au. Johnny returns from the army for a few months. When he first arrives, he and Carmen clash more than ever, causing tension to arise between them and everyone else in the household. As time goes by, things only get worse, and yet despite what they say and do, they don't hate each other…no, it's something else entirely…

The residents of Ashdene Ridge had all assembled in the dining room to eat dinner. They were chattering and laughing as they took their seats.

"There is no way you actually did that." Carmen was saying to Ryan, as she sat beside him at the table, laughter following her words. Ryan was grinning.

"Cross my heart." Ryan shrugged, though he was laughing too. "Seemed like a brilliant idea at the time."

As the two kept talking, Tee glared at them from where she was sitting. She didn't like how friendly they'd been lately. She'd already attempted to warn Carmen away, but the older girl had simply said that she was jumping to conclusions.

"You've got him all wrong, Tee. He's a good guy." Carmen had said.

"How can she be so blind?" Sasha muttered to Tee, looking at Carmen and Ryan as they nudged each other and whispered about things nobody could hear.

Tee shrugged and lowered her gaze as May-Li put the dish of lasagna on the table, along with a jug of water and a jug of juice.

The doorbell rang rather suddenly, and Mike immediately straightened up. "I'll get it." He said, before anybody else could react, and he vanished from the room.

Most of the kids brushed it off, but Tee caught Carmen's suspicious look. Ryan raised an eyebrow, turning to meet Tee's gaze. He looked startled to find her looking at him, but then, as if he'd realized something, he gave a tiny smirk and leaned across to whisper something to Carmen. Tee stiffened as her friend laughed.

A few moments later, a smiling Mike reappeared, seemingly alone.

"Mike? Who was it?" Carmen asked, curiously.

"We have a visitor." Mike said casually. "Come on in."

A figure appeared in the doorway. A very familiar figure. Everyone's mouths dropped open.

"JOHNNY!" the whole room exclaimed, as everyone got to their feet, surrounding him in a group hug.

They all parted, until only Tee remained, hugging Johnny tightly. "Why didn't you tell us you were coming?"

Johnny laughed. "I thought it'd be better to surprise you." He grinned. "Mike agreed."

"You knew about this?!" Tee laughed, turning to look at Mike.

"We both did." May-Li smiled sheepishly. "It was really difficult keeping it a secret from you."

Tee just grinned, pulling back to look at Johnny. "How long are you staying for?"

"Not sure yet." Johnny smiled. "At least a few days, though."

Johnny and Tee sat down, along with Mike and May-Li. Everyone bombarded him with questions, but he seemed to avoid talking about the army as much as possible.

Carmen looked at Johnny, head tilting slightly as she pretended to listen to him talking. It wasn't as though she didn't care what he was saying, more that she was lost in thought. Something about him was…different. She couldn't put her finger on what it was.

Has he always been that hot?

"Earth to Carmen." Ryan nudged her, and when she turned to look at him, he raised an eyebrow. "Any longer and he would've noticed you staring."

"Oh, shut up. I wasn't staring. I was lost in thought." Carmen replied.

Ryan rolled his eyes, but he was grinning. Carmen grinned back.

Later, all the kids gathered in the living room whilst May-Li and Mike finished up some work. Most of the kids sat on the floor playing games. Tee, Sasha and Johnny sat on one sofa, and Carmen was laying on the other one. Ryan strolled in, stopping in front of her.

"Budge up, will ya?" he said, smirking.

"See, I would, but I'm pretty comfy." Carmen teased.

"Have it your way." Ryan lifted Carmen's legs, sat down, and then let her go. Her legs ended up across his lap, not that he seemed to mind. Neither did she. "See? Was it that difficult?"

"Yup." She replied, popping the 'p'.

Johnny lowered his voice, talking to Tee. "Since when are they so close?" he asked, as he watched Ryan and Carmen laughing and joking around.

"Since now." Tee sighed, shaking her head. "He's trouble, Johnny. But she won't listen to me. She thinks we've got him wrong."

"Is there a possibility that she's right?" Johnny turned to look at Tee and Sasha.

"It's a very slim possibility." Sasha informed him.

Johnny's eyes slid back over to Carmen, who was laughing hysterically at something Ryan had said. I want to make her laugh like that…and is it just me, or is she suddenly really pretty?

He shook his head a little, frowning. Why would he think something like that? Carmen had always been pretty, nobody could deny that, but…he'd never really thought about it before. But looking at her now…it was sort of impossible not to.

"She'll be fine." Tee said, placing a hand on Johnny's arm.

He looked at her, a little confused, before realizing what she meant. She'd caught him staring, and thought he was just worried about his friend.

"I know." Johnny said. "So, how have things been here?"

Tee launched into an explanation about everything that had happened since he'd left. Unfortunately, that included telling him all the things Ryan had done to them and Johnny was furious, to say the least.

He stood up, storming over to Ryan with his arms folded. Carmen and Ryan raised their eyes to Johnny, laughter dying on their lips at the look on his face.

"What the hell have you been doing to my sister?" Johnny demanded.

"Look, mate, things have happened, but I regret it, and I told Tee that. I told everyone that." Ryan said quietly.

"Yeah right. You're a liar. You don't regret anything you've done. But the next time you say or do anything to Tee, I'll-"

"You'll what, Johnny?"

Except it wasn't Ryan talking. He hadn't even had a chance to open his mouth. Carmen was on her feet, standing in front of Johnny with a death glare.

"Go on. You'll do what?" her voice was menacing.

Johnny looked down at her, startled. Then his features hardened. "Seriously, Carmen? You're defending this phony?"

"Leave him alone." She snapped. "You don't know what's gone on."

"Apparently you don't either, Carmen." Tee cut in. "Why are you defending him?"

"Carmen, it's okay, you don't have to…" Ryan muttered.

"No, it's not okay!" she said, turning to Johnny again. "How can you think you've got the right to just waltz back in here and start barking orders?" Carmen folded her arms, an arch of her eyebrows following.

Johnny scoffed. "Oh, shut up, Carmen."

Her eyes narrowed. She took a step forward, so the two were even closer. She may have been shorter than him, but her anger was scarier than he was ready to admit. "You may have just come from the army, but maybe somebody needs to give you a reality check. You're not a sergeant and we're not your soldiers. And if that's all you came here for – to boss us about like we're your dogs – then you should've stayed gone."

Johnny stiffened. The room was deadly silent. Nobody said a thing. Then, without thinking, he blurted out the most spiteful thing he could think of. "Yeah? Well at least I've got dreams. I took my chance of leaving this place. And guess what? That's a chance that a selfish little brat like you will never have."

A few kids gasped. Everybody looked on in awe.

"Johnny!" Tee scolded, eyes wide.

Carmen's lips pressed together in a thin line, and though she kept her expression icy, Johnny saw the hurt in her eyes and immediately felt guilty. Before he could apologize, though, Ryan had stood up and shoved him away from Carmen.

"Don't talk to her like that." He snapped.

Nobody could do anything other than stare. This was the first time since Ryan's sister came that he'd shown any sort of affection for anyone, least of all Carmen.

"Let's get out of here." She muttered, walking towards the door with Ryan in tow.

"Carmen, I'm-" Johnny tried.

"Shut it, G.I Joe." She called back, running up the stairs.

As a door slammed upstairs, Johnny sat down, regretting his words but refusing to admit it. "The hell's her problem?" he asked.

Tee shook her head. "Don't, Johnny. Just don't."