Isaac's mouth dropped open for a second. Then he snapped it shut. "What_ Why_ _ Who?" He asked in one sentence.

Making it hard for Maria to understand him.

But she smiled calmly at him and placed her hand on top of his. "I guess that just leaves 'when and how.' " She said as Isaac clasped her hand tightly. She looked down and noticed how perfectly her hand had fit into his.

Isaac looked down at heir hands and started to remove his from hers when she stopped him. He stared at their hands before looking up at Maria. Her eyes held something that kept his attention.

But she broke it when she turned her head away and their hands slackened. Removing each other from contact.

"My great grandmother did this to me, us, because of my father." Maria started slowly.

"Why? What did your father do?" Isaac asked as confusion plagued his mind. Enabling him to think completely clearly.

Maria took in a deep sharp breath and closed her eyes. She could not believe that she was actually going to tell Isaac that his life is ruined because of her and her father. "Isaac, my father was a very vain man. My great grandmother is a white witch and her husband, my great grandfather, practiced black magic. As they were passing the trades onto my parents and my aunts and uncles she was granting wishes that her kids were wishing upon their kids."

Slowly Isaac nodded his head. Watching closely to Maria's facial expressions and listening closely to her words. "Go on." He encouraged her.

Maria just nodded her head also. "Well, papa wished for me to be more beautiful than any other girl in this world. He wanted my voice to be sweet and soft. For me to have faith and honor beyond what most have, and…" She trailed off, because it hurt to speak the words.

"And what?" Isaac asked urgently. He had a feeling that this is what linked him to her and her to him.

"To love someone as worthy and as equal to me in every way." She forced out shakily.

Isaac smiled at this; but knew that this was not the end to Maria's explanation.

"Isaac, my great grandmother laced us together because we are the only ones worthy enough for each other." She stated softly.

"I know that there is more." He said just as softly. "What is it?"

Maria had two delicate tears race down the left side of her cheek. "We shall never be together." She answered painfully.

Isaac didn't move, nor did he say anything. He just sat still in deep thought and in shock.

"Say something please." Maria begged quietly. "Please, Isaac!" She said more loudly as the tears began racing each other down her cheeks.

Finally Isaac turned to her and hugged her tightly. "Can you answer me one question?" He whispered. His voice was thick and hoarse as he tried to keep his emotions under control.

Maria nodded slightly. "I'll try to." She whispered back.

"Why can we not be together?" He asked slowly and carefully.

Maria gasped loudly at the question. She didn't think he would ask the question. She did know actually; but she tried to deny it. Yet she could not deny him an answer. "Because Isaac, of our differences." She answered truthfully.

"What differences, Maria?" Isaac asked as he pulled back from her, to search her face and eyes. "What is so different between us that will keep up apart?"

Guilt and shame clouded her eyes and marred her perfect features, "I am a Gypsy;" She said quietly. "And you, Isaac, are a white man."

Maria watched as his face twisted in the pain and the agony from which the harsh truth that just passed over her lips caused him. Yet he said nothing. He only held her. Tightly. Safely. Quietly.