Carmen and Helena embrace, as Carmen buries her head against Helena’s left shoulder.

Carmen: …Shane…

Helena closes her eyes.

Helena: She wants you, too.

Helena pulls away slightly, but still holds on to Carmen’s arms.

Helena: She’s inside.  And she misses you.

Carmen: …Are you sure…?

Helena nods.

Carmen: What about you…?

Helena: …….Don’t worry about right now.  You’ve got a love to salvage.

Carmen pulls back and sighs.

Carmen: Okay.

Helena: Talk to her.

Carmen: Okay…

Carmen turns and exits out of Helena’s room, heading straight for the house.  Helena watches out the window as Carmen enters through the kitchen.  She then turns and walks over to her bed.  Helena leans against the wall in her bed and places a pillow between her legs, then wrapping her arms around the pillow.  She then places her chin against the pillow as a single tear rolls down her face and her eyes close.

Shane has risen from the couch, finding it uncomfortable.  She looks over and sees Max snoring on the other side.  Shane knows the remotes near Max and isn’t in the mood to try and find it just to shut the TV off.  She also hears the kitchen door open.  Shane stands and walks to the kitchen and there waiting…is Carmen.  There’s a pause….and then the two slowly step towards each other.  Finally, they’re face to face and both are shaking.

Shane: …I’m sorry….

Carmen: …It’s okay, baby……

They both slowly wrap their arms around one another as Max’s snoring comes to a halt.

Carmen: We’re going to make this work…

Shane: ….can we….?

Carmen: Yes….

A simple kiss on the lips is followed by another…and then another.  Linked together, they walk towards Shane’s bedroom.  Moments later, Jenny arrives entering through the front door to the living room.  Her mind is fritzed and her heart is still racing.  As she finally starts to calm down, Max’s voice startles her.

Max: Carmen’s here.

Jenny’s body jolts upward for a second.  She then pauses and turns toward Max.

Jenny: Carmen’s here???

Max: Yeah….I think she and Shane went to their room.

Jenny’s mouth opens for a moment and then forms a smile.  She then walks over to Max who’s still on the couch.  Jenny places her arms around Max’s collar and connects her temple to Max’s.

Jenny: Is everything okay with you…?

Max: I’m cool, man.

Jenny pulls back and smiles.

Jenny: Yes you are.  Good night.

Max: ‘Night.

Jenny walks down the hallway and hears Shane and Carmen talking.  She senses that they are indeed finally working it out.

All is quiet in these early morning hours and while some like Helena, Leigh and Lacey are somber, others like Shane, Carmen and to a lesser extent Jenny are relieved.  Next door, Bette and Tina’s bodies have practically become stuck together having passed out from the hours of non-stop sex.  There’s a similar feeling at Uta’s house as she sleeps on top of a bound and naked Gabby, who’s only clothing consists of a blindfold and a satisfied grin that cannot be erased, even in sleep.  At Angus’s, Kit lays down exhausted as Angus sleeps beside her.  At Alice’s, spoons are discarded on the floor as Alice and Lara are still going strong in bed, engaged in the 69 position.  For these two, it’s finally time to have some fun.  The same may be in store for Shane and Carmen, but for now it’s the healing process as they clutch each other in Shane’s bed pouring out their sorrows once and for all.  There’s a new day ahead.