolled her eyes, muttering into her food, nibbling the moist turkey. "No, I don't date. But I did hang out a couple times with a guy who your brother decided looked like Vin Diesel-" Rose poured a little gravy on the turkey slice. "It was just that he was bald and buff though-"

"My personal favorite was The-Eagles-Guy." Hiro commented, causing Rose to groan loudly. The boys began to sing loudly: "Her mind is tiffany-twisted, she got the mercedes bends
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys, that she calls friends
How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat.
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget" Rose through a roll at each of them, as they broke into laughter. "This dude that was jonesing for Rose decided the best way to get her attention was to sit outside the shop and serenade her for seven hours. Problem was, he only knew how to play Hotel California."

Rose was ready for a subject change, not wanting to make an entire list of her escapades anymore than she wanted to hear Guillermo's. "You know that movie, There's something about Mary? Well, there's something about Rose. That's why we call her Bruja, see? She puts a spell on people."

She rolled her eyes. ""Yeah, yeah."

"Aww, lookat her being all modest. Come on Rosie, I'd kill for your game." Smiling darkly, she made a vulgar jerking motion. "Kinda good at that Bruja-"

She smirked, use to the less than proper banter, unlike poor Misa. "Jealous?"

"Nah, I love you girl, but I got enough crazy going on. I don't know how Guillermo keeps up with your crazy ass."

Rose smirked, ignoring Misa's deepening blush. "Stamina." Her eyebrow raised suggestively. Misa gave a startled giggle, as the Hiro hooted and Stefano chuckled lightly. Fernando reentered the room, hanging up the phone and sighing deeply, before putting his smile back on his face and resitting at the table.

"¿De qué estamos hablando?" He asked, sending Rose into a silent giggles, taking a large drink of her juice.

"La política".

He frowned in distaste, having always found it impolite to speak of politics at the table. "No en la mesa de Rosa, que no que no me gusta eso." Rose wanted to ask what her Mother had said, but she already basically knew. Dad was sorry, it would be better, cry, cry, cry, he was a good man, he loved them deeply, sob, sob, sob. She decided against it, looping her foot around Guillermo's ankle subtly, rubbing it up his calf.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

"I asked him the next day if he wanted to go out again, but he blew me off."
She stuck out her lip, then contradicted herself, giggling.
"Incidentally, how many bosses niece's have you dated?"
"A fair few," Guillermo told her, his eyebrow lifting slightly, "And it wasn't 'dating' per se.. More like fooling around."
Guillermo saw Rose's miserable expression when her uncle answered the phone. He tried to ignore the conversation and was grateful when Stefano broke the silence.
"Ring, ring?"
Hiro pretended to pick up the phone. "Uh, hello."
"Hey it's kettle, can I speak to pot please?"
"This is Pot speaking, what can I do for you man?"
"I just wanted to let you know your black."
"Well, now that's just ironic."
The two 'hung up' and chuckled.
Misa looked amused. "That was frightening. You two spend way too much time together... Guillermo, can you pass the Sweet Peas?"
He handed over the bowl as Rose glared at the two.
"What exactly is that suppose to mean?"
"Well, why the interest in homeboys past, Babydoll? It's not like yours is spotless. What about Skinny-Soccer-Boy or Angel-face-dude, or Vin-Diesel."

"You dated Vin Diesel?"
Rose rolled her eyes, grumbling at them.
"No, I don't date. But I did hang out a couple times with a guy who your brother decided looked like Vin Diesel- It was just that he was bald and buff though-"
"My personal favorite was The-Eagles-Guy." Hiro commented, causing Rose to groan loudly. The boys began to sing loudly:
"Her mind is tiffany-twisted, she got the mercedes bends
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys, that she calls friends
How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat.
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget"
Rose chucked a roll at each of them, as they broke into laughter.
"This dude that was jonesing for Rose decided the best way to get her attention was to sit outside the shop and serenade her for seven hours. Problem was, he only knew how to play Hotel California."
"You know that movie, There's something about Mary? Well, there's something about Rose. That's why we call her Bruja, see? She puts a spell on people."
"Yeah, yeah."
"Aww, lookat her being all modest. Come on Rosie, I'd kill for your game."
Rose grinned evilly, and made a vulgar jerking motion. Guillermo laughed at the look Hiro's face.
"Kinda good at that Bruja-"
She smirked, "Jealous?"
"Nah, I love you girl, but I got enough crazy going on. I don't know how Guillermo keeps up with your crazy ass."
Rose smirked, again, waggling her eyebrows.
"Stamina."
He couldn't hold back the proud and mischievous grin.
Misa gave a startled giggle, as the Hiro hooted and Stefano chuckled lightly.
Fernando reentered before Guillermo could comment on the statement.
"¿De qué estamos hablando?" He asked, and Rose giggled madly.
"La política".
He choked on his food, pretending to cough to hide the laugh.
Fernando frowned.
"No en la mesa de Rosa, que no que no me gusta eso."
Able to focus on his food now, he took another bite of food. He couldn't remember ever having a real Thanksgiving dinner, but he was sure that this was the best food he had ever eaten. Suddenly he felt Rose's foot slipping around his and travelling up his leg. He swallowed, looking over at her. Guillermo's dark eyes narrowed.
What an evil, evil girl.

[ROSE MERCER]

Guillermo's eyes slitted, and Rose bite back a devious grin. Maybe this was a little too evil, being that her Uncle was three feet from him. She let her foot slid back down his calf, resting on his ankle comfortably as dinner resumed peacefully. Her Uncle poured Guillermo a small bit of tequila, in a glass with ice, which he would not do for the others. He would let them sneak sips, or even pour their own glasses, but until they were twenty-one he refused to outright condone it. Despite Fernando's great deal of tattoos, his long black hair, heavily lined face, massive and rugged appearance; he was a total square. "Rosa dice que disfrute de tequila. Trate de que fuera, es muy agradable. Caliente, pero suave."

"Hot, but smooth?" Stefano translated out loud, staring at Rose fixedly, as her eyebrow raised. "Fernando, you shouldn't be telling Guillermo what Rosie says about him. Might embarrass her." Fernando laughed, biting into an asparagus spear, as Rose rolled her eyes.

"Good burn, Stef." Her eyes looked at him stiffly, her smile curling delicately at the corners. "Say, have you been seeing someone lately? For someone so interested in my business, you never seem to talk about your own escapades." Misa let her black hair fall in her face, concealing her blush from her confused brother, while Stefano stared back at Rose sharply.

Hiro snorted, spreading butter on the roll that Rose had thrown at him. "He's taken a vow of chastity or something, I swear. I pointed out some... I mean, damn, Guillermo Man, you should have seen them. Easily tens. I mean, donk for days and legs that went up to their ear lobes. Just... Nom. And you know what he said? That one of them had nice hair!" Hiro shook his head, startled by this, as Misa smiled into her plate, obviously pleased.

"Stefano es sólo ser un caballero. No hay nada malo en ello."

"Sí, o tal vez ha sido tomada." Her Uncle considered this, but shrugged, as it was neither here nor there to him. A timer went off, sending Fernando back into the kitchen, a sudden smell of blueberry pie filling the small apartment. "Is there Mozzarella?"

"Rose, you're so weird." Misa giggled, as they all new that blueberry pie with a thin slice of mozzarella cheese was her one food wise vice.

Rose's eyes caught Guillermo's, in them a complete 180 from earlier in the night. "I bet your brave enough to try some."

Fernando sat back down, looking up at Rose. "Estaba pensando que podría haber querido unirse a mí en el techo. Podemos entrar en mis cosas buenas."

Rose's eyes instantly became suspicious at her Uncle's seemingly innocent request. "¿Por qué?"

"Cada hombre debe tratar de Patrón Tequila antes de morir. Por esto, estoy seguro." He laughed gently, holding his glass up to Guillermo. Stefano and Misa had distracted themselves with a private conversation, as Hiro violently shoved food into his mouth. It was thankful that they didn't speak Spanish, because Stefano and Hiro would have a field day with this.

Her Uncle wanted to have 'the talk'. "Solo?"

"Sí, sí. Te prometo, cariña, que va a ser devuelto sano y salvo. Es una bebida entre los hombres. No te preocupes tanto." He tapped her nose, his brown eyes twinkling.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

Fernando poured some tequila and handed it to him with a fatherly smile. He smiled back, taking a small drink.
"Rosa dice que disfrute de tequila. Trate de que fuera, es muy agradable. Caliente, pero suave."
"Gracias, señor."
"Hot, but smooth? Fernando, you shouldn't be telling Guillermo what Rosie says about him. Might embarrass her."
Guillermo grinned widely as Rose rolled her eyes.
"Good burn, Stef. Say, have you been seeing someone lately? For someone so interested in my business, you never seem to talk about your own escapades."
Misa put her head down slightly, as if afraid of being caught.
Hiro snorted with laughter, "He's taken a vow of chastity or something, I swear. I pointed out some... I mean, damn, Guillermo Man, you should have seen them. Easily tens. I mean, donk for days and legs that went up to their ear lobes. Just... Nom. And you know what he said? That one of them had nice hair!" /color]
Guillermo had to admit that he admired Stefano's commitment. Misa looked quite impressed as well.
Hiro was beside himself with frustration.
"Stefano es sólo ser un caballero. No hay nada malo en ello."
"Sí, o tal vez ha sido tomada. Is there Mozzarella?" asked Rose as the smell of blueberries wafted into the dining area.
He raised his eyebrows in confusion.
"Rose, you're so weird."
Rose's eyes caught Guillermo's, "I bet your brave enough to try some."
He looked a bit wary and was about to respond when Fernando sat back down.
"Estaba pensando que podría haber querido unirse a mí en el techo. Podemos entrar en mis cosas buenas."
Rose's gaze became suspicious.
"¿Por qué?"
"Cada hombre debe tratar de Patrón Tequila antes de morir. Por esto, estoy seguro." He laughed gently, holding his glass up to Guillermo.
He felt suddenly nervous. What on earth did Fernando want to talk about?
"Solo?" Rose looked a little flabbergasted.
"Sí, sí. Te prometo, cariña, que va a ser devuelto sano y salvo. Es una bebida entre los hombres. No te preocupes tanto."
"Por supuesto, señor."
Now he was really nervous.

[ROSE MERCER]

"Por supuesto, señor." Guillermo said, in his quietly polite voice, a slight anxiety reaching his brown eyes.

Fernando clapped his hands, either ignoring or missing the restlessness coming from Rose and Guillermo. "Perfecto. Si usted piensa que es bueno, espere hasta que obtenga una muestra de lo que tengo arriba." Conversation had become more demure, witty banter being replaced by the unnerving sound of chewing. At least, it was unnerving to Rose.

Leaning closer to her Uncle, she whispered quietly. "Tío, no vamos a tener 'la charla' con él ni nada, ¿verdad? Porque no es necesario ..."

He chuckled, speaking to her in a gentle, soothing tone. "Cariña, lo has dejado muy claro que Guillermo y son amigos. ¿Por qué tengo que tener presente" el hablar "con él?" There was something in his eyes that didn't completely agree with that statement.

"No eres más que actuando de manera extraña." Rose said, warily.

Fernando insisted on his innocence, voice rising, though slightly amused as Rose hushed him. "Sólo quiero tomar una copa con el niño. Me gusta."

Rose sighed, trying to get her words together properly. "Está bien, me sale eso. Él es simpático. Justo ..."

"Justo lo que?" He looked deeply amused still, raising his eyebrows.

Voice returning to normal, she sighed and shrugged, looking at her plate nervously. "Nada. No importa."

This was a good enough answer for Fernando, who looked up at Guillermo, smiling with his entire face. "Guillermo? ¿Estás listo para que la bebida". Rising from his seat, Fernando walked into his room, where a private staircase to the roof stood. He grinned at Guillermo, encouraging him up the stairs, his smile genial and encouraging.

On the roof stood a few camping chairs, with a make shift table that had once been used to wind large wire, and now looked like a giant spool. Behind the little set up was a fridge, covered by a home made shed. An Bullmastiff with a chocolate coat slept lazily on the roof, undisturbed by the traffic near by, but opening it's eyes as it's Master and the young man he was with came by. Fernando made kissing noises at the dog, causing it to wag it's talk happily. "Se trata de Besos. She was supposed to be Rosa's, but James no likes the animals, so Rosa had me take her. Supposed to be a watchdog, lazy thing." Fernando explained affectionately, not bothering to explain the sudden use of English as he made his way to the fridge, where he pulled out two chilled glasses. "Are you wanting ice?"

His accent was still thick, but he spoke with a confidence that contradicted the common belief that he could not speak English well. He laughed, as he considered this might be odd to Guillermo. "I have been in United States for almost twenty years now. I know how to speak the English. I just prefer to speak Spanish with Rosa. She speaks it beautifully, for her Father being so... uhh... adamant? Yes. Adamant that she not speak it. And I just do not wish to make too much conversation with the other bits." He chuckled, as he poured the golden liquid into the glasses. "Best not they get too comfortable around me. I am 'The Boss Man', after all, yes?"

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

"Perfecto. Si usted piensa que es bueno, espere hasta que obtenga una muestra de lo que tengo arriba."
Fernando's brown eyes sparkled as he grinned and Guillermo's hand found Rose's under the table, translating his worries.
"Guillermo? ¿Estás listo para que la bebida?" Asked Fernando as he stood and lead the way to another room with a staircase in it. He turned back to grin encouragingly at Guillermo, then went up the stairs, Guillermo on his heels.
It was open, with an assortment of odd deck furniture and a large dog sleeping in the corner, making him even more wary than before.
"Se trata de Besos. She was supposed to be Rosa's, but James no likes the animals, so Rosa had me take her. Supposed to be a watchdog, lazy thing." Fernando explained as he made his way to the fridge, pulling out two glasses.
"Are you wanting ice?"
"No, thank you."
He was a bit surprised at how well Fernando spoke English. He had been under the impression that Fernando could only speak Spanish. He had a strong accent, but he spoke with an air of someone who knew what they were doing. He laughed at Guillermo's surprised expression.
"I have been in United States for almost twenty years now. I know how to speak the English. I just prefer to speak Spanish with Rosa. She speaks it beautifully, for her Father being so... uhh... adamant? Yes. Adamant that she not speak it. And I just do not wish to make too much conversation with the other bits. Best not they get too comfortable around me. I am 'The Boss Man', after all, yes?"
Guillermo smiled at him warmly, accepting the full glass of amber colored liquid.
"Yes, sir. And despite your aversion to English in the workplace, you still manage to frighten them into silence."
The large dog, Besos, lumbered over to sniff at the newcomer. Guillermo patted it's head, scratching it behind the ear, still nervous about the motives for which Fernando had brought him here.

[ROSE MERCER]

"Yes, sir. And despite your aversion to English in the workplace, you still manage to frighten them into silence." Fernando laughed, taking a seat next too Guillermo, watching as Besos lumbered over to investigate Guillermo, licking the boys hand.

"I am thinking the Spanish is what scares them most. There is something very scary about the unknown, and to them I could be very well saying anything." Fernando sniffed the Tequila, letting it burn his nose pleasantly. "They are good boys, them two. I would not have them work here if I was thinking otherwise. And they may think I am not understanding things, but I have a much better knowing of things then they think." There was a sudden sagacity to his voice, as he peered into the distance. A smile crept on to his weather and time beaten face. "Like I know you are liking my Rosa. And not in the way you two have been insisting on." He took a sip of his drink.

Tequila was to be respected, not slammed down, all flavor hidden away like a blemish. If you respected Tequila, it would respect you in return. This was something Fernando Armero decided long ago to be fact.

His dark eyes grazed over to the boy, his face full of knowledge. "I must say, she could do much worse." Fernando's mind went instantly to Seth, who he had never had a liking of. The boy was too temperamental, too unstable, too needy. Rose had already had so much unstable in his life. "Not many would stand up to James like that. It pleases me, to know I don't always have to be the one to watch her. She is so... Animosa. I'm sure you know what I am meaning, yes? Very stubborn, prone to troubles. You must be thinking terrible things about our family. For this, I do not blame you. This is not the way family should to act. But Maria is weak, James... I have no words for him. I never have good feeling about him. He made me think of ink." Fernando spit, off to the side, his anger prickling, but eyes aged and tired. "It made Rosa very hard. Very stubborn. She reminds me so very much of my Mariella." Fernando lifted his shirt, revealing a tattoo of a woman on his torso, laughing slightly at himself.

"My late wife, very good woman. Very hard, and could cut me down where I stand, sure as I sit in front of you. But a good woman." Fernando nodded, quietly too himself, taking another sip of his drink, looking at Guillermo. He did not want to talk at Guillermo. No, the boy earned far too much respect to be talked at. So Fernando waited, his eyes watching attentively.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

"I am thinking the Spanish is what scares them most. There is something very scary about the unknown, and to them I could be very well saying anything."
Guillermo nodded in understanding.
"They are good boys, them two. I would not have them work here if I was thinking otherwise. And they may think I am not understanding things, but I have a much better knowing of things then they think."
A sly smile crept to his face.
"Like I know you are liking my Rosa. And not in the way you two have been insisting on." He took a sip of his drink and Guillermo turned pink.
He took a sip of his own drink, merely for something to do. What was there to say, really?
He felt Fernando's gaze on him, studying him.
"I must say, she could do much worse. Not many would stand up to James like that. It pleases me, to know I don't always have to be the one to watch her. She is so... Animosa. I'm sure you know what I am meaning, yes? Very stubborn, prone to troubles. You must be thinking terrible things about our family. For this, I do not blame you. This is not the way family should to act. But Maria is weak, James... I have no words for him. I never have good feeling about him. He made me think of ink."
"Rose is quite stubborn. Sometimes I believe that she likes to think she can take care of things and thats why she doesn't let anyone in to help. And, for the record, I don't think less of your family because of this. Broken families are much too common. Mine is. My mother left my father and I for another man when I was three. So in a sense, I have the same attitude towards my mother, whoever she is, as Rose has to her father."
Fernando spat on the ground and Guillermo was able to sense the distaste for her father.
"It made Rosa very hard. Very stubborn. She reminds me so very much of my Mariella."
Fernando lifted his shirt, revealing a tattoo of a woman on his torso.
Guillermo felt slightly surprised.
"My late wife, very good woman. Very hard, and could cut me down where I stand, sure as I sit in front of you. But a good woman."
Guillermo nodded slowly.
"Like Rose. Very much like Rose." He felt it strange, but he nearly wanted to confess to Fernando how much he truly cared for Rose.
Instead, he fell into silence, watching the burly man drink tequila the same way he did.

[ROSE MERCER]

"Rose is quite stubborn. Sometimes I believe that she likes to think she can take care of things and thats why she doesn't let anyone in to help. And, for the record, I don't think less of your family because of this. Broken families are much too common. Mine is. My mother left my father and I for another man when I was three. So in a sense, I have the same attitude towards my mother, whoever she is, as Rose has to her father." The young man before Fernando had a weight to him, as if fighting to say what he truly wanted. Fernando had seen the internal struggle before. "Like Rose. Very much like Rose."

Fernando smiled at Guillermo, knowing that look in the boys eyes well. "But you can't help but love them, yes? Almost to spite them, and their wall, you love them. You see the good." Fernando considered quietly to himself. "She can be frustrating, but you are still around. And that says something, I'll tell you. So you must have done something right."

His eyes watched the boy closely, as he directly told him that Fernando was aware of how he felt about his niece. His smile was wry, mostly unapologetic. "You know, she won't know unless you tell her. Though, this is none of my business, I know." Fernando sighed deeply, his smile not leaving his face. "Just something I hope you think about. Because, forgive me for repeating myself, but she is very stubborn. She will never simply come to you, even if she did realize. Very scared, my Rosa, of becoming weak like her Mother. You see, when Rosa would ask her Mama, why she would stay with an awful man, Maria would respond that she loved him. You see the connection, no? She has never done anything she has decided she no like, unless given the right push."

Fernando had leaned forward as he spoke, talking slightly with his free hand as he explained Rose more clearly. Lightening the thickened, serious, air Fernando nodded at he Tequila. "Is good, yes? Is very expensive, but worth it."

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

"But you can't help but love them, yes? Almost to spite them, and their wall, you love them. You see the good."
Guillermo dropped his gaze, his head lowering. Strangely, he felt almost ashamed, mostly because of the way Rose would react if she knew. Fernando's voice was quiet and thoughtful, "She can be frustrating, but you are still around. And that says something, I'll tell you. So you must have done something right."
He looked up, giving the man a small smile. It was half-hearted, as if he knew that the effects were merely temporary and that someday he must face the fact that Rose would no longer want him.
"You know, she won't know unless you tell her. Though, this is none of my business, I know."
Fernando sighed, still smiling at him. Guillermo nodded his understanding.
"Just something I hope you think about. Because, forgive me for repeating myself, but she is very stubborn. She will never simply come to you, even if she did realize. Very scared, my Rosa, of becoming weak like her Mother. You see, when Rosa would ask her Mama, why she would stay with an awful man, Maria would respond that she loved him. You see the connection, no? She has never done anything she has decided she no like, unless given the right push."
Guillermo considered this for a moment.
A five year old Guillermo approached his sobbing father.
"Papi, ¿Por qué estás triste?"
"Echo de menos a tu madre, hijo mío."
"¿Por qué? Ella se fue."
"Todavía la amo."
Guillermo's insides squirmed with anger at his mother. Love was certainly a weakness, but it was also a strength. He thought of Rose. Did she have an inability to love, or did she merely want to avoid the idea of love?
Fernando changed the subject back to the tequila.
"Is good, yes? Is very expensive, but worth it."
"It is very good, sir." He looked into the older man's brown eyes, briefly wondering if they were actually talking about the drink.

[ROSE MERCER]

"It is very good, sir."

Fernando smiled at Guillermo warmly, setting his glass down on the makeshift table. "Drinking tequila, in my belief, is tricky. You can not just gulp it down in a shot. You will not taste the flavor if you do that, yes? You lose the experience, for what? To be drunk? Bah, no. But, if you wait too long, it becomes stagnant and warm, not good for drinking." Fernando smiled, seeing a parable from Tequila to Rose. Move too fast, and she will forget about you. Move too slow, and she would grow bored. This boy had to get on the ball. "It is always remember to respect the Tequila, because if not, if can bite you in the ass, yes?" Fernando's laugh echoed slightly on the roof, as the Bull Mastiff laid down, sighing lazily.

The calm was swallowed, as Hiro bumbled up the stairs, eating his piece of pie as he walked, followed by Misa and Stefano, and finally Rose, who was juggling three pieces. "Damn, look at this view." Hiro hollered, as Fernando rolled his eyes.

"Si sólo que el arma había sido real ..." He muttered, chuckling as he looked at Guillermo, showing that he was kidding.

Rose sat down on the giant spool table, handing Fernando his drink after taking a quick sip, as well as his piece of pie. "What are you two talking about?" She asked, as if holding no personal interest.

"Oh, un par de cosas. Besos, le mostré mis tatuajes. Mayormente sobre lo real que los hombres beben tequila." Fernando said, dismissively, as Rose handed Guillermo his pie.

"Eso es todo?"

"¿Sí? ¿Qué crees que estaríamos hablando?"

"Nada, sólo pidiendo." She answered, shrugging, taking a bite of her own pie, with the thin slice of mozzarella on top. She held a bite for Guillermo, daring him with her eyes. "Want a bite?"

Besos stood up, wagging her tail delighted at the new people bumbling over to the other three. Stefano, who was nervous around dogs (especially ones the size of Moose) hoped up on the wall railing, much to the amusement of Hiro and Misa. "Rose, call your mutt."

"Besos happens to be a pure bred, thank you very much." Rose laughed, rolling her eyes. "And she's like a big baby. Just pet her, you Chicken Shit."

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

"Drinking tequila, in my belief, is tricky. You can not just gulp it down in a shot. You will not taste the flavor if you do that, yes? You lose the experience, for what? To be drunk? Bah, no. But, if you wait too long, it becomes stagnant and warm, not good for drinking. It is always remember to respect the Tequila, because if not, if can bite you in the ass, yes?" Fernando laughed, but Guillermo heard a whisper of a warning as he sipped at his drink again.
He was about to comment, when the others climbed up the stairs, Hiro making more noise than Guillermo would have thought possible.
"Damn, look at this view." Hiro hollered, as Fernando rolled his eyes.
"Si sólo que el arma había sido real..." chuckled the man, who glanced at Guillermo with a smile.
Rose sat down on the giant spool table, handing Fernando his drink after taking a quick sip, as well as his piece of pie.
"What are you two talking about?" asked Rose, her voice carefully indifferent.
Guillermo smiled at her curiousity.
"Oh, un par de cosas. Besos, le mostré mis tatuajes. Mayormente sobre lo real que los hombres beben tequila."
"Eso es todo?"
"¿Sí? ¿Qué crees que estaríamos hablando?"
"Nada, sólo pidiendo." She shrugged, taking a bite of her own pie, with the thin slice of mozzarella on top. She held out some for him.
"Want a bite?"
His face was wary. Guillermo glanced over at Fernando questioningly.
He took a bite of it, taking the challenge.
It wasn't too bad, he decided as he chewed. A little strange, but good.
Besos stood up, wagging her tail delighted at the new people bumbling over to the other three. Stefano hopped up on the wall railing,
"Rose, call your mutt."
Guillermo grinned widely at Stefano's obvious nervousness.
"Besos happens to be a pure bred, thank you very much." Rose laughed, rolling her eyes. "And she's like a big baby. Just pet her, you Chicken Shit."
He turned to Rose, "Naw, you should have told him that she's a killer and hates him."