A mix of Red and blue

~Tangled~

Graham clutched the bouquet of flowers tightly, before ringing the doorbell to the orphanage. He slumped against the patio wall adjusting his hair before assessing his posture. It had only been a few days since Carmen and Gray's little picnic, but he was beyond happy to see Carmen and her mom again. And this time it was a dinner invite not an unexpected stumble at the cafe.

" Ah, come in, come in! Mija he's here!" Graham gave a toothy grin before entering the antique home and giving Carllota a hug, " These are for you!" Grey said, handing her the bouquet of red freesias. " Oh Grey, you didn't have to trouble yourself with these!" 

" It's no trouble! Beautiful flowers for a beautiful lady." Graham couldn't help but notice the subtle blush that danced across her cheeks, " Hey I might be old but I am still gold!" Carlota warbled, flicking her auburn hair to the side making them both share a few snickers. 

"Someone's trying to be on my mom's good books,"  Carmen smirked coming down the stairs." And it's working!" Carlotta beamed," I will go put these in a vase and set up dinner! Carmen will give you a tour of the place." Before Grey could offer a helping hand with the dinner Carllota ran off to the kitchen with the flowers.  

Grey couldn't help but be a bit bewildered at how cute Carmen looked right now. Her hair was in a messy bun with a few strands cascading down her cheeks, her long-sleeved lantern top clung to her voluptuous figure topped off with a plain palazzo and a few story books in her hands. " You look-" 

" Like a mess, I know I know. What can I say, bedtime can be chaotic with so many kids around. If only they could understand that their nap is not for them but for us." Carmen sighed crouching down and placing the books in the drawer nearby.

Grey only chuckled, " I was gonna say adorable with the glasses and the storybook and everything" Carmen couldn't help but get a bit ruffled at his compliment, which she hated herself for since her brain could not register the fact that they were and always will be best friends and nothing more. " These old things? I have had them for a while now, but thank you" Carmen chuckled.

They shared an awkward and fidgety moment of silence before Carmen suggested that she should show him around the house. It was a lovely and fairly spacious home for a family if not an orphanage. It was brimmed with toys and books moreover the colorful decor and the huge windows gave no room for any eerie or gloomy aura to emit from any part of the home. It was a place where someone would enjoy living in general. He understood why Carmen had finally settled down. As much as Carmen loved the little family she had made when she was on the run, she knew it wouldn't last forever. At the end of the day, Shadowsan had to reunite with his brother eventually, Zack and Ivy were always going to be fighting the good fight even after they had successfully captured every VILE operative there was, and as much as Player had always been there for her, he was growing up too and she couldn't expect him to always be there for her when he had a life outside of providing intel and planning capers. She had done her part and she had reached her goals and motives, so it would only be right for her to finally find the part of her that she had neglected for so many years.

Soon enough Carllota called both of them to the kitchen for dinner. If Gray could simply define Carllota's cooking in one word it would be ' Ambrosial. ' The whole table was filled with delicious Argentinian delicacy. The Empanadas were pleasantly salty with potatoes adding a buttery touch meanwhile the beef added an umami flavor, The Matambre, on the other hand, had lightly sweet and smooth flavors blended together complementing the meat so well. But out of all the appetizers and main courses he loved the Asado the most. The utterly delectable grilled meat was even more delicious with the chimichurri, an uncooked sauce used as a table condiment, and tasted so piquant and bright with the Asado. All in all, he was way too stuffed to eat the desert. " Thank you so much for inviting me, everything was so delicious."