Apartment Melodies (ch6)

EARLY RELEASE FOR MY $10+ PATRONS! THANK YOU!

Okay I'm so thankful they weren't separated for long. But gosh I wish they'd had a bit more time and a few deeper moments for their reunion, so here we go.

Disclaimer: I do not own Carole & Tuesday.

-----------

														Chapter 6.

A lot of crazy things have happened since Carole and Tuesday met, but nothing had been more hectic and thrilling than the events of the past 24 hours.

Tuesday had run away from home a second time with Spencer's help, and Carole had been there to run with her, Roddy and Gus had gotten temporarily arrested for the trespassing crimes, the girls had raced all the way to Mars' Brightest to compete, only to get disqualified and then be granted their debut alongside Angela anyway-

...And now they're on their way back home to that apartment as if it's any other night, as if they hadn't spent the past week or so painfully alone, missing each other.

"I missed you so much..."

The words tumble out of Tuesday's mouth almost as soon as they walk through the door. So much had happened today that she really hadn't found the proper chance to say it, but now that they're finally alone together, her heart comes pouring out along with her tears. Carole pauses and turns back to her.

"Tues-"

An excited hoot and a flutter of wings cut her off as her AI owl comes flapping down, clearly glad to see their guest of honor has returned.

"Ziggy!" Tuesday opens her arms and hugs him gently, smiling through the tears. "Yes, I've missed you, too. Thanks for taking care of Carole for me while I was gone."

The owl coos and snuggles into her shoulder before happily flying back off to his perch.

Carole hands her roommate a tissue, which Tuesday uses to clear away her tears and then blow her nose before dropping it into the waste bin.

"Don't tell him," Tuesday says. "I missed him, too. But... I missed you most of all, Carole."

Carole feels a surge of emotion fill in behind her eyes, but she smiles.

"I missed you, too." She opens her arms, and finally they share a proper hug, un-rushed by pursuers or a time limit. Shoulders begin to shake and tremble as the emotions that had been pent up for a week are finally set free.

The hug lasts for several minutes, until they both feel they're getting a little wobbly. Carole eases back, wiping her arm across her face.

"We did a lot of running around today. Let's take a bath."

Being that Tuesday had been snatched off the streets and not allowed to take any of her things back to the mansion with her, all of her things are still here at Carole's apartment. She chooses a nightgown, which she can tell has been washed recently by someone who'd been hoping she'd come back soon to wear it.

It makes her heart soar and ache all at the same time.

She's scared. She knows that her mother is either going to give up on her for now, or she's just going to come after Tuesday with three times as much force and manpower. She can only pray it's the former, that the politics will fend her mother off long enough for Tuesday to be able to make something of herself.

She follows Carole into the bathroom, a bathroom that's smaller than the one she has back at her mother's place. But Tuesday much prefers this one any day.

Tuesday settles into the warm bath while Carole washes herself by hand with the portable shower head, as she's always preferred to. And it's only seconds before someone is humming a tune, and the other joins in.

Tuesday sinks down into the water up to her chin. She'd been gone from here for a week, but it feels like she'd never left. She doesn't even realize it herself when her humming starts to hitch and taper off, and the tears start up again.

Carole had just finished washing and wrapped a towel around herself when she hears Tuesday's voice hitch. She looks up to find her up to her nose in the water, crying softly.

"Tues-" Carole is on her feet in seconds, hurrying over to the tub. She rests a hand on Tuesday's shoulder gently. Tuesday tries to speak, but seems to forget her mouth is underwater and ends up coughing before trying again.

"I'm okay," she croaks, tilting her head back to look at her. Her blue eyes are bright and watery. "I'm just... so glad to be home..."

Carole's eyes widen. Tuesday had called this place home a million times before, but it had never really meant as much as it does now. That mansion where her mother had kept her isn't worthy of such a word.

Carole smiles, leaning forward against her roommate's back, wrapping both arms softly around Tuesday's collar.

"Welcome home, Tues."

Tuesday sobs again, but laughter comes with it. When she's ready, Carole helps her out of the bath, and they get dried and dressed for bed.

Carole can't help but keep stealing glances at Tuesday as she combs through her hair on the couch. She feels like there's something she should've remembered...

"Ah! Your hand!"

"Eh?"

Carole shuffles closer to her, reaching out for Tuesday's right hand.

"So much happened, I totally forgot about it. Is your hand all better now? Wait, I guess that's a dumb question. The cast is off and you could hold your guitar just fine today..."

Tuesday blinks, but as Carole goes off rambling she begins to giggle.

"It's all better now," she assures her. "Thank you for worrying. Honestly, that was my biggest concern. I was planning on running away again at some point, but I wanted to do it when my hand was all better so I could give you the biggest hug!"

"Hmm?" Carole teases. "So you could've run away wheneeever you wanted huh? Just like that?"

"Yes, absolutely."

"I see."

They both chuckle, glad they're able to now that the devastating separation has passed. If anything, being apart had only made them both realize just how badly they wanted – needed – to be together.

Carole leans back and looks up at the ceiling casually.

"Y'know, that hug outside the mansion was pretty good. But I think we were kinda rushed. And we were crying too much before when we got home..."

Tuesday reads her like an open book.

"You're absolutely right." She puts down the hair brush and opens her arms wide.

Carole hugs her tightly, maybe even too tightly, but Tuesday isn't complaining. She wraps her arms around Carole's shoulders, nuzzling her face into the side of her neck and letting out a long breath.

Carole's missed her warmth, her scent, her heartbeat, all of it. She brings her legs up onto the couch and lays down on her back, pulling Tuesday down on top of her.

Tuesday squeals and laughs, cuddling up close. She would've been perfectly content to fall asleep just like this. But she feels it for herself when Carole's laughter becomes interspersed with sobs. Tuesday pushes herself up in a fluster.

"Carole?"

Carole's eyes are closed, but the tears are still falling. She's trying to keep smiling, but it just wobbles and fades.

"Sorry-" she sniffles, shaking her head. "I just... I missed you so much, Tues..."

"Carole..." Tuesday's heart twists, almost as if it's so happy it hurts. "I missed you too... More than anything. I... I've never felt so lonely before in my entire life... I never knew what I could be missing until I met you..." Her own tears start to fall down and mix with Carole's on her cheeks and on the cushions.

"It's the same for me..." Carole manages to open her eyes, and the smile comes back for a second. "I never realized it until you were gone... How much I needed you... how much I-"

"Me too!" Tuesday wails. "I love you too, Carole! I do!"

"That's a relief..." Carole pulls her down and kisses her, and Tuesday returns the favor. It's messy and wet from the tears, but nothing's ever felt more right, more perfect.

Carole's more or less gotten ahold of herself by now to focus on what's most important, which is making Tuesday stop crying now. She braces herself on her elbows and slowly turns them over without even breaking the kiss, lying Tuesday down on her back. Carole pulls away, and Tuesday bursts into half tears and half laughter. She covers her face with both arms.

"Don't look..." she whimpers. "I'm such a mess right now..." Her hair is splayed everywhere, her nightgown is ruffled, her face is red and wet. But Carole thinks she's never looked cuter.

"You're adorable, Tues."

"Heh-?" She peeks up from between her arms and sniffles.

Carole feels she might start crying again just from how cute she is. Gently, she reaches out to take both of Tuesday's hands in hers, moving her arms away from her face. Carole tucks the loose strands of blonde hair behind her ears and leans over her, resting their foreheads together.

"You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, Tuesday Simmons."

"You... You too, Carole... I'm so lucky I found you."

There's a mutual sigh between them. Carole gradually lies herself down over her, and Tuesday wraps her arms around her back.

"I can't believe I let them take you-" Carole mutters. "I should've fought harder for you. I should've-"

"Carole!" Tuesday pushes her back a bit so she can look at her directly. "You chased after me even after that man hit you! You jumped onto the car, and you fell off! You did fight hard for me! You fought harder for me than anyone else on Mars ever would!" And just seconds after letting Carole up a bit, Tuesday pulls her back down again, burying her face into her shoulder. "No one's ever done something like that for me... no one's ever cared that much for me... thank you, Carole..."

Carole heaves a sigh, brushing their cheeks together.

"Thank you," she murmurs. "For meeting me on the bridge that day... for coming into my life."

As the moments go by, the tears finally come to a stop as they wipe each other's away, sharing a few small kisses in between. Halfway through one of them, Carole yawns. Tuesday giggles, but ends up yawning right after.

"Sorry."

"It's fine. I haven't been able to sleep without you here, Tues."

"Same for me." Tuesday nestles closer up against her. "None of my blankets are as good as you."

"Gee, thanks."

Another laugh, another kiss. Carole strokes Tuesday's bangs across her forehead.

"I'm glad you're back, Tues. I won't ever let them take you again."

Tuesday nods.

"I won't go, either. No matter what."

"Thanks."

They settle down at long, long last, finally reunited and with a bright future ahead.

They close their eyes as Ziggy turns off the lights. Both girls stay as close as possible, wrapped in each other's arms so they won't be separated even in their dreams. Carole kisses her cheek again, and Tuesday yawns again.

"We're gonna... have to think of some new songs," she mumbles. "After all, our loneliest girls aren't so lonely anymore."

Carole smiles against her neck, softly kissing the spot that used to show marks from someone else.

"You're right. New songs, first thing tomorrow."

"Mm..."

"Night, Tues."

"Night, Carole..."

Whatever else the planet throws at them, they'll face it head-on together.

----------

A/N: Don't get me wrong, their reunion was fast and beautiful and I'm so thankful they're already back together. But it could've been gayer... (hey, it's listed as a romance, okay).