After everyone ate Kisa and Carmen made their exit after reluctant goodbyes and promising to visit soon.
As the two were walking to Carmen's home Kisa looked at her smiling teasingly, "You like him huh?"
Carmen blushed and stared at the sidewalk, "I don't know what your talking about."
Kisa pushed on, "I'm talking about your giant crush on Kyo Sohma."
Carmen glanced at her friend and stuttered, "I-I like him a little I guess but we just met. I barely know him. Yet I- he... I really can't explain it."
Kisa nodded, "I understand and you know what? Your good for him I can tell. I've never seen him taken to a person so quickly before. He's usually quite mean, rude and shy when you first meet him. And the way he smiled so freely with you... I couldn't believe my eyes."
Carmen joked, "I guess I'm just special."
Kisa for a change threw her arm over her shoulders, "You are. To me anyways."
Carmen smiled, "Thanks Kisa. That means the world to me."
She beamed back and the two finally arrived at Carmen's small 1 story home. "See you tomorrow?"
Kisa replied, "What do you think, silly!"
They laughed sharing a last hug before Carmen slipped into her house.
She locked the door and made way to her room down the hall.
A rough voice called, "Carmel Cakes that you?"
"Yeah" she replied shaking her head fondly at the sound of the nickname her father used.
He entered the hallway, "Hey."
The father and daughter hugged. Things have been much better since he got out of rehab. He got a job, they talked more and she didn't worry herself sick about where he was.
"How was your day?" he asked.
"Good. I hung out with Kisa after school and met some of her family."
He smiled, "You are quite fond of her huh?"
She beamed at the thought of her, "Oh dad she's the best! Don't get me wrong I miss Ashley but Kisa's just different."
He ruffled her hair, "I'm glad your doing so good. It puts a smile on my face to know my baby girl's happy."
Carmen asked pleasantly, "How was work."
The end of his nose crinkled, "It was fine, boring doctor stuff. Why don't you get in your PJ's and will watch the new Castle episode if you don't have homework of course."
Carmen could tell that her dad was hiding something but chose to play along, for now, "Oh Dad you know me. I finished it all up in Study Hall just as I always do."
He patted her back, "Keep up the good work genius. Now hurry up I want to find out what happened to Beckett."
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After the conclusion of the Murder/Mystery dad clapped his hands, "Well I don't know about you but it's my bedtime. You want men to tuck you in?"
She nodded excitedly as though she were eight and rushed up the stairs to brush my teeth. It was only eight and Carmen was allowed to go to bed by ten but She could never resist Dad tucking her in ever since Mom's death. Especially since their relationship hadn't always been this great after she died. At first her father could barely look at her without tears welling up in his eyes and a swig of whisky. He's still reminded of h
Mom by her but the pain has dulled enough and the bottle was put down long enough for her to become Daddy's little girl again.
She jumped into bed and threw the covers over her as her father walked in.
He sat on her bed and ran his fingers through her hair, "You really are a beautiful girl Carmen, you know that? Just like your mother. Soon I'll be beating young men off with a stick I'm sure. Just promise me something. Promise me that you'll be careful because you may love them but that doesn't make them good for you."
Carmen nodded, "I promise Daddy."
He smiled tenderly and whispered, "Love you baby girl."
"Love you."
He got up, turned off the lights and closed the door. Leaving Carmen to drown in her thoughts from Mom and Josh to this new boy, Kyo. She thought so much she didn't even realize when she fell sound asleep.