A/N: So obviously I didn't keep to my "every other week" plan. I'm sorry, guys. Shit just got in the way. *sigh* BUT I am glad that people are still interested in this.

This one is a bit shorter than the past few entries, but I hope you enjoy it! This fic is almost done, less than five chapters to go. I do want to say thank you for everyone who has stayed with me from the beginning. It's been a long and rough journey for all of us. But anyway, without further ado, here is the next chapter! Don't forget to review, please!


Chapter Nine:

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting

The following days passed slowly for Carmen. She spent most of her time with Carlos or Juni, though she would greet Gerti pleasantly if they met in the hallway. Unfortunately, due to Carlos' attentions, she couldn't get away often to meet with her brother, and so there was little planning done. If it wasn't for Juni, she wouldn't have been able to keep up this charade.

Every day Carlos grew a little bolder with her. Each morning he would greet her with a smile and would escort her to the small dining room where they would share breakfast. They would talk about the books they loved, their favorite movies and their goals for the future. Carlos would talk about growing up in a palace and shared stories of his little sister. Carmen would laugh and tell him Juni was an absolute terror compared to his sister. She would talk about her school, what American society was like and explain how Hollywood was the equivalent to the nobility in a monarchy, though with more scandals.

Lunch and dinner was usually taken on deck. He'd have the table set perfectly and they'd watch the sun set together, holding hands. His kisses grew more frequent and she could see the desire grow in his eyes every time he looked at her. Somewhere between lunch and dinner he would have a meeting on the video camera with certain nobles. He never shared what was said in those conferences and Carmen never pushed him. Sometimes he would leave her to her own devices for an hour to correspond with the captain.

It was exhausting. She could barely keep up with it. When she was younger she had considered acting but pretending to be in love every moment of every day told her she'd never make it in Hollywood. Only yesterday she had snapped at Juni on several occasions. She apologized but he knew they would have to do something soon before the truth came out.

Unfortunately, Carlos' constant attentions left them little time to have a decent conversation because when she did have free time she spent it napping.

Today was no different than the past four mornings. She had woken up to a knock on her door with a note from a maid that said she had an hour before Carlos would escort her to breakfast in the dining room. "Every day is the same. Why doesn't he mix it up a bit? Even a princess must get bored from the same schedule," she grumbled to herself as she dried her hair. Suddenly, there was another knock on her door, this time much louder than normal. She turned off the dryer before checking to see who it was. "He's early. He's never early." She paused before opening the door. Something didn't feel right.

"You're a bit early, aren't you?" she said as she opened the door. But he didn't look too pleased. "Carlos? Is something wrong?" "Carmen, I am early, you're right. May I come in?" Not once had she allowed him to enter her bedroom but his expression was off so she stepped back. There would be no ravishment with that look. He closed the door behind him and surveyed the room before looking at her.

"Please be seated."

"Carlos?" She sat at her vanity and looked at him, genuinely puzzled.

"I've had….interesting news," he said seriously.

"Oh?" In all the time she's spent with him, he had never given her the slightest indication of an erratic temper. But something told her now that she should be wary and allow him to do the talking.

He started pacing. "Yes. The head technician just told me that someone has hacked into our database and accessed the internet."

Carmen looked blankly at him. She had no idea what she was talking about. "Okay…."

He stopped pacing for a moment to look at her. His face was grave. "Carmen, my love, you must tell me. Has Juni said anything to you about contacting someone?"

"What?" she said. The question was so unlooked for that she could speak honestly for once.

"Jeremy, the head technician, has told me that someone has sent a message to an unknown address. I'm just wondering if Juni has mentioned anything to you."

"No, he hasn't. We haven't had much time this last several days to catch up. Our conversations are mostly about the weather and how he wished he had his chess set with him. We really haven't gone any deeper than that." Which is completely true since you don't even give me time to sit down and talk. "I promise you, Carlos, I would have told you at once if he had said something," she said with a placating smile.

He shook his head. "So you're absolutely certain Juni hasn't said anything."

Carmen's patience was beginning to wear down. "Yes, love. I promise. He hasn't said a word."

"Could it have been Gerti, then? What about your ex-lover? Gary? Could he have sent a message of distress to someone? I wouldn't even put it pass him! I bet it was him. He's been too quiet as it is. I knew he was up to something!"

Carmen was shocked and angry. She had been playing along with his game perfectly and now he's accusing her of her previous associations when she's given him no reason to suspect. "Carlos," she said, keeping her voice steady with obvious effort, "I swear to you, I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. I've barely spoken to Gerti since she tried to warn me off you, and Gary won't even look at me even if I did want to talk to him. And besides, why does it matter? I doubt they could have snuck in somewhere, they're smart enough to realize they'd get caught taking such a risk. They may be immature and annoying, but they certainly aren't stupid."

"So you do still feel something for him!" Carlos cried. Carmen could see a vein popping out on his neck and he was quite beyond control at this point. "I bet you're covering for him and his twerp of a sister. I knew it!"

Carmen stood up now, her rage getting the better of her. "Are you accusing me of being in love with him? Is that what this is about?!"

"YES!"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," she said coldly. "I am not in love with Gary Giggles and any former feelings I had for him are long gone. He was a fling, nothing more. It's you I care for, Carlos. It's you I love. I have nothing to give to you but my heart. No family, no dowry, no connections. You've said you were happy to take me as I am and that you'd take care of me. And I believed you. You swore you trusted me and you loved me. And now you're accusing me of loving someone else, of cheating on you and aiding him in undermining you. But I have not. I've barely even thought of him! You are what I wake up to and you are what I think of before I close my eyes to sleep. I love you! How can you not see that?"

Carmen was so frustrated at the sudden accusations (which were, in fact, true, though she saw no reason to admit that just yet), combined with pure exhaustion and wanting to go home, that she had no problem crying. Her tears were quite genuine and she knew it. She turned her back on him and reached for a tissue on a nearby table.

"Oh Carmen, my love! I'm so – I did not – I swear to you, I truly didn't doubt you. I – just – Jeremy's revelation scared me and I panicked. I'm so sorry, darling, my own love. Gary's presence on the boat makes me nervous and after so much planning I can't afford for one mistake. Revenge is so bitter sweet and can be so fleeting, I have to seize this chance now before the General learns of my plans."

Carlos had wrapped his arms around Carmen's shoulders and lightly rocked her side to side. His voice had now taken on a crooning sort of tone, much like a mother would say when she's comforting her young child.

"Revenge?" Carmen said, quizzically, before she could stop herself.

Carlos tensed for just a moment that she knew she wouldn't have felt it if she hadn't been paying attention.

"Only a manner of speaking. My stepmother must pay for her crimes. For the honor of the country and the memory of our family name, her injustices must be brought to light. Don't you worry, dearest. But can you ever forgive me? I promise, I would never willingly hurt you."

Carmen sighed. She didn't want to make it too easy for him, but since this their first "fight" she knew she would have to give in soon. She wished she could question him some more. "I forgive you, my love."

He turned her around so he could look into her eyes. "I promise you, Carmen, my only love, I will do my very best to ensure that you are safe and happy. I would never hurt you, not intentionally, unlike that blackguard, Gary Giggles."

She smiled. "I know you wouldn't." She ignored that last comment. "I love you, too. And I'm sorry I got angry at you. I know you've been very busy and since I haven't slept well this past few nights, neither of us at our best. It is forgiven and forgotten."

"You haven't slept well? But why not? Are you ill, Carmen?" Carlos immediately grew concerned and felt her forehead. "It is nothing, nothing!" she replied, laughing. "I'm not sick, I promise. I go through bouts of insomnia occasionally, and this is one of those occasions."

"Well, we shall not tire you out any further. You must stay here today and rest. I will come fetch you for dinner tonight." "Oh, really, Carlos, I – " He held up a hand and she stopped. "Not another word, darling. Don't feel bad. You must rest. And I shall take the opportunity to catch up on my work. I admit I've been neglecting my duties to spend time with you." She smiled and kissed him lightly on the lips. "Very well then, now that you've put it that way."

"I'll leave you to your rest, my dear." He kissed her and gave her a hug before leaving her bedroom. He looked back and she simpered at him, smiling with her eyes. He closed the door softly and she collapsed on the bed. Of course the argument wasn't forgotten. Carmen closed her eyes. Later she would knock on the bathroom wall and see if Gerti would hear. There weren't many opportunities for them to use their secret code, but today seemed like the perfect time to do so.

Later. After she had taken a nap. She was so exhausted…


"I heard yelling coming from Carmen's room," Gerti said that afternoon after lunch.

"What were they saying?" Gary asked casually.

"Carlos accused her of aiding you and Juni sending a message. Said that she was still in love with you and that he would not stand for it."

They were sitting in the small parlor room that they had designated theirs own. Lunch had been served and taken away and now they were twiddling away their time. Gerti was sitting on the couch, knitting. A servant had provided the supplies when they were at Cape Hope. Gary was lounging in the big chair by the window, feet dangling over the armrest. Juni had not yet arrived.

"Well, he's not far off," he replied. "True, but it sounded like it could get violent. He hasn't shown signs of an erratic temper, but one never knows." Gerti paused. "They made up pretty quickly. Carmen should have gone to acting school, she's pretty good."

Gary grunted. He was none too happy about this arrangement, of course. But what could they do? Nothing was certain and they needed her on the inside. Not that they had many opportunities to talk, but it was the only option they had. And he worried. He worried about her and what would happen if Carlos found out it was a lie. He shuddered. He knew she was good, he could see it in front of him, but he didn't trust the man an inch if he was confronted with the truth before they were rescued.

"Gary? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just worried."

"Well, that's nothing new. But you're playing the part of an abused and cast off lover pretty well."

He looked at his younger sister. She smirked and he couldn't help but grin back. Gerti was right.

The door opened. "Juni, where have you been?" "Just checked in on Carmen. She was asleep. Don't blame her, she's been exhausted."

"Can you blame her? Acting like she's in love for so long must be quite tiresome," Gerti piped in. "I don't know how she does it." She shook her head.

"Well, the message is sent. And now we wait," Juni said as he took a seat next to Gerti. "I wish I knew how long it might take, though. Francis wasn't able to give me specifics."

Luckily, Gary had discovered Francis in the kitchens, working as an assistant cook. Francis had been the waiter who had warned Gary and Carmen about the prince's intentions with Carmen. Although wasn't part of the Carlos' inner circle, he had been a huge help in planning an escape.

Gerti nodded in response. "Let's just hope Carlos doesn't find out what was in it. We have to be on our best behavior until we know what's going to happen."

Sneaking into the private control room that they had discovered was difficult enough, even with Francis' help, but they all knew what would happen should Carlos discover what was in it. Francis had warned them that he would find out something had been sent, but he assured them all the message would be safe once it was sent and any trace of what it said would be gone. But one can never be too sure with security these days.

"Is there a chance that someone would be able to hack into the ship's systems from the outside? And if so, would Jeremy be able to tell the difference?" Gary had asked him.

"Unfortunately, I doubt that. But it should be safe enough. Or rather, as safe as it can be, given the circumstances," the Frenchman replied.

Gary shrugged in response. "It was a long shot," he agreed.

And now they waited. Who knows how long it could be. They had specifically said not to contact them for fear of any sort of reprisal, but that left the former spy kids in the dark. Not being able to communicate a rescue mission was difficult enough, but not knowing when said rescue would occur was even worse.

There was silence in the room. Everyone was worried. No one knew how long Carmen could keep the act up. They were running out of time. And Carlos was closer to the truth than they realized.