A/N: Okay, so I'm having a little bit of trouble getting exactly where I want to go with this. I'm thinking up many scenarios and none of them are working for me, but I think I'll be okay. With a little help from my muse, it'll all work out… This chapter starts directly after the previous chapter.



Carmen only glanced up before returning her attention to her sandwich when Mimi came in. Mark squeezed her hand reassuringly before leaving, and the two girls were alone, both with their eyes cast away from each other. Mimi climbed atop Carmen's bed and sat opposite her, turning her attention over to the plate resting on Carmen's lap. Carmen slowly pulled her sandwich apart, toying with it more than actually eating anything, and the sisters stayed there in silence. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence; just an unsure, pensive kind of silence. Without saying a word, Carmen looked up at Mimi and offered the second half of her meal. Mimi smiled gratefully and took it. She only had to look into Carmen's eyes to know that it was a peace offering – that she had been forgiven and that the offer of water that came a few seconds later was an apology.

Outside, Roger and Mark sat nervously glancing in the direction of the bedroom door every few seconds; Joanne and Maureen had left and it seemed too quiet. Roger half-jokingly suggested that one of the fiery Latinas had committed a silent murder before sneaking out the window. Mark smiled half-heartedly, knowing that Roger – as uncharacteristic as it was – was only trying to ease the tension. It was nerve-racking to think that two such passionate girls were working through their issues in complete and utter silence. After an hour, it became call too much to bear and Roger decided to check on them. Slowly and cautiously he pushed the door open, eyes widening as he focused on the scene in front of him.

Carmen was propped up by several pillows with Mimi curled up against her. Evidently day had worn them out, for they were both sleeping quite peacefully. Seeing Roger's expression, Mark curiously headed over; smiling when he saw the sisters in their embrace.

"Looks like it all worked out," he whispered.

"Why can't she and I fight like that?" Roger mused, thinking back to all the times in the past that he and Mimi had yelled and screamed at each other - glass objects had been smashed, walls had holes punched into them. The situation before him became increasingly unbelievable with every moment.

"Should we leave them?"

"No, Carmen's going to hurt her neck," replied Roger, noticing Carmen's head lolling. A fly on the wall would have been amused at Roger and Mark, standing in the doorway much like parents checking in on their children late at night. Each of them had identical looks in their eyes – love, adoration and a little bit of pride.

Quietly, they tip-toed over to the girls. Mark loosened Carmen's grip on Mimi and Roger lifted his girlfriend from the bed. She stirred a little, but only enough to wrap her arms around Roger's neck. He kissed her hair lightly and headed out, but stopped at the door. "Hey, Mark." Mark turned to face him after easing Carmen onto her back and covering her with the sheets. "That's your girlfriend, there," he whispered with a grin, nodding in Carmen's direction. Mark glanced down at her and returned the grin happily. That's my girlfriend…

January 9th 2am EST

Mimi woke to find she was snug against Roger's chest. She remembered waking only very briefly as he'd picked her up from her sister's bed, but didn't remember when he'd joined her. He was snoring lightly, the moonlight highlighting the blonde in his hair. Mimi reached over and brushed a stray eyelash from his cheek, causing him to sniff and tighten his grip on her. Sighing, Mimi laid back and stared up at the ceiling. Shadows danced on the ceiling as she let her thoughts wander back to the conversation she'd had earlier with her sister.

"You know it wasn't on purpose don't you?"

This was the first thing either of them had said. Mimi felt it was so important to get it across to Carmen – she had never intended to hurt her or to leave her behind.

"I know. It's just really frightening. You're all I've got, Mimi. I feel like I failed because I've always taken care of you, and…" she threw up her hands, as though to say she gave up.

"Oh god, Carmen it isn't your fault… I left… baby, you didn't know what I was doing. I never told you because I knew you'd stop me. I wanted it all and I wasn't about to let you get in my way."

"I let you do stupid things before," Carmen pointed out. Mimi smiled knowingly.

"Staying out late and getting drunk doesn't really compare to what I got up to when I moved here."

The pair lost themselves in their own thoughts for a while.

"You know she moved onto me when you left," Carmen said softly, her head bowed. Mimi clenched her jaw, angry and ashamed.

"I had a feeling."

They were talking about their mother. Maria had made a sport out of physically abusing Mimi, and torturing Carmen by making her believe it was her fault her sister was being hurt. After Mimi left, Maria needed to get her sadistic fix somewhere, and Carmen was the perfect target. Fortunately, it didn't take long before Tony finally figured out what had been going on – Carmen had been taught to cover the marks on Mimi, but found it hard to do for herself – and left, taking her with him. If Mimi hadn't been so selfish – if she had been a better big sister to Carmen – she imagined that things would have turned out much differently.

A noise from out in the main room made Mimi's head turn. She heard a door open and shut, footsteps across the loft and then another door open and shut. Mimi smiled to herself, knowing exactly what was going on.

Carmen groggily padded over to Mark's bed. She could have sworn she heard a gunshot outside, though it could have been a dream. In his bed, Mark woke to find someone slipping in beside him. Although he was still half-asleep, he didn't have to open his eyes to know who it was. He opened his arms up and felt Carmen curl up to him. He lightly kissed her hair, and she closed her little fingers around his shoulder. They drifted off together, and they both slept better than they had in a very long time.