"Thank you for being there, Player. You mean the world to me." Carmen smiled through her breaking heart.

"Like I told you before, Red. I'm not going anywhere," Player answered through her earpiece.

Carmen blinked away her coming tears as she signed off. She walked up to the door belonging to the prestigious orphanage, where her real mother lived.

Trembling, Carmen let out a shaky breath as she raised her hand to the door.

She knocked.

Carmen stepped back, her heart pounding against her chest as footsteps drew closer to the door.

Carmen tightened her grip on her beloved Russian dolls and licked her dry lips. She couldn't believe that after all this time, she was finally meeting her real mother. She never thought in a million years that she'd be standing at her doorstep. She owed it to Shadowsan and Chief... after all, they were the real reason she was here now.

Carmen smiled as she remembered her time with Shadowsan, the one who raised her all this time. Going their separate ways broke her heart, but she knew she'd see him again... eventually.

Suddenly, the door swung open. Carmen froze into place as the door opened to reveal a middle-aged woman. With cinnamon skin, long auburn hair pulled into a high ponytail, deep brown eyes, and the same red lips that resembled Carmen's signature smile.

Carmen was rendered speechless.

Oh god... this really is my mother!

"Can I help you?" Carlotta kindly asked, making Carmen's stomach twist.

"I... I-"

Carlotta's gaze then shifted over to the Russian dolls in Carmen's hands.

She froze. Her eyes darted from the dolls to the familiar woman in front of her and back to the dolls.

"Where did you get those dolls?"

Carmen's lip quivered, "I-I'm your daughter... Isabel."

Carlotta's eyes widened.

"Isabel... it can't be..."

She stepped towards Carmen, slowly raising her hand to caress her cheek. She carefully examined the woman in front her.

Carmen wasn't exactly the small baby she held in her arms over 20 years ago, but she did recognize those cloudy grey eyes. The same exact eyes belonging to Dexter... the one she loved so long ago.

"Isabel? My baby girl?"

"Yes, mom. It's me." Carmen spoke, her voice breaking as she felt hot tears sting her eyes once again.

Not knowing what to do next, Carmen ran into her mothers arms and embraced her. Her tears fell onto Carlotta's shirt, creating large damp spots on her shoulder.

"It's okay..." her mother cooed as her arms tightened around her daughter, "Your home now."