So Much More Than Nothing (LDR ADU)

Alternate Ending

A/N: This was 7,790  words, 22 pages, long. I had to start over and rewrite this because my computer glitched out at page 8, 3,350 words at 2 in the morning. My point here is, you're welcome!

"Aw, Cupcake! It'll be okay. Please don't cry."

Carmilla could feel her own stomach clenching as she listened to Laura's sobs over the phone. When she had checked her e-mail this morning before her flight, she'd received an alert that her seat had been reassigned and she would receive a refund. She could do nothing because the seat was given to military personnel and there were no more seats available according to the woman that answered her call; so, Laura was unable to make her flight. To make matters worse, there wouldn't be another flight for 3 more months that she could afford. Carmilla offered to help, but there wasn't much she could do other than one thing; one thing that she had no problem doing. One thing that somehow excited her more than meeting in an airport.

"I'll come get you myself." She offered.

The one thing that would momentarily silence her sobbing girlfriend. She had never been sadder about a silence Laura. But she couldn't really blame her. Laura was stunned. Her tears didn't even register on her face anymore. Nothing registered.

"C-Carm, I couldn't ask you to do that. It's such a long way. How long is that drive? Like 10 hours?"

"It's 8 hours, but that doesn't matter to me. What matters to me is seeing you, and I intend to see you as quickly as I possibly can. If that means spending 8 hours in a car with you and Grande's Greatest Hits, then so be it." Carmilla shut Laura down immediately, grabbing her keys and bag and waiting by her door. "Just wait for me, cutie. Can you do that?"

Laura blushed, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand. "Well, I've waited this long, haven't I?"

"That's my girl." Carmilla smirked, ending their call. She stuffed her feet in her shoes and huffed for what she was about to do. Dialing one more number, she began a gentle jog down the stairs as they answered. "Are you at the stage set...Don't leave...Just...Don't!"

Hanging up, her jog turned into a full sprint. She didn't have a lot of time to ensure this happened. She needed as much time as she could spare, and this may just be the only way this could happen. It was completely against her character, but she'd grovel to Satan himself if it got her to Laura.

"Why am I waiting here instead of getting donuts with my girlfriend?" Lafontaine met Carmilla at center stage when they heard her barge in. "Perry's getting me a bear claw!"

Carmilla ignored the discussion of sugary consumptions, grabbing Lafontaine's shoulder for both emotional support and physical. "I need your help. I need to get to Laura."

Their concern about their temperature declining box of donuts quickly left the building. They were more concerned that Carmilla Karnstein had her hand on their shoulder and it wasn't to prepare to punch them in the face. She was willingly presenting physical contact without any tricks involved. Clearly something was wrong.

"Is she okay? Did something happen?" They wondered what best friend duty would need to be performed. Hugs. Comfort. Murder. Only one of these things they were comfortable with. What was the protocol when one danger-magnetic Hollis found herself in need of rescue in another country? Maybe this would give them the opportunity to use that pilot license they found online.

Carmilla went through everything. The phone call. The canceled flight. Laura's crying. Her offer. She didn't even sound herself the way she went through it like it was falling out of her mouth instead of being articulated. Lafontaine just listened until they were sure Carmilla was done because never had they seen Carmilla so concerned or excited like this. In fact, they had never seen her concerned or excited over anything before that wasn't music. It was quite frightening to see anything on her face that wasn't nothing.