Welcome to the Family

(Closed for Kismets_Paramour)

Bill and Ashley

Bill, 31 years old
6'1 in height, athletic and fit body

Ashley, 32 years old
5'8 in height, thin and athletic body

Bill was born to a middle class family. He worked hard to get to where he was today. He was a high school basketball player, and while he was pretty good, he knew there was no future in playing the sport. When he enrolled in college he went into marketing. He was lucky enough to play basketball in college, but he did not play a lot. However, in college he met Ashley. They hit it off right away and Bill knew she was the type of girl he wanted to marry. Ashley was a tennis player at the college and in a nursing program. She was your typical girl next door type. Attractive, but incredibly sweet. Bill immediately fell for her and their relationship blossomed from there.

After college they moved to the city and began their careers. Ashley got a job at a hospital in the city, while Bill got a job at a big marketing firm. It was a decent position, but one where he could move up the corporate ladder quickly. They lived in a small apartment, wishing some day to be able to move into their dream house.

Bill proposed to Ashley late this summer. They had both been in their jobs for some time. Ashley had become a head nurse at the hospital, while Bill became a big player at the marketing firm. He was in charge of many projects and was a fast up and comer in the company. After their engagement, they began to look for a house. They wanted to move out of the city and into a family oriented neighborhood where they could see themselves raising a family. They found the home of their dreams and used the fall season to move into what they hoped was their forever home.

It was easy to tell Bill's family of their engagement. They lived close to the city, however, Ashley's parents and family lived further away. They were excited to break the news and figured that the Christmas season was the perfect time to tell them. Ashley and Bill already agreed to travel to Ashley's parents house for Christmas and New Years.

---------------------------------------------------

It was a week before Christmas and Ashley and Bill were packing their bags into Bill's truck. Ashley was excited to break the news to her family and even more excited to show off her ring. Bill was excited to celebrate their engagement with Ashley's family. It seemed like the perfect holiday to do it.

"Are we all set?," Bill asked Ashley as she walked to the truck with her final bag. She smiled at him and nodded. They both hopped in and began the long drive toward Ashley's parents home. As they drove, Ashley talked about how excited she was to tell her mom and be able to discuss wedding plans with her. Bill laughed, "I am just excited to finally let the monkey out of the bag, I am surprised we have been able to keep it from them this long...." he said smiling as he drove.

Ashley and Bill came from different backgrounds, but their relationship worked perfectly. Bill came from a middle class family and worked hard to get to where he was. Ashley worked hard as well, but her parents were much more wealthy then Bill's. Of course, this did not matter to Bill, however, Ashley seemed to have an easy road to the future she wanted. One thing that was very important to Bill was family. He knew Ashley loved her parents, however, he knew she was not a fan of her younger sister Carmen.

"So, is Carmen going to be there?," Bill asked as he drove the truck. Ashley had not formally introduced Bill to Carmen yet. He knew who she was through discussions, but she never seemed to be around in any of the past visits he had to her families place. Ashley cringed a bit at the mention of her name, "Yes...... she will be there....... but don't judge the family on her..... she is very different from me." Bill laughed at that statement, "Oh come on..... she can't be that bad if you two are related...." he said as the trip continued. After a long time on the road, Bill turned down Ashley's parents street. Ashley smiled as she turned to her fiancé, "Are you ready for this?" Bill nodded as he pulled his truck into the driveway to begin their mini vacation.

-Carmen-
21 years young
5’7 in height, busty toned hourglass figure.

Born with a gypsy soul, she grew up wild as the wind and had a few broken bones and scars to show for it. She wasn’t a bad child per say but she had a mind of her own and an attitude to prove others wrong. Later in her schooling years it became apparat that something was different about her. She lost interest in things quickly, lashed out and refused to do assignments but somehow managed to test in the upper 90%s without effort. After months of testing it revealed to Carmen’s parents that she had a photographic memory. The pressure to be better, to do something more, to be more like her sister pushed Carmen even further away.

Where young girls should have been having tea parties, she had begged and pleaded with her parents to join martial arts. Her older sister fell in love with boy bands and the color pink and Carmen was doing gymnastics and taking guitar and drum lessons. Ashley cooked and cleaned and Carmen played with fire and had parent teacher conferences everyother week. The differences between the two girls were startling and Carmen liked it that way. Where she had to battle and fight with her parents to be herself, they couldn’t stop going on and on about their perfect daughter. When they introduced the girls to new people it was always ‘this is our daughter Ashley and her sister Carmen’.

Having never been given the chance to be herself without backlash or consequence, Carmen tested out of school at the early age of 16 and took to the winds against her parents wishes. A friend of her father’s was close by and kept an eye on her, stepping in when he felt she needed it and dutifully sending reports to her parents. Otherwise she was independent and all the more happy for it. She became addicted to anything that could make her heart race. Fast cars, motorcycles, bad boys, piercings, stunts and more. The only thing that kept her rooted was art and music. It started as sharpie tattoos back in grade school, then makeup just to piss off Ashley using bright colors and glitter to stand out and her next step was airbrushing stopping just before she thought about tattooing. A group of friends from work had a garage band and she jammed with them until one of their members got knocked up and ‘became respectable’ and for a few months she even joined a rock band’s tour bus for a three city circuit. Mostly she lugged around heavy equipment but off hours she got to rock out with the members in a way that any fan would kill for. If it hadn’t been a temporary fit she could have seen herself working up to background guitar or drum girl, maybe. The manual labor was tough and the hours on the road was demanding.

It was a stroke of luck that found her a job on a tv show as an assistant makeup artist. One of those friend of a friend gigs at the states largest music festival where she did skin, some nudes, airbrush paint jobs and makeup for the music goers out of her truck. The job fed her artistic side but it got stale quickly and she was soon looking for more.

Jumping from the roof onsite of the show’s most recent location, because of a dare, brought the attention of the management and production staff and the next day when she was sure she would be fired was surprised to find out that they were planning to skill test her as a stunt double. She hadn’t been sure about the job, while she had been boyish in appearance because of her flat chest all throughout high school she had blossomed and then some and worried that her adoundant rack might prohibit her from being in film. The edit team shrugged off her concern and within the week she had fallen in love. She went to every conference and safety meeting held, harassed firefighters and police officers for training and even went as far as shadowing an ex Jackie Chan stuntman for mentoring, refusing to take no for an answer. It all paid off and soon she was the go to girl for tv and movie stunts, complete with a manager and medical team.

As much fun as stunting was, her mind thirsted for knowledge and she enrolled in some art history courses at the nearby college, compleating her batchlors in three years. Her parents still believe that she should do something meaningful with her life, like her sister Ashley becoming a nurse and always pushed her for more even if it wasn’t something that she wanted.

What she wanted was a simple life filled with things that made her happy. It might have sounded selfish but she was okay with that. Carmen didn’t have much to her name, just a 4×4 truck to haul around her tiny house and her motorcycle and that was all she felt she needed. That and a strong pot of coffee or tea.

================

An hour ago the sun crested the horizon, her coffee had gone cold hours ago and the paper cup was long since empty but she lingered down the street. It felt like hiding, in fact if she were to be truthful with herself she was hiding. For the last five years she had found some reason or another not to come home for the holidays, it too her Grams calling her to get her home.

The gate was open, the driveway lights that lines the paved drive were on but the house, set far back from the road and hidden behind tasteful trees, shrubs and flowers. Memories of a younger her ran over the carefully manicured lawn, swinging wildly from the swing hanging from the large tree out front. Carmen had broken her arm for the first time from that tree, challenging the rain and lightning to bring it. The grown woman smiled fondly, just a touch of sadness in her expression.

This was her home, had been her home. But it had never felt as such. She felt like an outsider watching from the outside in. Her Papa, Mum and older sister made the perfect family and Carmen had never felt a part of that.

The morning was still new and aware of how loud her motorcycle was she slide from her lounging position and pushed the 'cycle down the street and up the slight incline of the driveway. Tucking her bike on the side of the garage, Carmen slowly crossed the yard and unlaced her boots and kicked them off before climbing the tree that used to be her sanctuary.

From the lack of lights in the house it looked like she was the first to arrive and the only one up so she pulled her phone out of her jacket pocket and opened her ebook and lost herself in the scifi fantasy that the author shared with her.

She didn't know how much time had passed but the neighborhood slowly woke up. Lights turned on, sounds echoed in the distance and a lone car cruised down the street, pulling into her driveway. The vehicle didn't look familiar and when the neither of the three garage doors opened she knew it wasn't her parents or grandparents. Meaning it was her sister.

Really it could have been any of her Uncles or Aunties but the disturbance in the Force told her it was Ashley. Still she waited just to make sure. Within minutes Ashley and a man unfolded from the car and Carmen silently climbed down from the tree, stalking across the yard keeping out of view. They were talking about something as they headed towards the house but she ignored their chatting.

"ASHLEY!" Carmen yelled jumping out from behind her in greeting, a shit eating grim plastered on her face when her older sister jumped in fright. "How are ya?" She asked barely containing her laughter. "Miss me?" She knew her sister hated her and she made a point of behind under foot just to annoy her. "Because I've been known to be VERY missable." She teased hooking an arm around Ashy's shoulders, keeping in step as she pushed her back towards the house.

Bill was shocked as he pulled into the long driveway. He felt his eyes widen as he saw the size of the house and he couldn't help but laugh a bit. "Jesus...... you grew up here? Do you still have your silver spoon?" Ashley hit his arm playfully, but he never realized how well off her family was. Sure, he knew that Ashley and her family were above middle class, but she never gave him an indication that she grew up in a house as magnificent and large as this one. He drove down the driveway, looking around at the large yard. "Are you sure this is your parents place? Maybe this is just a hotel...." he joked as he pulled near the garage and stopped.

As both Bill and Ashley slid out of his pick up truck, the house seemed even larger then he first noticed. He walked over and put his arm around his fiancé and smiled, "So......... are you sure little old me will be good enough for this place?" Ashley laughed as they began to walk to the house. Ashley was excited to see her parents and they decided to get their bags after they let them know they both were here. Ashley smiled as they walked together, "Please don't feel like you don't belong, you do........ trust me, there is only one person that will be out of place here," Ashley said. Bill shook his head, "Oh stop...... you are painting this picture of your sister that I am sure is not true...."

Just after that was said, a loud greeting came from behind them. Ashley jumped in fright as Bill turned to see Carmen for the first time. Ashley looked at her sister, surprised at her jumping out, but also angry at how she came across. "Hi Carmen.... I am good, you?" Ashley forced her kindness towards her younger sister. As Carmen walked over and hooked an arm around Ashley's shoulders, Bill laughed. Ashley tried to ignore the missing her part, but Bill could see how uncomfortable his fiancé was in that moment.

"Sorry to be rude...... you must be Carmen?" Bill asked as he raised his hand to introduce himself. "I am Bill...... it is nice to finally put a face with the name..." he grinned. In fact, Bill heard all about Carmen. He heard how wild she was, how she embarrassed her sister, how she was never one to follow the rules or do what the family wanted her to do. As Bill looked at her, he could see how different she was from Ashley. Carmen had a body that could grab attention from anyone she wanted. He wasn't sure if she used her body in that way, but Bill knew that Ashley was always worried that her more thin and athletic build did not match up to women with curves. Bill was intrigued with the relationship between Carmen and Ashley and couldn't quite understand why Ashley thought so little of her sister. He hoped that this time with the family would give him some answers.

"I've been fantastic Ashy!" Carmen smile devilishly using the nickname she knew Ashley absolutely hated. "Dwyane Johnson almost broke my arm last month, it was kind of the highlight of my month to be honest. Say if he did break my arm I could just shack up with you, seeing as you're a nurse and all. What better healing then a family member's love." She cooed leaning her head against Ashley's arm in a cuddle.

Carmen had purposefully ignored the man at Ashley's side, if he was like any of the other guys she dated; he would be of the slime ball, ass-hat variety. "Ohh, manors." She wagged her brows at her sister as she untangled herself from Ashy's arm. "Bill, a pleasure." She curtsied, returning his grin. "I can't say I've heard a thing about you but that could be because Ashy hasn't accepted my Facebook friend request yet." She winked re-timing her steps to fall in sync with Ashley's.

"Was it a long trip for you two lovebirds?' Carmen asked skipping ahead to open the front door with a sweeping bow. The foyer was tastefully designed with a dresser to one side with a mirror above it, always with a vase of flower. To the right was a bench with a coat rack to either side and a row of hooks well above head height of the bench but within arms reach. "Hope the traffic wasn't too." She managed before the smaller set of french doors swept open, revealing their mother of the other side.

"Ashley!" She chimed rushing past Carmen to gather her eldest daughter in her arms.

It was the normal for Carmen and she forced a smile, hid the look of envious longing and continued into the house. She got a head nod and a gruff hello from her Dad before he bellowed his delight at seeing his other child. The coldness pierced her heart but it was a pain she was intimately familiar with, heck they were on first name bases and had inside jokes. "Merry Christmas to you as well Papa. No, I've missed you more." She whispered to herself leaving the happy reunion behind her, turning down the hall towards the garage so she could bring her motorcycle in.

As the garage door opened another car pulled into the driveway and Aunt Prudence, twin to her mother, glared at her from the passenger seat.

"Still riding that devil bike I see." She snapped nodding her chin at her husband to grab their bags.

"You are looking well Aunt Pru, have you done something new with your hair? Oh, you've lost weight, that's it." She wasn't being insincere, the a-frame bob that she had styled her hair in looked great, and maybe that was what made her face look slimmer but she was sure her figure was leaner as well.

Prudence narrowed her eyes at the insolent child. "Watch your tongue Missy!" She warned jabbing a finger at her niece's direction. "I'm not like my sister to let you run wild in my presence."

"Yes ma'am." Carmen nodded, eyes cast down at she pushed her bike into the garage.

"What do you think you are doing?'

Freezing Carmen looked over she shoulder at her Aunt, she had assumed she was done with her but it seemed Carmen was wrong. "I'm sorry?'

"You can't bring that thing into the garage to leak oil and foul it up with fumes."

"I assure you Aunt Pru, it's free of leaks and fumes."

She growled something that sounded like 'lies' under her breath and advanced on her sister's youngest child. "I will not have it!"

Carmen opened her mouth to point out that this was more her house then her Aunt's but didn't want to start off a family get together with a fight. "Yes ma'am." She repeated with the same downcast look as she wheeled the bike back around the side of the house. There was a shed not too far that the lawn mower and yard tools were kept that she could keep her 'cycle in.

By the time she had stashed her bike away and untied her saddlebags there were more cars in the driveway. They were filled with more Aunts and Uncles from other side of the family. All hostile towards Carmen, save the young child free from the brainwashing and her grandparents. Everyone in between were worth avoiding.

Sneaking back into the house from the kitchen doorway she took the stairs two at a time. Down the hall were five sets of doors and Carmen opened the narrowest door and flied in. The room had been a closet with a set of stairs leading to the attic that had been turned into a study. Back when Carmen was still loved, so when she was seven, she asked for that to be her room and she dedicated the spare to her love of books. Her room was small but she had her own bathroom with a shower tub behind a bookcase wall. It later became her 'bell tower' as she liked to call it, referring to herself as Quasimodo. Her grandma played into the running joke and he even gotten her stone gargoyles that she put on either side of the stairs leading up to her room.

Throwing her saddlebags onto her bed she gently caressed her old friends. Around her biographies, sci-fi, thrillers, true crimes, fantasies, really anything she could get her hands on she read. The shelves were bursting at the seams, piles were stacked besides her bed and weighing down the desk under the large window.

There were postal boxed shoved against her bed and she opened them and quickly wrapped what was inside. There was a gift for everyone and she smiled imagining their faces as they opened them. She was most excited about Ashley's gifts. She had read not that long ago that she had damaged her stethoscope, guessing that she was on a limited budget because of her student debts and her new job, Carmen researched which were the best and settled for a cream and rose gold set that had gotten the best reviews. She also got her a matching penlight, a gift card for the uniform scrub store, a weekend flight and hotel stay for two to San Francisco yearly nursing conference, complete with a car rental. She had always said she had wanted to go and maybe this year or the next she would be able to.

Deep down Carmen loved her sister and family, it was just a lot to take in when she was always the bad guy. Slacker, letdown, failure and more. And then the mishap with the boards and it somehow being her fault. She still harbored ill feelings about that fall out but as much as she wanted to get over it, she couldn't. Still her sister was her sister and she loved her, as much as it seemed Ashley didn't feel the same way.

Bill could not help but smile as he watched Carmen and Ashley's interaction. He could see how playful Carmen was being toward Ashley, while also seeing the look on Ashley's face. Bill knew his fiancé was not fond of her younger sister, however, as he watched their interaction he never really believed she could be so cold to someone she was related to. As Carmen ignored Bill, he was able to watch Carmen continue to make Ashley uncomfortable as she cuddled up to her arm.

When Carmen finally acknowledged Bill, he smiled. "I try to have manners...... and I will talk to Ashley about your Facebook friend request. She does struggle to use that darn technology," he joked. Bill was enjoying Carmen's playful tone and even more enjoying how uncomfortable Ashley was. He had never seen Ashley that way, and to him, it was funny to see.

As they entered the foyer of the house, Bill was again taken aback by the size and look of the place. He was not used to houses this size, and he could not help but marvel at the beauty of this place. His awe did not last long, as the next door opened and Ashley's parents came into view. He heard her mom greet Ashely and watched as Carmen entered the house without much acknowledgement from her parents. Bill felt bad for Carmen, but that was quickly taken from him as Ashley's mom came over to give him a hug. The conversation began about the trip and how work was going. Bill felt his head spinning, he knew spending the holidays at Ashley's parents was going to be a world wind, but he did not expect it right when they arrived.

As they entered the house Bill began to talk with Ashley's father, talking to him about his job and the promotion he just received. Ashley's father seemed to be approving of Bill, and Bill did enjoy talking with the man. Ashley wanted to wait until the entire family was their to announce the engagement, so that conversation was not had yet. Instead, Ashley's mom hugged Bill and they were off to head to the room they will be staying in. They climbed a flight of stairs and headed down a hallway, entering a room that was larger then he would have thought.

The room was Ashley's old room and Bill could not believe the size of it. It had a bathroom off of it with a walk in shower. The room itself had a large closet, bed, and a little sitting area near a window. Bill laughed, "This is where you grew up huh? Man, I come from the streets compared to you...." he joked. Ashley laughed off his comment, "That is nonsense, my parents were just well off...... and they spoiled us..... well at least me," she said.

Bill smiled, "So Carmen seemed nice, nothing like you said...." he said. Ashley's look went from happy to a bit concerned. She shook her head as she walked up to her fiancé, "Listen, she is trouble...... just be careful around her. She always is looking to ruin family get together's...." Bill smiled at that, "Oh come on, I doubt she wants to ruin anything....." he said in defense of Carmen, even though he did not know her at all.

Ashley smiled as she kissed her fiancé softly, "Want to get our bags..... I bet more family is arriving and I know you probably don't want to be overwhelmed......" she said smiling. She knew Bill well and he nodded. "Just grab our things and I will let everyone know you are getting us settled in and will be down later," she said as she kissed Bill again. They both left the room, Bill heading down the stairs to get their bags from his truck, while Ashley headed off to the family wanting to greet her other family members that were starting to arrive.

As Bill got to the truck, he looked up at the house again. He could not believe that he was staying in a place this large. He also could not believe he was marrying a woman who grew up with this type of wealth. He smiled as he opened his truck, he sighed. "Ashley just can't ever pack light," he said as he saw his two bags compared to Ashley's four. He knew it would take him two trips, so he grabbed his two bags and one of Ashley's and headed up towards the room. He wondered what the family would think of him, or if they would approve of him. He wanted to make Ashley happy and hoped her family would approve.

"Hey." Carmen was opening the door to her bedroom, nudging it open with her foot became her hands were full of wrapped gifts when she spied Bill. Her was carting around two of Ashley's bags and Carmen shook her head. The girl lived her, still have half her wardrobe in the closet, what the hell did she need to pack for? The only things she had brought were little bits and pieces of clothing that she didn't already have her, her tablet, cell phone and said chargers and her toothbrush. That was it.

Laughing Carmen stuck out her ass and wiggled it as Bill, bringing his attention to a pink glitter wrapped gift. "Didn't know it would be you but I got something for you." She jutted her hip out towards him again, indicating that he could take the gift tucked in her back pocket. It was a large heather gray (ashy) colored shirt that read 'Property of Ashley' in a sober red stamped block lettering. "Serious these presents aren't getting any lighter." She fake grunted with nonexistent strain. "Keep me waiting her any longer and I might pop a shoulder." She further hinted arching a brow at her behind.

"Two golden boxes on the top with the large bows, those are for Ashy if you wouldn't mind getting them for me." The stack was nose high and she tapped the two wrapped gifts with the tip of her nose. "She won't like me handing them to her so if you would throw them on the bed or something for her to open whenever." He had two bags of hers to still lug into their shared room but she figured he might be able to handle three little things more.

Flashing him a stunning smile, Carmen trudged down the hall to the stairs. "Thanks." She called over her shoulder, leaving Bill behind. He seemed like an alright guy but after Ashley's last boyfriend she didn't really want to get to know the guy any better. It would turn out horribly for her even if she were the victim.

Downstairs no one took notice of her and Carmen cut through the back of the house to place her treasures under the tree. She wrote the names to which the gifts were to be given but left who they were from empty. Not like it would be a secret but just the sight of her name seemed to upset the family.

Childish laughter from the front living room turned Carmen's growing frown into a beaming smile. "Kaci!" Her niece was one of her favorite people, she was her little shadow. Going everywhere she went, doing everything that she did. She had recently turned ten and had given her a telescope for her birthday but had yet to hear if she liked it or not. In fact it had been months since she heard from her but knew that she was okay from FB stalking.

Skipping into the living room Carmen threw open her arms and crouched down low to catch the running child.

Except there was no running child.

The room had gone silent and Kaci just stood there was a disinterested stare. "Hey Kaci!" Carmen brushed off the hesitancy for a hug but was shot still with a single look from her. There was hatred in her eyes, a hard thing to stomach on one as young as her. "Everything," Like a sinking stone she knew the chance in her niece but refused to believe the change in her. "okay?" She asked slowly the smile fading from her face. "How'd you like the telescope?'

"Everything's fine." Kaci's words were cold. "Oh, that? Didn't even open it. I sold it and bought myself a new Coach bag." She flashed the name brand purse with a smirk. "Aunt Ashley helped me pick it out."

Carmen tried not to tear as the adults in the room turned away, losing interest in her heartbreak. "It's beautiful." She complimented. "Do you still want to be an astronaut?"

Kaci wrinkled her nose as if smelling something unpleasant. "I'm not a child anymore. I've grown up and now was to be a doctor or a lawyer. Something meaningful and worthwhile. I can't just waste my life away playing games."

The words were near clones to words she had heard before but coming from a child, her little shadow, they cut straight to the heart. "Right." Carmen nodded as if what she said made sense, as if hearing those thinly veiled jabs didn't hurt. "Well, as long as you are happy." Like that she distanced herself from her, like peter pan without a shadow she watched as Kaci turned found Ashley and ran to her.

Standing in the now empty front living room Carmen drew a deep breath and started towards the staircase, retreating back to her room. If she stayed there until her grandparents arrived then there would be at last be someone who missed and loved her. Sure there were a few other nieces and nephews but she didn't think her heart had it in her to risk the possibility of them being turned against her as well.

Down the hallway she heard laughter and she contemplated joining in, forcing herself upon them like she normally did but she was tired and couldn't work up the fight the spend time with those that she loved that hated her so.

Eyes watering, she climbed the stairs one by one. She wouldn't cry. "Don't you dare cry." She threatened herself voice thick with emotions, unaware that someone was within ear's range of her words and near breakdown. "Who wants to be hugged by their family members anyways?" She snorted making herself feel worse. "I'm sure past the judgmental, prejudice bullshit that someone, even if its only one person, down there misses you." Saying it out loud didn't make her believe it and she slumped to the ground using the top step as a good place to just give up.

Bill was carrying Ashley's bags to the room, he just got to the top of the stairs and was turning toward the room he would be staying in when he heard her voice. He turned, seeing Carmen coming down from her room. Her hands full with packages as she used her foot to open the door. "Hey...... " he responded to her. He watched as she entered the hallway and couldn't help but laugh as he watched her struggling to carry all those gifts. "Do you need any help?"

He was surprised as she stuck out her ass and wiggled it at him. He gave her a surprised look, until he noticed the pink glitter wrapped gift in her back pocket. He laughed, "Got something for me? You didn't have to do that..... you don't even know me..." he responded. Bill set down the bags and moved up to her as she told him to hurry up and get the gift. He reached out, carefully taken the package out of her back pocket, making sure not to touch her ass as she waited. "There got it..." he smiled as he took the package away.

He put the gift in his pocket as she mentioned the top two gifts were for Ashley. He smiled, "Why thank you...... I will grab them if you want...." he said as he reached out to grab the two gifts from her. "You are not what I expected....... Ashley didn't paint you as the gift giving person..." he said trying to be friendly. As Carmen flashed him her stunning smile, he nodded. "No problem, guess I will talk to you later," he said as she trudged down the hallway. Bill watched her disappear and laughed. He took the two gifts for Ashley and brought them into the room. He set them down on the bed, and then went back to the hallway to retrieve Ashley's bags.

When he returned to the room he set the bags down, and then immediately opened the present that Carmen gave to him. After he opened it he looked at the shirt and began to laugh. "That girl has a sense of humor," he said to himself as he admired the shirt. He knew that Ashley would hate it, but to be honest, he thought it was hilarious. He set it down on the bed and then headed downstairs to get his lone bag and Ashley's last one.

After exiting the house and grabbing the last two bags from his truck, he snuck back into the house and headed for the stairs. He heard the laughing coming from the other rooms and figured the family was enjoying the gifts that Carmen had brought them. As he climbed the stairs, he thought that maybe Ashley had painted an unfair picture of Carmen. However, to his surprise, as he got near the top, he saw Carmen sitting down against the top step.

"Carmen..... are you okay?." he asked as he stopped on a few steps below her, staring at her. He felt bad, she looked like she had been hurt. He let his eyes wander over her, making sure she didn't physically hurt herself. "I am guessing you didn't fall down the stairs, since the gifts weren't at the bottom....... do you need help?" he asked concerned. This was Ashley's sister, and while she painted her as evil, Bill could not help but want to be nice to her. First of all, he felt bad for her. It could not be easy being painted the way she was, plus he knew how Ashley could be.

Ashley was that way with certain friends as well. She was harsh, not everyone saw the side that Bill did. She was always nice and supportive of him. However, Ashley could be very cold and hurtful when she wanted to be. He knew it, and felt bad if Carmen was seeing that side of her sister. "By the way, thanks for the shirt, it is hilarious," he said with a reassuring smile, hoping that would cheer her up some.

Carmen shrugged. "I knew my sister would show up with someone, she's never alone and it would be unkind to not have a Christmas gift for him." She started as if it were as simple as not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings. At the comment about how Ashley painted her, her smile slipped but she plastered it back into place. "Ashley feels the way she does and no one can change her mind once she makes it." She shrugged again. "I wish you the best of luck with that." Carmen dryly laughed finding no real humor in what she had said. "Thanks for grabbing the gifts." She thanked before disappearing down the stairs.

The time between dropping off gifts with Bill and now showed a different Carmen, an emotionally vulnerable Carmen who was angry and hurt at the world and her family.

"What, huh?' Bill's voice was filled with concern, he even looked concerned when she looked up at him. "What would I need help with?" She growled getting to her feet unfairly pinning all her pent up frustrations on Bill. "Plus, your Ashy's precious little toy of the season, why would you want to help me even if you could." Not that he could, the damage between her and Ashley had been done years ago and there was nothing that he could do about it. "You know what, here I'll make it easier for you." She pushed his thanks away, hidden as it was behind her turning anger.

Closing the space between them, Carmen pressed her body against his, hard. Her breasts pillowing against his chest as her hands reached up and ran through his hair and down his neck to pull him to her. Closing her eyes she tilted her face up and kissed him, her mouth opening and her tongue snaking out to lick at his bottom lip. It wasn't a passion driven kiss, but something forced and rushed.

Freeing him Carmen spun on her heel and stormed the few step she had just taken to bring herself close to Bill. "There," She snipped over her shoulder. "Now you can report back to Ashley that I've tried to steal you too. Hell, tell her I fucked you and they can all chase me away soon rather then later." Carmen cried, tears finally forming in her eyes and tumbling down her cheek. "I should have never come anyways." She muttered to herself out loud.

Neither of her grandparents had arrived and she had been so excited to see them but if they were going to react to her like Kaci was, she didn't know if she had it in her to stick around. Giving Ashley the ammo she needed to drive her out would be reason enough not to stick around and wait to get hurt again.

Bill was surprised by the frustration Carmen was showing towards him. He stood on the top step a bit taken aback. He looked at her as she looked up at him, her frustration showing on her face. "Help with....... I was just trying...." he said defending himself a bit before her actions stopped him mid-sentence. He watched as she stood up, making her way towards him quickly. Before he could even come to a decision on what to do, he felt her pressing against him. He was surprised, Carmen had caught him off guard for sure.

As he felt her large chest against his own and her hands move up through his hair, he looked into her eyes. As he did he saw the hurt and anger that were hiding in them, but before he could speak, she pulled him to her and kissed him. The kiss was not one filled with passion or lust, no, it was anger. Bill did not return the kiss, but the feeling of her full lips and tongue against his own plus the feeling of her breasts against him made him think that she was definitely different then her sister. Carmen had a sexuality about her, one that Ashley did not possess. However, in this moment, it was not about sexuality at all.

When she finally broke free, he watched as she quickly retreated to where she was to start. She stood there, her back to him as she spoke about him running back to report to Ashley. He gasped, still shocked at what just happened. However, as he heard the hurt in her voice, he began to realize that she was acting out because something bothered her. He sighed, trying to control his thoughts as he began to say softly, "Report to Ashley? That is not why I am here...."

Bill was careful, not wanting to push Carmen into any more anger then she already had. He moved slowly toward her as she stood there. He heard her breathing a bit heavier, the sound of her sadness coming out. "I am sorry..... I don't know why you think I am here, but it not to ruin your weekend....... what happened?" he said softly. His voice was one of concern as he moved up behind her. He put a hand on her shoulder, trying to make it a friendly touch. "I am not trying to run you out of here...... I am not like that," he said.

Bill was trying to comfort her, but also let her know that he was not like whoever hurt her. He knew Ashley and her had a bad relationship. Ashley did not tell him everything, but he knew how she could be. His fiancé was not always the best at treating others kindly. Bill was trying to help Ashley realize when she was being rude and even calling her out when she holds grudges over nothing. However, he had not gotten into her relationship with Carmen yet.

It was unfair to target Bill, he had nothing to do with the problems with her family that stemmed from Ashley. Still he was here with Ashley, what was she to think other then he was just like David... His name still hurt her heart and she angrily brushed away the tears.

Taking a deep shuddering breath Carmen turned back around and eyed Bill. "It's true, you don't have the look of a spy." She tried to smile, his face was too honest and there was something about the tone of his voice that softened her towards him. "Of course I have been wrong before." More memories about the man who shall not be named flashed in her mind and she physically flinched away from Bill and his hand of comfort.

She was so torn, she wanted so badly to talk to someone, to feel like she belonged but she also knew her sister and she knew Bill would be the worst person possible to create that connection with.

"Do you really want to know?" Carmen found herself asking despite the conversation she just had with herself. "Do you trust me?" It was a big question but she asked it with a sly grin on her face feeling very much like Aladdin asking Jasmine to go on a magic carpet ride. Turning it into a sexual innuendo had Carmen giggling as she extended her hand out to Bill.

She was still weary of the man but she was willing to give him a chance, it was the lease she could do after forcing a kiss on the man and lashing out at him.

Bill watched as Carmen turned and looked him in the eyes. He was worried about her. She was Ashley's sister, and something was obviously wrong. He knew how Ashley felt about her, and didn't want her to feel unwanted, especially during the holidays. He did not understand this family if they were pushing her on the outside. Bill had a close knit family, one that would never intentionally push out another family member. So, he wanted to make sure he was polite and understanding toward Carmen, even if Ashley warned him about her.

He smiled at her comment, "Well, I don't look like a spy because I am not a spy...... and you are not wrong, this time," he gave her a polite grin as she flinched away. He wanted to try and ease her worries. He knew it might be hard, but he would try, it was all he could do.

"Do I really want to know? Of course I want to know....." he said softly. He was happy, she seemed to be opening up a bit. He was not sure why, but he would not complain. He wanted her to feel welcome this week, especially with the announcement that Ashley and him were going to have with the family. "Trust you? Well..... I do not know you very well..... but yeah, I trust you, you haven't broken my trust yet...." he said grinning at her. He was a trusting person and he prided himself on that. However, if the trust got broken, it was hard to earn back.

As Carmen's hand extended out, he couldn't help but grin. He wondered what she was getting at, but he dove in. He reached out and took her hand, hoping that he was not getting himself into trouble.

"What spy would confess to being a spy." Carmen teased with a heavy tone, hiding her true thoughts and feelings behind a wink.

She didn't expect him to say that he trusted her, Bill was so genuine about it, again that honest face of his weakened her guard and she found herself smiling at him. "Trust..." The word played over her lips, drawn out and sensual, it wasn't meant to be so but still the silken word was there.

Bill gave Carmen his hand and the smile on her face blossomed into a smirk. "The way is shut." She sang softly grasping his hand tightly in her own. "It was made by those who are Dead, and the Dead keep it, until the time comes. The way is shut." She quoted in good humor leading Bill down the hall and to her narrowed door. Looking back at Bill she pulled him through the doorway, her stairway of books leading up to. "Perhaps this is the time."

Letting go of Bill's hand she started her tale. "Once upon a time," She laughed. "Two sisters, both alike in dignity. In fair New York, where we lay out scene. From newly born grudge break to new mutiny." Carmen began trying to make light of the history between her and her sister. At the top of the stairs Carmen looked over her shoulder to see if Bill was following. "Honestly we weren't so different when I was younger. I idolized her and wanted to be just like her. Wanted out parents to praise me like hey did her and it took me realizing that they never would that things between us changed."

In her room Carmen headed first to her bed, waving at her desk and it's empty chair for a place for Bill to sit. "There was this thing about expectations and not living up to my full potential. It got worse when I opted out of college. Then everything all together broke when David came along." She didn't know if Ashley had ever talked about any of her ex's or not , and if she hadn't yet she was about to spill the beans.

Throwing herself on her bed she stared up at the ceiling a single arm pillowed under her head. "I had no idea who he was, I had been living out of town for a while when I met him. He was smart, handsome and had this devil may care smile." The pain of her broken heart was still fresh to her. "It was the first time I had ever fallen in love and I fell hard." She smiled fondly at what had once been. "He was away most weekends but between his job and my on call shifts I didn't have any reason to doubt him. When we were together, it was perfect. I thought he loved me too." Sitting up she hugged her knees to her large chest, causing her breasts to lift up and push together. "I got pregnant, I told him expecting him to be happy. We had talk about a future where there had been children but he wasn't. He laughed at me and left me."

"I went home, I was wounded, alone and scared. I needed my family but when I got there David was there with Ashley. He had spun this tale about meeting me when he went away for the weekend. I got him drunk and seduced him. He went as far as to claim I did this all to hurt Ashley. My side of the story just felt like excuses. I tried to explain that I didn't know who he was, that I loved him and thought he loved me too.That I thought being pregnant would make him happy." Her face turned into a dark scowl. "That too he used against me, claiming I was using the child as a means to steal him from Ashley. He was the innocent victim and I was the evil seductress, having premarital sex with taken men." Standing Carmen sought comfort from her shelves of friends. "I lost the child but if you ask anyone I aborted it when I didn't' get what I wanted." Her finger trailed down the book spine as she tried to distance herself from her own life story.

"On Ashley's part her failure of her state board test was my fault, I placed her in distress and she couldn't focus. Since then I've been the cause of every misfortune both past and present." Carmen shrugged turning back around to face Bill. "So there is my tale and welcome to the family."

Bill laughed as Carmen teased him about being a spy. He shook his head, "Good point..... I guess a bad spy would admit he was a spy?" He gave her a questioning look, then began to grin at his statement. As she began to smile, he nodded as she repeated the word trust. He couldn't help but hear how she said it. It came out sensual, and a bit seductive, but he overlooked it.

He felt her gripping his hand tightly and laughed. As she began to speak he couldn't help but recognize the quote. He was about to ask, but she pulled him down the hall. As they got to the doorway and saw the stairway of books. He smiled, "Well quoting Lord of the Rings makes more sense now," he teased. He watched as she began to walk up the stairs. Bill followed, listening to her talk about her story. He smiled as she began to lay it out as a fairytale. She was creative, something he did not expect, especially knowing Ashley.

As they entered her room, he watched as Carmen headed toward her bed. He nodded as she motioned toward a chair and he walked over, taking a seat. As she spoke about David, Bill knew where this was going, or at least he thought he did. Ashley told him the story of David, of how Carmen had seduced and stole her boyfriend from her. He heard the story more then he wished to hear, and part of him could not imagine a family member doing that to another. He sat there, watching her as she laid on the bed and recited the story of how David and her were together.

He was surprised, this was not what he heard. He listened intently and was shocked when Carmen said she got pregnant. He felt bad for her, how could a guy get her pregnant and not be happy? He shook his head, "Wow, I am sorry Carmen...." he said, but the story was not over. As she spoke about going back home to her family, he felt even more shocked. He could not believe that Ashley and Carmen were both dating David without knowing it. He could not believe that David was such a bad guy, to throw Carmen under the bus the way he had. He also could not believe that Carmen's family would believe that man instead of their own daughter and sister.

As Carmen stood up, he watched as she moved over to her books. He saw her touching them as she spoke about her story. He sighed, "God Carmen, I am so sorry...... I did not know any of this...." he spoke in honesty. He could not believe that Ashley portrayed her as something she wasn't. He was upset at his fiancé. How could she treat her own sister this way? He shook his head as he stood up from his chair. He wanted to go give her a hug and apologize for the way Ashley acted. He wanted to tell her he was engaged to her sister and would make sure that she would never be treated that way again. He wanted to do all that, but he knew ruining Ashley's announcement would ruin the time with the family.

As she turned Bill looked her back in the eyes. He sighed as he looked at her, "None of this is your fault...... I cant believe what I am hearing...." he admits as he stared at her. She welcomed him to the family and he shook his head, "God, what type of family am I getting into? To portray their daughter as a man stealer when the story is much more complicated....." he said softly. He was filled with thoughts, and was trying to work his way through all of them. He felt his eyes look Carmen over. She was an extremely attractive girl, he began to wonder if Ashley was jealous of her to top it all off. Nothing made sense to him in the moment, and he found himself lost for words as he stood and looked at Carmen.

​Carmen smiled, a hallow grin that shed little light into her real thoughts. "There were a lot of things that I did do that made David's story more believable then mine." She had long since accepted her role in the tale and begrudgingly the ​place her parents and mostly sister created for her since that moment. "I did date Ashley's ex-boyfriend three months after they broke up in high school." Against everything she had just told Bill, she gave excuses for Ashley's behavior. "I followed that with going out with Conner, she had a crush on him but when he invited me to the lake party I said yes. It was a short lived relationship but long enough to tarnish him in her eyes."

Turning away from the book she faced Bill, a heavy sigh falling from her lips. "I've been a disappointment to my family for years, betrayed the trust of my sister and made choices that have shamed myself in their eyes." Again with the excuses but this time for her whole family. "I only made it worse when I fell into the rave scene, it was assumed that I partook in the festivities but really I had only sampled the wares a time or two." Carmen shrugged her shoulders. "I did like the roll of mollies but the down slide made my skin crawl and I didn't need another reason to have my parents look at me the way they already did."

"After David I gave up, stopped fighting and just played the part that was assigned to me." Kaci's face flashed before her eyes and a new wave of pain washed over her, tears pricked her eyes and tumbled down her cheek. "It never really bother me, I always figured they would get over it and we would be a family once again but it seems that it's just gotten worse." Crossing her arms over her chest she hugged herself, never feeling as lonely as she did right now. "Honestly they're a great bunch of people, better when I'm not around. I make thing tense. In the past there have been times when I can no longer take the daggered looks and whispered gossip and snap, making an ass of myself and proving everyone right." Her arms tightened around her and more silent tears streamed down her face.

It wasn't worth it to come home anymore, it hurt too much and this was the last straw. Carmen couldn't take the people she loved the most in the world hating her, seeing her as someone disgusting and feeling tragic disappointment in her. "It doesn't matter." She sighed wiping away the tears. "If someone has to be the bad guy to make everyone happy, it might as well be me." Again the hallow smile was back as she went back to crossing her arms over her chest, staring over at Bill with a lonely longing gaze. It wasn't with sexual passion that spurred her longing but at having someone she could share theses things with, someone to talk to who didn't judge her in the same way as her sister and family did.

Bill stood there and looked at Carmen as she spoke about her actions making David's story more believable. He shook his head, listening to her talk, she seemed almost apologetic for her actions, even though he did not think she had anything to apologize for. Bill sighed, "Carmen, none of that should lead them to treating you the way that they do."

He watched as she turned to face him. He could see the disappointment in her face as she sighed. "You cannot really blame yourself for the way they treat you, can you? I mean, sure you made a mistake...... but they are your family, they should forgive and be supportive no matter what," he said almost angered that she has let them beat her down to acting like this. He listened as she talked, he sighed as she talked about the rave scene. He had no experience in that, and sighed as he tried to make her feel better. "I don't know about that scene, I think the most my parents were disappointed in was when they caught me with some weed when I was younger," he smiled. "I am just not that big of a bad ass...." he tried to joke, hoping to at least make her crack a smile.

As Carmen began to have tears run down her cheeks, Bill immediately felt pain. He felt bad for her. Carmen was beating herself up over the situation with her family, when it was plain to see, at least to Bill, that she had nothing to apologize for. How could a family let her stay on the outside? They should be there to support her. He watched as she looked beat, her eyes showing loneliness. He looked at her as she had her arms crossed over her chest. Her eyes looking lonely and sad.

Bill could only do one thing. He moved toward Carmen, reaching out to touch her shoulder reassuringly. "Its okay...... I am sorry for all of this...." he said. "I do not judge you, you made mistakes, we all do that...." he said as he stepped closer. His hand pulling her toward him. He was going to give her a hug. He hoped it would make her feel not so alone. As he pulled her to him, he slide his arms around her shoulders. The hug was not sexual, but instead showed compassion. "I hate that you feel this way around your family....." he whispered to her as he held her softly.

​These were all the things she wished her parents had said to her, the words she had wanted to hear from her sister but never did and never would. Hearing them from a stranger was at first, strange, but the words went a long way for Carmen and she warmed from the inside out at hearing them.

Him sharing in his dealing with weed did make Carmen smile, she had ever tried it and never had any plans to but opened her mouth to warm him. "I wouldn't tell Ashy, she'd flip out no matter how long ago it was." She tried to smile but it didn't reach her eyes and she dropped the act nearly as quick as she had tried it.

Carmen saw Bill approach and she​ tensed, would he hit her? Start calling her names? Tell her that everything he had said had been a lie and laugh at her? In her mind she was expecting the worse and she didn't even have a place to run, she was cornered like a little bunny. She took a deep breath and prepared herself for what was to come, not expecting the hug.

Bill's arms gently pulled her to him and his arms crossed over her shoulder and cradled her softly in his loose hold. His voice was quite in her ear and she felt her wall of protection crumble at his feet. "It's okay." She said out loud not at all meaning to. "I- I..." Carmen didn't know what to say as more tears ran down her face and she turned into the hug. Her own arms wrapping around Bill's waist as she clung to him and silently cried. "Thank you." The thanks was whispered and she felt herself curl into Bill and the comfort he was offering her, clinging to him until she felt she couldn't breathe. Still she stayed like that, tucked under his chin, arms wrapped around him with her tears absorbed into his shirt.

Carmen didn't know how long they stayed like that but Bill stood there steady and there for her as she slowly calmed herself. Once the tears were gone, Carmen released Bill and took a step back, too ashamed to look him in the face. "Gosh," From what she could see she had ruined his shirt with her tears and she looked up at Bill with a deep set cringe. "I ruined your shirt." Carmen pointed out, a weak smile on her face. "Guess it's a good thing I got you one for Christmas." She laughed, the sound hallow and forced. Carmen did find it funny but she was thrown off balance by the strangely intimate, not even remotely sexual moment they had just shared.

"Please don't think less of my family." She requested awkwardly. "They really are great people, get to know them and you'll see." Carmen pressed with a fractionally genuine smile. "Just, give them slack when it comes to me. I've done my part in all of this and how they see me is also partly my fault. When there had been a chance to rectify my image I just ran away or reacted badly. Now, too much damage has been done and I all but poke the bear." Reaching out Carmen laid a hand on Bill's arm. "Please, just give them a chance and don't judge them for their views about me. They all love Ashley and she loves them, having you not wholly accepted by them will kill her. So please, I'm alright, I will be. Just forget this, me and you'll do fine." Tapping his arm affectionately turned to gently pushing towards the doorway down the stairs. "Now get, before Ashy finds you and kills us both." She laughed, giving him a wink before dismissing him by turning her attention to a random book she pulled from the shelf and opening it.

Bill laughed as she warned him about not telling Ashley about his dealing with weed. He smiled, "yeah, she is not the type to support that kind of stuff is she?" He watched her smile, although he could tell it was a fake smile by her reaction and her eyes dropping.

Bill hugged her gently, hoping he was making her feel better. He saw her hesitate, almost like she wanted him to move away. However, as she began to stammer, he felt her turn and wrap her arms around his waist. Bill smiled a bit, feeling her hug him as she cried. He heard her thank him in a whisper as he responded, "No problem...... its okay...." he reassured her.

Bill held her until she finally released him. He stepped back, looking down at her hoping she wouldn't freak out at him. As she spoke he smiled, his eyes looking down at his shirt. "Oh no, its not ruined..... just a few tears on it that's all...." he smiled.

As she spoke about her family, he nodded. "I won't.... although I don't like the way they treat you..." he admitted. "You have done your part? I don't think you were much to blame for any of this...." he said in defense of her. As she reached out and felt her hand on his arm he smiled and nodded, "I promise I will give them a chance...." he joked. "But I am here for you..... I want to make sure I have a friend while being in this family," he winked at her.

As Carmen began to push him toward the doorway he laughed. "Forcing me out already...." he joked. As she gave him the warning, he smiled, "Okay okay, I am going....." he said as he left her room, heading back downstairs. As he left, he couldn't help but feel bad for Carmen. All the stories he had heard, they didn't paint a true picture of her. He felt bad, but sighed as he headed to his own room to change his shirt. He didn't want Ashley to question why he had tear stains on his shirt.

After changing his shirt he returned to find Ashley with some members of the family. He entered the room to the excitement. Ashley seemed to love showing Bill off, and he tried his best to play it cool. He wanted the family to like him, and he tried not to judge them like Carmen had asked. By the end of the night, Bill was exhausted. He had met so many family members that his mind was spinning. Ashley had headed up to get ready for bed, while Bill went out back, needing a moment to relax. He grabbed a beer from the fridge and left the large house, entering the back deck to a nice cool evening.

​Carmen hung out in her room for a bit longer replaying her conversations and interactions with Bill with a critical eye. ​If he turned out to be a spy she had just dug her own grave... Yet on the other hand, if her was the guys he said he was. That thought was even worse, he was the last person she should be making friends with.

By the time Carmen made it back downstairs she had been forgotten. All the attention was focused on Ash and Bill. Keeping to the edges of the room, Carmen took a seat in the corner and watched her family enjoy themselves, smiling as they shared memories and silly stories.

Dinner was a informal affair, Carmen's grandparents had called to say they were running behind and would be in tomorrow morning so the family filled their plates and broke off into different rooms. Carmen took her plate outside and enjoyed the cool evening air.

Once the children were set for the night, the youngest put to bed as the older ones gathering in the game room, the adults filtered out to the back deck and Carmen ventured out into the dusky night with a bucket full of ice and some cans of soda.

There were few places that Carmen felt relaxed enough to be herself, not worry about anyone bothering her or disturbing her peace. It was one of the last birthday gifts she had asked for and gotten and Carmen often found herself here.

All the plants were long since dead and the odd collection of pots were empty scattered around in the greenhouse side in disarray. It had been years since Carmen had visited long enough to clean up the place and it was too long between visits to really do anything about it.

Opening the shed door Carmen walked in, turning on lights the greenhouse side illumination the dirty windows like a star. Everything was the same, the desk in the corner was still scattered with papers, her telescope had collected dust- a good thing she had covered it the last time she was here. The stack of wood to her left was died and old but would burn easily once she filled the tiny fire stove.

Carmen folded the canvas tarp that protected the broken in loveseat and flopped back with a heavy sigh. She didn't know if anything would change, it sure didn't feel like it but it wasn't something she wanted to think about at the moment and got up to mix herself a stiff drink.

With a glass of whiskey and coke, Carmen returned to the loveseat and got comfortable, grabbing the nearest book to settle down for the night and relax.

As Bill stood on the deck he looked out over the backyard. He could not believe that Ashley grew up in a place like this. As he canvased the large yard, he noticed a light turning on in the distance. He noticed it looked like a small shed with a greenhouse attached. He was curious, but at first did not venture out. He was still joined by some family members on the deck and he began to have some conversation about their work. As the night air got cooler, the family began to head into the house.

Bill followed into the house, but instead stopped by the kitchen to get himself a drink. He grabbed a beer, watching everyone head off to different parts of the house. Ashley headed up to bed, exhausted from traveling and the long day of family. A few of her aunts and uncles headed into a family room to continue their conversations. While the kids all headed to their rooms to head to bed, or continue to play. Bill knew he should head up to bed with Ashley, but he was interested about who was out in the shed. His curiosity raised, he quiets snuck out onto the deck. He walked down the stairs into the yard and made his approach toward the greenhouse. As he got closer, he saw the light shining through the dirty windows.

It was an amazing structure, he had to admit. Sure, it wasn't kept up well, however, Bill knew it could be a special place if some time and effort was put into keeping it that way. As he got to the door, he opened it slowly. He did not know that Carmen was out there, but was hoping whoever was in the greenhouse was friendly in the least.

As he moved further in, he saw Carmen on the loveseat. She was reading with a glass next to her. He smiled as he leaned against the door and shook his head. "Do you have all the hiding places in this place?" he asked. He knew the sudden noise would startle Carmen and smiled at her reaction. "Sorry..... didn't mean to intrude.... but I saw the light on from the house..... I got curious..."

Carmen was lost in the fictional historical romance, a tale of the defiant Queen Cleopatra and Marcus Antonius. It spun a world of mystery, suspense, danger and above all else a forbidden love that overcame it all. It was one of her favorites and she could almost recite the words by heart but it was never the same as picking up the book, holding it in her hand as she dived into the story and reading it as her mind unfolded each and every word with care and passion.

It was that reason that she blamed on her surprise when a voice scared her from her reading. "Bill!" Carmen lept from the loveseat, clutching the book to her chest as she regained her suddenly rapid breath. "Ha, well you know..." She laughed placing the book on the small table that held her drink, fingers caressing the cover with fondness before turning her focus to Bill. "I do work in the shadows so hiding places are my M.O.." Stepping towards the desk, Carmen waved Bill in. "Please, coming in. Can I get you a drink? My bar is limited to whiskey and coke or just coke." It wasn't much of a selection but she offered what she had.

"Honestly the company would be nice." She added, trying not to cringe at the dirty state of her secret-not-so-secret hangout. Carmen could count on a single hand the number of people who bothered to visit her, once upon a time it had been one of Kaci's favorite places too but it seemed those stargazing days were over.

Since their last meeting Carmen had changed into something more comfortable; a loose set of dark gray lounge pants coupled with her samurai panda tank top and topped with a heavily worn heather gray NASA hoodie. Her hair was down and wild, what little makeup she wore washed from her face and currently barefooted. As it was with Bill standing in the open doorway, the cool night air nipped at her playfully and she sauntered over the the dried pile of wood near Bill and gathered two small logs and went to start a fire. It wouldn't take long to spark but in the silence between them, Carmen needed something to do. She was nervous but excited with Bill's presence.

Bill laughed at her shock as she leapt off of the loveseat. He smiled as he watched her clutch the book to her chest, almost like she was protecting it. He couldn't help but view her as innocent in the actions she has shown toward him. She definitely did not fit the stories he was told by her sister. He smiled, "working in the shadows is never a bad thing, means you know all the places I can go to get some piece and quiet," he joked. "A whiskey and coke sounds amazing..... my favorite drink," he grinned to her as she offered up what she had.

As she said the company would be nice, he grinned. "Well, glad you don't mind me hanging out, Ashley already headed to bed, and I do not know if I can take any more gossiping from your family," he joked. He stepped into her hangout and shut the door. He watched as she moved over to grab two logs to start a fire to warm the place up. He could not help but wander around, amazed at the little place Carmen had to herself.

"This place is so cool........ I mean, a little old.... but its awesome and quiet....." he said as he watched Carmen building the fire. He walked over to sit down on the loveseat. "So...... is this where you go to get away from the family?"

Carmen shrugged, not wanting to argue that working in the shadows was lonely, she had already portrayed herself as a weak feeble woman enough in a single day. "How fortuitous." She smiled quickly finishing the fire, moving to the desk in a few steps to mix him a drink.

"I should warn you, I make them a bit heavy." She cautioned adding a few ice cubes to chill the liquid and pouring just enough soda in the glass to darken the whiskey. "Either that or I'm just trying to get you drunk." She teased knowing that's the angle Ash would use against her.

At the news that Ashley had already headed up to be, Carmen tilted her phone towards her as she handed the drink to Bill. It was a bit early for her but then again prading and gloating all day was exhausting work. She didn't share her thoughts, instead walking back to the desk to lean back in the desk chair.

"You're going to have to get used to the gossiping, it's the highlight of any family gathering and they are all skilled cluckers." Carmen smiled referring to them as hens. "As for the company..." Making a distressed face she sighed heavily. "It's only because you let me cry on your shirt." It was a lie and she smiled warmly at Bill so he knew that there wasn't any truth to her teasing barb.

That Bill found her little hide out cool made her grin like the cheshire cat. "Yeah, it's the last birthday girt I got that I really wanted." She sighed looking around the place and seeing nothing but solitary memories. "In it's hey day it was a marvel." It was her turn to brag ans she pointed at the door that lead to the green house. "Vines of madagascar jasmine webbed over the south side of the greenhouse. under it were pots of herbs and a drying rack. There against that wall was veggies and a small collection of fruits." Waving towards the fatest wall Carmen smiled fondly. "My collection of ornamental orchids was the spot light of my green house." There was nothing that even hinted at the kind of space it once was. "Outside behind the shed I planted a ring of mammoth sunflowers, the space large enough in the middle for a blanket, a perfect place to stargaze." She painted the image of what had once been her space and hoped that Bill could see it. Around the entire building were pots of miniature tea roses in every color possible. In fact the little rose bushes out front were my roses." The old wooden table and chairs were still outside but listed to the side with age and neglect. Next to that the willow woven garden bed had grown over, weeds and grass spilling over the swooped walls.

Turning her attention inside she merely shrugged. "This is more or less the same, except I had a betta bowl on the desk with a betta named Guppy and a mini fridge by the loveseat." She sighed seeing it worn and dusty was a direct reflection of her status with the family. "Yet it's still one of the few places I can be myself and get away from everyone." Carmen confessed drinking deeply of her drink. "You're are more then welcome to use it whenever you feel like getting away. It's never locked and by now it's been long forgotten."

Minutes passed in friendly silence, Carmen standing to refresh her drink and check on the fire. The wood was burning hot and it filled the small shed with warm dry air. Turning down the gate she hoped would cool the flames but she knew better, the wood was old and burned like a matchstick. Without thinking Carmen raised her arms and pulled the hoodie up and over her head, her tank top getting tangled as she took off the warm layer of clothing. Skin from her short line to just under her breasts flashed in sight of Bill before Carmen tugged the tank top down and tossed the hoodie to the side.

"So tell me something I don't know about you." Carmen questioned sitting back down in the desk chair, swiveling towards Bill with a grin.

Bill smiled, "Well, you have warned me..... and let me tell you, I can use a heavy drink after the long day I have had today," he grinned as he watched her begin to make the drink. "Trying to get me drunk? Well, we wouldn't want that..... or would we?," he teased back to Carmen. He enjoyed her playful banter, again, she was showing she was much different then what her family portrayed her as.

"I don't think I will ever get used to the gossiping..... it is exhausting," he admitted as he sipped the whiskey. He grinned as he watched Carmen lean back in the desk chair. As she teased him about the company, he grinned. "Well.... its the least you can do after ruining my shirt...." he teased right back, returning her smile.

He looked around as Carmen excitedly talked about her hide out. He thought it was cool, and always wanted a little get away when he was younger as well. He smiled, "Well, I am sure if you were still living here, this place would still be a marvel. What a cool little get-away spot and hang out spot." He listened as she spoke about her place. He grinned at how excited she was to describe everything about it. The words coming out of her mouth painted an image of the place, and to be honest, Bill found it refreshing to hear her speak with such excitement.

As she spoke about this being her place to get away, he nodded. He sipped the whiskey and watched her, "Well, with how today went, this may be my nightly hideout away from your family,"" he joked. As they both sat there in a friendly silence, Bill felt relaxed. The warmth from the fire and the drink relaxing him a bit. As he finished his drink he saw Carmen get up to refresh her own. He stood and brought his glass over, getting a refill for himself as well.

As she filled his glass he walked back over and sat down on the loveseat. He watched as she finished filling her glass, before pulling off her hoodie. He sighed a bit as he watched her tank top getting tangled and slide up. She showed off some skin to him, and he couldn't help but notice how sexy Carmen was. She was completely opposite of Ashley, as Carmen was much more curvy. He sighed, blaming the strong drink on him staring for so long. As she pulled her tank top back down he looked away, only to be brought back by her words.

"Something you don't know about me? Well, that is hard to answer, because I do not know what you have been told...." he looked at her with a wondering gaze. "Let's see..... you know I am with Ashley. I am sure you know I work at a marketing firm....." He thought, and smiled, nodding a bit. "I bet you didn't know that I was a pretty good basketball player in college...... that was, until I hurt my ankle..... then it all ended. That brought up a short dark period for sure in college...." he admitted.