Iris

Chapter 3

Now it's officially Kenlos!

Author's Note: So I hate to throw this out there but I started this before the holidays so please excuse my late-ness!

Carlos entered his room one last time before he left. Because it was near Christmas time, a time they spent at the Palm Woods last year, Gustavo and Kelly agreed that a week long vacation would be okay. What the other boys did not know, is that Carlos is going home. To Minnesota. Only for the week, but he didn't even have the heart to tell them. However, telling James was inevitable, seeing how the two shared a room together.

"So, this is goodbye? I think we're all gonna miss you, Carlos." James said. He sighed, grabbing the last bag and heading out the door, closing it behind him.

James gave Carlos a hug, before watching the Latino disappear into the interior of the airport, James not being allowed with him past that point. He sighed, dreading going back to 2J. Mrs. Knight would either cry or scream at him, Kendall would probably become emotionless, Logan would become angry, Katie would be a mystery.

James sighed again, before climbing back into the BTR-Mobile and driving away from the airport.

Mrs. Knight yawned, pouring a cup of coffee, when suddenly, she heard the soft click of the door unlocking, then the door opened, and a silent James stepped in. "Oh! You scared me, James! Where have you been, so early in the morning?" she asked.

James smiled a bit before sitting down at the table. "Can we first have breakfast and gather everyone, so I only have to tell it once?" he asked softly. Mrs. Knight simply nodded, realizing the seriousness of the situation. She sipped her coffee slowly, awaiting the arrival of the others.

Kendall, Katie, and finally Logan piled into the room one after another (with space, of course) when James announced: "Well, here I go. Granted, I bet it sounded more... right, when Carlos himself said it, but anyways... Carlos, after getting out of the hospital said he wanted to go home- needed to. He said he was worried how this affected his father, and more importantly, how it affected Jaime. I don't exactly know why that is so important to him, never felt right asking, so I drove him to the airport and bid him farewell, for the week."

Like James expected, Mrs. Knight was in tears, as was Katie. Kendall looked blank, but in a way, like he had already been crying for a thousand years. Logan, on the other hand, looked ready to bitch James out, so he stepped his foot out. "Listen, I am just the messenger, and a dear friend of Carlos'. For the past few days, you two have been nothing but mean to him. I think he needs the vacation, and if you disagree, take it out on him, not me. In fact, if you are so upset, then maybe you should take a look at how you and everyone else has treated him, and ponder why he needs this vacation." And with that, James stormed off to his room, slamming the door behind him.

Carlos sighed, pulling the rented truck up the Minnesota driveway of his old house, awaiting his father to come out and pull him into a familiar hug. But the man never stepped foot outside. No one did. He almost cried at that, until he remembered that he never informed them of his arrival. He sighed happily at that and pulled his two suitcases from the bed of his rental truck. He walked up to the door and knocked twice.

Almost immediately, an elder woman, Carlos' abuelo answered the door. Mrs. San-Garcia was a nice lady, but when she recognized Carlos, she immediately dropped her ever-present grin, and nearly slammed the door on his face, had her son not seen his son from the hallway. "Carlos, mi hijo! Come in, come in!" Carlos' father said. He then addressed his mother. "Mother, please do not treat Carlos like he is a monster. You know it was Angél who got Carlos into this mess. Even his friend was dragged into it. Do not punish Carlos for what he has gone through. If you distrust him or disrespect him, then I think it fair if you ignore him, but mistreat him in anyway and I will see to it you are thrown out of my house. He is my child, Mother. Do not think I would choose you, who was rarely there for me, over the child I solely raised."

(A/N: A note on Mrs. San-Garcia. This is what I decided to call Carlos' Grandmother simply so she was not to be confused with Carlos' mother. The theory would be that she hyphenated her name (Garcia) with her husband's (San) but when she had Carlos' dad, she dropped her husband's name from the birth certificate. We'll call Mr. Garcia, Roberto because I'm assuming that's how Carlos get's his middle name, but that's just my guess and I'd rather not write Mr. Garcia a billion times this chapter when I'll be writing Mrs. San-Garcia a few times already!)

Carlos nearly applauded his father. Mrs. San-Garcia turned towards the stairs and took her sweet time climbing to her room. Roberto turned to his son. "Hey, Carlos, let me get one of those suitcases." And he promptly grabbed one of his son's bags right from his hands. He carried it over in front of the stairs. He began to climb one of the steps when Carlos finally noticed it.

"Papi, you're limping. What happened?" Carlos asked. Roberto looked at his son, but couldn't find the strength to tell him. Mrs. San-Garcia then peered over the ledge, hearing the question from her room.

"He was shot in the leg." She said simply. "Why do you think I'm here? He was shot, then released from duty, and given surgery, luckily they covered it. He now has a bit of trouble walking, and I'm in better lifting shape than he is." She stated. Carlos almost became angry at her, before he noticed his father's arm begin to tremble. He immediately grabbed the suitcase from him and sprinted up the stairs. He dropped off his suitcases and then dashed back to Roberto.

"Papi, please, relax. I will be okay, just get settled downstairs and then we can talk." Carlos said. Roberto nodded and continued to the living room. Carlos looked to his grandmother, but she simply turned and retreated to her room. Carlos thought suddenly, 'How will I ever be able to return to L.A., knowing my Papi is in pain?' but he brushed the thought aside for the moment, and entered the living room.

Kendall stood from the couch, stalking over to the kitchen, when Katie groaned, "When will you stop sulking and just call him?" Kendall looked surprised but simply shook his head. Katie sighed and kicked Kendall's shin. She pulled the phone from the hook and dialed Carlos' cell. She waited until a certain boy's voice came on and she spoke, "Cheer up Kendall. He's sulking." And simply handed the phone to Kendall.

He stared agape until he heard Carlos say, "Kendall? What's the matter?"

"I- I'm sorry for the way we- I've been treating you. I know I've been the worst. I- I can't explain why, just that it's something... personal that I'm not ready to share yet. But I really am sorry. I shouldn't have treated you that way, Carlos!" Kendall breathed out a sigh.

He could hear Carlos sigh on the other line as well. "It's okay, Kendall. I'm here for you if you ever want to talk about whatever it is bothering you. And I'm sorry, too. For leaving the way I did. Listen, I'm glad you- or rather Katie-" Carlos paused and chuckled, indicating he was joking, "called. I need you guys to know I'll be okay, I just needed to do this, at least for the holidays. Anyways, I have to go now, I'm meeting Jaime in a few minutes and I'd rather not be rude. I'll talk to you later *hon- er, Kendall!" and with that, the call ended.

Kendall returned the phone, looking just as blank-faced as before. 'Did he almost call me..'

~End~

A/N: I know it's odd to end this here but it's been a long while since I've updated and the next chapter has a better theme to it then where this would go. Also, on a side-note, I'm sorry I don't update often. I find it hard to write on a constant time frame so try not to follow intently (don't hear that often huh?) I don't want reviews saying I need to update NOW cause I can't. So, with that I DO encourage you to review, and I shall see you again soon!

P.S. If you review I shall try to give you a preview of the next chapter!