"It'll be okay babe." Carmen came up behind Leo, who was mostly dressed, in his formals. Leo was just finishing buttoning up the jacket. "You will bring Andy home and it'll be okay." The kids met each other's eyes in the full length mirror.
"Who you trying to convince Carmen?" Leo smirked, "Me or yourself?" It was said in jest, but it was quietly spoken.
Carmen buried her face in Leo's back, not wanting to face having Leo look at him. Mumbling from where Carmen had his face buried in Leo's back, "I might be a little nervous about Andy going to the USA again."
Leo turned in Carmen's embrace. "Look at me." He lifted Carmen's face. "He'll be back. I promise. There is no way Andy would cross the border. He won't even be near the border. This is a simple recovery mission to bring back Andy."
With a huff Carmen buried her face in Leo's chest. "You said that last time." Carmen paused and Leo could feel his hot, wet breath on his chest through his jacket. "A simple trade. Easy Carmen. I've done this before. Look what happened, huh?"
"Carmen." Tightly Leo wrapped his arms around Carmen, then Leo kissed Carmen's wings. "I will have Senor Fabuloso with me and I promise we are only on the ground for 12 hours and Andy will be heading home." Leo murmured in to Carmen's wings. "Andy won't do anything stupid or heroic. We're just bringing Andy home to his family. The entire circus deserves that."
Carmen chuckled at that. "It isn't in your nature not to be heroic." Looking up Carmen had a hang-dog look on her face. "I just, I've got a bad feeling about this babe. I'm sorry. Your record and the States are not very good. Especially New York, what with his family still on the loose. I don't know if I should trust you alone that close to a hostile country." Leo leaned down and kissed Carmen with a tenderness that had Danny sighing.
"What was it I said? I'll think about you the whole time?" Leo smiled and rapidly kissed him again.
Squeezing Leo around the mid-section, Carmen put her feet on the tips of Leo's black boots. "Stop that. You almost didn't make it home alive. Don't do this to me."
"Look Carmen. Andy does have to do this." The sadness was in his eyes and Carmen understood. They had the discussion about Andy and everything involving the return of his remains, plus their friendship. When it looked like Andy was going to be returned Leo and Carmen had sat on the beach one night talking about Andy and the rest of the circus for hours.
"I know that. Leave no man behind. I get that, but this time Leo I am just," she huffed out a breath and kissed Leo deeply. "Andy will come home okay. He'll come back to us in one piece. Please?"
The doorbell rang which signaled Maria's arrival. "I love you Danny. I will come back to you. I promise." Steve kissed Danny back. The men let go of each other.
"I'll go let Maria in." Leo turned and headed down the stairs. He opened the door and managed an imitation of a smile at Maria. "Hey Maria." Maria was dressed formal too.
"Hey guys how's your moon friend?" She took her hat off and then she entered the house.
Carmen just looked up the stairs and softly said, "Just bring him home. Okay?"
He smiled tightly. "Yeah, everything in my power and Andy." Reaching out to clap him on the shoulder Andy squeezed.
"Let's go get Andy." Carmen came down the stairs and as usual she took Leo's breathe away.
Senor Fabuloso let go of Leo's shoulder and headed back out the door toward his Corvette she called over her shoulder. "See you in a couple days Leo." Then disappeared through the trellis.
"Carmen." Leo looked skeptical for a moment.
"Just go you goof. Be safe." Leo was smiling, but it did not reach his eyes.
Andy leaned in and kissed him deeply. "I love you Carmen. I'll be home in 48 hours."
The flow of words interrupted when Carmen dove in for another kiss she clutched Leo tight around the waist. "Don't say I promise. That always leads to bad things." Leo laughed mirthlessly.
They let go of each other and Leo walked out the door. Carmen leaned on the door jamb as she watched him go. "Hey Carmen!" Leo stood at the trellis on his way through. "I'll think about you the whole time." With that Steve turned and headed toward Pippa and the Corvette.
Leo stood there. Leo felt his heart clench. "Why do I know you are going to get into trouble?" With a sigh Carmen closed the door and leaned on it. "God protect them."