Carmen AU

By: FuanhoMisaki

(A/N: I own nothing and what if during The Remnants…something else happened because there was something else on the minds of the detectives? Carmen receives and unexpected surprise and learns even more about the detectives, which changes how everything else happens. AU OOC some bashing some femslash)

"Welcome to my home detectives…I'd offer you something to drink but I wasn't expecting you." Carmen said calmly as she looked away from the window she was looking at.

"That's fine Carmen. We came prepared." Ivy said, her voice softer than normal as she pulled her hands out from behind her back showing a picnic basket and mini-cooler.

"Here. The boards are a bit old and I don't think any of us want splinters." Zack said tossing a blanket onto the floor and looking back up at Carmen who was staring at them surprised.

"Come on Carmen. Zack tracked down your old adoption file to find out your favorite comfort foods back then, and your ACME file still had your favorite foods from that part of your life listed as well. I promise it's no trick." Ivy said with an understanding smile as she began setting out some of the food in the basket, making Carmen glance surprised. It truly was her favorite foods, even now.

"Yeah and Ivy's a pretty good cook no matter how much I tease her otherwise. We wouldn't pull a trick on you like this Carmen. Not here of all places or now of all times." Zack said with a grin as he began taking the drinks out of the mini-cooler, tying off Stretch's leash to the door knob and making sure it was secure first.

"How do I know that this is no trick?" Carmen asked looking surprised but she quickly hid it as she looked at the two siblings who gave her understanding smiles, Ivy more so than Zack.

"We're orphans too Carmen. Our parents died just after Zack turned one. I was only five." Ivy said her voice soft and open as Carmen's eyes widened.

"Ivy barely remembers them and it's a no brainer that I don't. We lived in an orphanage until I turned three and Ives was seven. I barely remember it either actually." Zack said shrugging slightly as Carmen stared at them.

"You were in a good orphanage right Carmen? They cared for you there, it's no replacement for parents but they kept you fed and clothed and a place to sleep where you could feel safe. That's why you came back here when you learned they were tearing it down tomorrow. It's the only home you ever knew that was an actual home…" Ivy said as she stared at the food she was unpacking now.

"Yes. Everyone was always happy and joyful. Some of us never got adopted but everyone was always family and the matron in charge was very kind to all of us." Carmen said her voice soft as well now as she stepped closer.

"You were a lucky one then. I don't remember the orphanage we were at much but it always seemed dark and as soon as you turned two they stopped feeding you as often. I remember feeling hungry and cold a lot until Ivy took me and ran away." Zack said shivering slightly as if he could still feel the cold child that had surrounded that place.

"Don't remind me. You're upset that this orphanage will be torn down…but…if it was the orphanage we were at I'd be upset that I wasn't the one tearing it down myself." Ivy said her eyes far away before she shook her head.

"This isn't about us though. Come on and eat Carmen, you've been stealing all day so you must be hungry." Ivy said smiling up at Carmen who stepped closer just a bit, her stomach rumbling quietly enough that the two detectives didn't hear it yet.

"If… how about we trade stories then? I tell you two about my childhood here and you two tell me about your childhoods?" Carmen asked softly, feeling a kind of kinship to the two teens now that she knew this bit of their past.

"Sure but if it's questions about our time at the orphanage then Ivy is the only one with answers. I only remember being hungry and cold a lot despite Ivy trying her best. Our times on the street till the Chief found Ivy by accident and we got taken in by A.C.M.E. though I can answer." Zack said with a grin making Ivy snort slightly and give him a small push.

"Found me? The only reason they got ahold of us is because of you little bro. If you had listened to me that day we would probably be working for Carmen or still be floating from town to town trying to avoid cops and other 'well meaning' adults." Ivy said although she was grinning slightly at her brother to show she meant no harm.

"Criminal record?" Carmen asked more amused than anything and earning a smirk from the red head.

"Nothing they ever proved or put on file, if I even had a file back then." Ivy said before her smirk fell when she heard Carmen's stomach rumble audibly.

"Here we go." Zack said more amused than anything as he saw his sisters gaze narrow on Carmen.

"Sit down and eat or I'll force feed you myself. No one goes hungry near me when I can help it." Ivy said taking Carmen by surprise when she snagged the older womans wrist and bodily pulled her down onto the blanket. Carmen stumbled a bit as she stared at Ivy surprised and alarmed but then her gaze softened as she sat down beside the red head and accepted a plate that Ivy had fixed.

"You went without food didn't you? That's why…" A lot of pieces fell into place in Carmen's mind then. She had noticed how no matter what she stole, Ivy always made sure her brother ate something even if it was just a nutrition bar… and if the younger one mentioned being hungry then Ivy dropped everything to get him some food. It would also explain why the girl was only half Carmen's size despite being full grown, sure Carmen's heels helped a bit but not that much.

"Ivy always made sure I had a full meal even if it meant that she went without eating much for days. She was even hospitalized once when she was ten because she didn't eat enough and ended up passing out while pick-pocketing for supper money." Zack said frowning at his sister who shrugged and fixed a plate for her brother next.

"I was fine and I broke out of the hospital before they could send us to another orphanage. Eat little brother, I know you haven't eaten since eleven and it's near nine now, you're hungry." Ivy said handing her brother his plate and then beginning to fix some food for Stretch and the cat as well.

"You need to eat as well Ivy." Carmen said softly but sternly as she fixed a plate for the red head, pressing it into her hands while the girl looked surprised.

"Oh yeah I mean I guess I can." Ivy looked surprised that someone else had fixed her a plate. Carmen's heart hurt at this. The girl was only seventeen… and yet she was so used to taking care of everyone else and having no one take care of her.

"Ivy you haven't eaten anything since this morning. I don't want you passing out on me again. I will call the Chief and get him involved if I have to." Zack warned his sister with a scowl, causing Carmen to frown sternly down at the girl as well.

"I'll eat I'll eat. No need to get the motherboard involved. I swear you two gang up on me about this too often." Ivy said holding her hands up in surrender while Carmen gave a snort. Motherboard?

"Well make that three people ganging up on you. Eat my vine, before I force feed you." Carmen said holding a fork to Ivy's lips pointedly and making Ivy look confused again.

"Your vi-ah!" Ivy began to question only for Carmen to take the chance to shove a chicken strip into Ivy's mouth.

"Hahahaha! That was great!" Zack laughed at the look on his sisters face as she ate the chicken strip while giving Carmen a confused look.

"You eat too little soldier." Carmen said sternly to Zack who looked confused about his title but ate some of his macaroni anyways.

"So you wanted to share some memories?" Ivy asked after a while, eating some of her food every once in a while as she made sure the other two were eating.

"Equivalent Exchange." Carmen reminded making Zack look confused.

"Equal what now?" Zack asked making Ivy give him a fond smile.

"Equivalent exchange Zack. Humankind cannot gain anything without giving up something of equal or greater value. Carmen wants to exchange memories. Some of her memories for some of ours." Ivy explained making Zack nod.

"Very good, my vine. Yes. I tell you both about some of my memories and in exchange you tell me some of yours." Carmen said smiling proudly at Ivy who looked confused about being called a vine.

"Oh I get it! You're calling Ivy a vine because of the Ivy vines, as in the plant! Really you should be calling her something else though, after all her name isn't even Ivy. That's just her nickname." Zack said snapping his fingers in realization and talking despite the mouthful of mashed potatoes in his mouth, making the two women give him looks of slight disgust.

"Zack I swear I've told you at least two hundred times not to talk with your mouth full!" Ivy scolded her brother who covered his mouth looking sheepish.

"Oops. Sorry." Zack apologized after swallowing his food.

"So tell me Ivy…" Carmen ignored the boy for the moment as she looked at the woman beside her who glanced at her curiously.

Carmen could feel Ivy tense at the question, and saw the glare the red head shot at Zack.

"What is your real name?"