As Much as You {completed}

Carmen: 31.

                Hours had passed since Carmen got out of the bath, and since then, she’d not really gotten out of bed. But that didn’t mean she was spending it asleep – because she couldn’t sleep. It was now two in the morning, and Carmen was lying, wide away, looking out the open window. 

                Suddenly, the door opened and Kevin walked in. Carmen didn’t bother asking him where he’d been, he was entitled to some space. Really, she was surprised he hadn’t left – after everything that she’d put him through over the years. 

                Kevin got into the bed, and when the bed squeaked, he whispered, “opps.”

                “It’s alright,” Carmen murmured, “I’m not asleep.”

                “Oh.” Kevin replied startled. “I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t think you’d be awake.”

                Carmen turned around, so that she was facing her husband. She smiled weakly, looking at his face. “I can’t sleep.”

                “Me neither,” Kevin said sheepishly. He lifted his arm, and waved Carmen to come closer, so she rested on his chest. As Carmen did so, he brushed her hair and then traced his hand along her skin, until he rested his hand on her stomach. He looked into her eyes, and love filled all of him, as it always did when he looked at her. Because he was in love with her, and only her. It was hard for him to see her loving someone else at the same time; did that mean she felt with Ezra what he was feeling, right now, with Carmen? “Are you ok?” he whispered.

                “Yeah,” Carmen replied, “I’m sorry.”

                “You shouldn’t be. We’re only human.”

                “But I was weak.”

                “You weren’t.” Kevin argued, putting his arm tighter around Carmen. “It wasn’t a moment of weakness. It was a moment in life that you needed to deal with things.”

                Carmen sniffed, but dropped the subject. Her eyes searched Kevin’s face. He didn’t look angry, that was for sure. But then, he was always a caring, understanding, calm man. Carmen kissed his cheek. Shouldn’t this be where she was meant to be, in the arms of her husband? She was chasing a dead end; Ezra was never going to remember. Ezra had met someone. That girl that was in the street when they were with Harrison, whoever she was, again, weren’t they dating? Carmen should just give up now, and pack her bags. This had been going on too long.

                “Carmen,” Kevin said the same time Carmen sat up and spoke, “Kevin.”

                Kevin chuckled. “Go ahead.”

                Carmen wrapped her arms around her legs, and looked at her husband. “I think we should go home.”

                “Y-you do?” he stuttered. “Really?”

                “Yeah,” Carmen replied, smiling. “I do.”

                “I was just going to ask you to go home, actually.” Kevin said honestly. “I’d really like to go home.”

                “Me, too.” Carmen didn’t move from her position. “I’m sorry for what I put you through. I just… I don’t know what I was thinking, or feeling. It was just hard to let go.”

                “I know.” Kevin sat up in bed, looking at his wife with sincerity. “Although, it could be your hormones.”

                Carmen frowned. “What do you mean?”