Isaac was silent as he took his seat next to Maria on the couch. Her mother was busily preparing drinks of hot tea for them. Once she sat down she started fidgeting.

"Nana, it's all right. Papa will understand." Maria said gently as she took Isaac's hand in hers. "Won't he?" She asked. A flicker of doubt growing steadily in her mind.

"I do not know, Maria." Christina said as she shook her head sadly. "You know your papa takes pride in his family."

Maria could on nod her head and tighten her grip on Isaac's hand.

"Mrs. Kaslov, if Maria and I love each other, how could he not be proud?" Isaac asked tentatively.

Christina jerked her eyes upward. Meeting Isaac's with a harsh gaze. "You are a white man, and Maria is a Gypsy woman." She stated firmly. "We stick with our own kind here."

Isaac shook his head and was about to make a comment, when the front door burst open angrily. "Where is she?!" Her papa's voice angrily thundered about the old house.

Maria stood, and so did Isaac. Cautiously, Maria moved him to stand behind her. "Here I am, Papa." She said in a loud confident voice. Though her hands shook slightly.

"You bring a stranger into my village, and under my roof!" He shouted.

"Papa, I love him!" Maria shouted back. Tears of frustration already gliding down her smooth cheeks.

Isaac gripped her shoulders tightly in his hands. Trying to support her. Not knowing exactly how to though.

Enrique moved stealthily towards her. "You were sent to take the shame off my house, and yet you come back shaming it more."

Maria shook her head violently. "What could be so wrong, when I love him, Papa?!"

He shook his own head wildly. "It cannot be love. He is not of Gypsy blood!" He pointed out. Referring to the light hair and fair skin of Isaac's to the dark hair and skin of his.

"Love sees no color. It sees no blood." Maria said softly. "You brought this curse upon me." She accused. "Upon yourself. Isaac has lifted it. It is his love that shall set me free from it!" She screamed painfully.

Isaac held her back against him. "Mr. Kaslov, I do love your daughter. I may not be of Gypsy blood, but I do love her. And I will always love her." His voice was thick with a combination of emotions.

Enrique looked up at Isaac then. For the first time he gazed into his eyes. Ebony meeting Caramel. He shook his head in weary disgust. "Leave daughter." He commanded. "And never again look me in the eyes, set foot in my house, or in my village. For I do not know you."

"Papa!" Maria wailed. She tore away from Isaac and tried to go to her papa. But he stepped back and walked away.

"Wife, make sure you see these strangers to the door." Enrique said softly, before he walked out of the room.

Christina looked down and away from her unknown daughter and her love. She walked towards the door.

Maria and Isaac followed slowly behind. "Nana, talk to him. Make him see my place." She begged, her voice breaking from the strains of her cries.

Christina simply shook her head. "Speak not a word to me, for I do not know you." She whispered.

Sniffling loudly, Maria wiped at her eyes, and grabbed Isaac's hand again. When she walked out of her once known home, she held her head up high.

Isaac walked along side her. Aware of the gazes that was laid upon. Yet he simply ignored them, and the uneasiness that accompanied them. He held tightly onto Maria's hand. Knowing she was going to need someone strong to stand with her. And he was planning on that person being him.