Little Havana Nights

More Than A Feeling

No Mercy recorded their follow-up album "More" while Latina released theirs, "Our Next Song Book". Cassandra had a new look to her. No longer sporting the beautiful shoulder length bouncy hairstyle, she grew her and made it a bit wavier. Ariel liked her new look as did her fans. Latina were also scheduled to release another album soon, with some songs also recorded in their native Spanish for the Latin releases.

Neither album charted as well as their predecessors, as typically happens in the music business but they were ok with that. Also, neither band could handle another tour as by the time the albums were released, Cassandra was 4 months pregnant with her and Ariel's first child! Everyone was very excited and it wasn't long before Gabriel and Danielle had their own news to share.

The couples came together for a family dinner banquet with their parents, and that's when Gabriel and Danielle announced that she, too, was going to have a baby! Cassandra and Danielle were due within weeks of each other and everyone was even more thrilled now than they already were!

Despite the albums not having much success as their predecessors, No Mercy were still popular in the GSA region (Germany, Switzerland, Austria) while Latina were still going strong in the Benelux region (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) as well as France.

The seldomly performed on European TV, and the twins also wanted to pursue other interests.

It was great timing too, considering the pregnancies.

Needless to say the families were thrilled! And the abuelas were especially thrilled at the prospect of being bisabuelas! The women's mothers were so excited to assist each other's daughters as well as their own in their pregnancies, advising them on what to eat, how to sleep, etc. Sometimes it was a bit overwhelming, but the girls appreciated having their mothers/aunts look out for them.

Everyone was so happy except for Linda. She loved her friends like her sisters and tried so hard to be happy for Cassandra and Danielle but in truth, she was triggered, hence a little jealous, at seeing them pregnant, especially when they started to show.

The horrid memories of her miscarriage came flooding back, and many nights she'd cry herself to sleep.

Matters came to a head when the cousins were having a female only baby shower at abuela's house and they weren't too far off from giving birth. Linda was seeing baby stuff everywhere, and it was overwhelming to her before she couldn't take it anymore and snapped.

"Why is it that the two of them can have a baby and I can't?!" She screamed. "Was I not worthy of my own child?!"

Linda's mother tried to calm her down but to no avail.

"What about those pinche putas who have no business being mothers but become one anyway?! Are they more worthy than me?! It's not fair!"

Linda's sisters came to assist their mother in calming Linda down before she collapsed in their arms, crying her heart out.

The other women, including the cousins stood there and watched the whole thing unfold in front of them.

Linda lay there, being comforted by her mother and sisters. Cassandra and Danielle were still standing there, watching, not knowing how to react. They felt bad for their friend, but weren't sure of what to do.

The rest of the party guests decided to leave as the cousins set up bed in their grandmother's room for Linda so she could lay down for a while.

After about half an hour Linda was calm, but exhausted. She was emotionally drained with tear stains on her face to show for it.

Danielle and Cassandra comforted Linda, bringing her a glass of water and caressing her hair, showing they very much still cared.

"I'm so sorry I ruined the baby shower." Said Linda, still crying. "I thought I could handle it but I was clearly wrong."

"We understand." said Danielle. "We can't imagine how you're feeling."

"I hope neither you have to experience it." Said Linda. "I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy."

"Linda." Started Cassandra. "We also wanted to use this gathering to ask you if you would like to be godmother to our children."

Linda's eyes suddenly lit up and her sad tears turned to happy tears as she hugged Cassandra and said "Yes! I would love to! I wouldn't miss it for the world!" Without hesitation.