Chapter Text
As Tim and Lucy drove their daughter home, the atmosphere inside the car was heavy with tension and silence. Zoe sat in the backseat, her demeanor noticeably subdued, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions.
Tim stole glances at her through the rearview mirror, his heart heavy with concern as he observed her quietness. He could see the weight of the night's events etched on her face, the lines of worry and regret evident even in the dim light of the car.
Lucy glanced at Tim, her own worry mirrored in her eyes. She reached out a hand to gently squeeze his, offering silent support as they navigated the silent journey home. As they pulled into the driveway, Tim turned off the engine and turned to face Zoe.
“Zo, go upstairs, your mother and I need to have a conversation.” Zoe nodded numbly, before jumping out of the car.
“What are we going to do Tim?” Lucy asked quietly. “She’s lashing out, sneaking out, I don’t want her to be the type of kid who throws away her life before it even begins.”
“Tonight doesn’t make her a bad kid-”
“I’m not saying it does,” She said quickly. “I just think that we can’t let her think that her behavior tonight was acceptable at all.”
“And we won’t,” Tim said. “Maybe’ we’ve given her a bit too much freedom in the past. Maybe we have to remind her that those freedoms can be taken away.”
“We have about a year left with her at most.” Lucy sighed. “I don’t want her to go into this world knowing there are consequences for her actions. Because next time her girlfriend’s grandma won’t be there to bail her out of jail. Jail Tim! Jail! God, this could have ruined her Tim.”
“But it didn’t.” He sighed. “And we can talk to her because she feels remorseful.” Tim placed his hand onto Lucy’s, giving it a squeeze.
“I know.” Lucy nodded. “Let’s go talk to her.”
“Yeah,”
With heavy hearts, Lucy and Tim entered their house, the weight of the night's events still lingering in the air. The quietness of the house felt eerie, a stark contrast to the chaos that had unfolded earlier.
Their footsteps echoed softly as they made their way upstairs to Zoe's room. Genny had kindly agreed to watch over the younger ones, allowing Lucy and Tim to focus on Zoe.
Reaching Zoe's door, they paused for a moment, their hands hesitating before they gently knocked. There was a brief moment of silence before they pushed the door open and stepped into her room, their hearts heavy with concern.
Zoe was sitting on her bed, her posture slouched and her eyes downcast. She looked up as her parents entered, her expression a mix of sadness and apprehension.
"Hey, sweetheart," Lucy said softly, her voice filled with warmth and concern. "Can we talk?"
Tim moved to sit beside Zoe, his presence offering silent support as they navigated the difficult conversation ahead. They exchanged a meaningful glance, silently reassuring each other that they were in this together.
Zoe nodded silently, her eyes brimming with unshed tears as she waited for her parents to speak. Lucy and Tim exchanged a knowing look before taking a seat beside her, ready to listen and offer whatever comfort and guidance she needed.
“Zoe, what happened tonight?”
“I wanted to spend some time with Erin,” She sighed.
“Zo, you know if you had asked, Erin is welcome here anytime, and you are welcomed at their house too. If you two wanted to go out, all you had to do was ask.” Tim reminded.
“I know I know.” She said, closing her eyes in frustration. “Things have just been so weird lately! Half the time she acts like she doesn’t even want me around, so when she asked me…I couldn’t bring myself to say no.”
“Baby,” Lucy said softly. “Why didn’t you tell us you and Erin were fighting?”
“Cause we aren’t! She’s just distant. She’s changed. I didn’t want to lose her so I was stupid. I made a stupid decision that could have ruined me. I understand that.”
“We know you do,” Tim reassured. “But Zoe, that could have ruined your future. We have to know that you can make good choices even when it’s hard.”
“Yeah well, I won’t be making that mistake anymore” She spoke bitterly.
“Zoe, it’s been a long night, don’t let one bad night-”
“It’s not just one bad night Dad!” She cried standing up and throwing her hands in the air. “It’s constantly being there for her, reaching out to her, doing things for her! Our relationship revolves around her and her moods! Tonight was just the straw that broke the camel's back. Erin will only ever care about Erin. I am done.”
Tim and Lucy’s hearts were heavy with concern as they struggled to find the right words to comfort their daughter. Zoe's determination to break up with Erin was evident, her resolve unwavering despite their attempts to offer reassurance. They could see the pain etched on her face, the turmoil of emotions swirling within her. As they searched for the right words to say, they felt a sense of helplessness wash over them, unsure of how to ease their daughter's heartache. They wished they had the perfect solution to mend her broken heart, but they knew that sometimes, all they could do was be there to offer love and support as she navigated through her own emotions.
“We are here for you,” Tim reassured.
“Yes,” Lucy nodded.
“And for the next week,” Zoe was on break from school this week. “You will be spending all your free time at the station,” Tim said.
“What?” She asked shocked.
“You didn’t think we were getting off with just a talking to did you?” Lucy asked, a bit of lightness in her voice. No matter how badly they wanted to just show their daughter love and support, they couldn’t let her night out on the town go without consequences, that would do no service to her. “You will be spending time doing your college applications right beside me and your aunts.” Zoe nodded. “Or you will be with your father in his office.”
“Yes, you can help me reorganize my files.”
“Sounds wonderful,” She said bluntly. Lucy stood up to put her hand on Zoe's shoulder.
“You know we are here for you right?”
“I know mama,” Zoe said softly.
“Get some sleep,” Lucy said softly. “I start work early tomorrow.”
|~|
In the Lopez-Evers family car, an oppressive silence hung thickly. Wesley glanced nervously at his wife who sat beside him, her eyes brimming with unshed tears as she stared out the window, lost in her own thoughts. Erin sat in the backseat, her expression vacant and numb, her gaze fixed on some distant point outside the car. The air was heavy with unspoken anger and tension, each member of the family grappling with their own emotions in the suffocating silence. Wesley felt the weight of the atmosphere pressing down on him, unsure of how to break through the barrier of pain and frustration that seemed to surround them.
When they arrived home, there was no movement. Wesley was about to open his mouth to say something, but almost simultaneously, both Erin and Angela opened their doors and walked out to the house. “Okay,” Wesley breathes, following suit.
Erin walked briskly ahead of her mother, her steps quick and purposeful, her mind consumed with the overwhelming desire to retreat to the solitude of her room. Angela, sensing her daughter's intention to escape, quickened her pace to catch up, her own emotions swirling beneath a veneer of parental authority.
As Erin reached the stairs, her hand already grasping the railing, Angela's voice cut through the tension-filled air like a sharp blade. "Where do you think you're going, missy?" she demanded, her tone firm and commanding.
Erin froze in her tracks, her heart pounding with a mixture of defiance and apprehension. She turned slowly to face her mother, her eyes meeting Angela's with a mixture of defiance and uncertainty. The weight of Angela's gaze bore down on her, a silent reminder that she couldn't simply retreat into the safety of her room to escape the consequences of her actions.
“Can we not do this now Mom?” Erin asked rolling her eyes. “It’s been a long night.”
“Oh and who’s fault is that?” Angela asked.
“Stop pretending like you care!” Erin said, getting annoyed.
“Okay guys, why don’t we all take a breath and come back to this in the morning,” Wesley said trying to step in, knowing that this conversation was not going to end well.
“Erin you fucked up tonight,” Angela said sternly.
“I know!” She cried out. “You don’t think I know that?”
“I don’t know what you know anymore. You are acting completely out of character.”
“Why?” Erin cried. “Because I stopped acting like you?” She challenges.
“Erin, don’t even start with this argument again.” Angela rolled her eyes.
The tension between Erin and her mother hung heavy in the air, a palpable force that seemed to crackle with electricity whenever they were in the same room. Lately, it felt like they were constantly at each other's throats, their disagreements escalating into heated arguments with alarming frequency. Ever since Erin had decided to forgo college, opting instead to pursue her own path, the dynamic in the house had shifted dramatically. Angela couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment and frustration that gnawed at her insides, her hopes for her daughter's future seemingly dashed in an instant. She and her husband found themselves grappling with the weight of this drastic change in their daughter, unsure of how to navigate the turbulent waters of parenthood in the face of such uncertainty. As they struggled to come to terms with Erin's choices, the tension between mother and daughter continued to simmer, threatening to boil over at any moment.
Angela wanted to support her daughter, but she had all these opportunities in front of her that other people would kill for, and she was ignoring them. If she wanted to pursue her art career, they would have supported her, but now that she declined art college, and started getting into extreme trouble anytime she was out, she was losing their support.
College wasn’t the end all be all. Angela didn’t truly care about college, this was bigger than college. She cared about her daughter making choices that were going to ruin her future.
“I get it, Mom, I am not Jack, and I am not you- but there is no reason for you to remind me of it every time I make a mistake!”
“This has nothing to do with Jack,” Wesley said stepping in. “This has to do with you making a mistake every time we give you a slight bit of freedom.”
“I get it! I’m a fuck! I do nothing but disappoint you both. I am such a fucking disappointment to everyone! I can’t do anything right! I can’t even keep my own girlfriend happy! I am glad we got that out of the way, can I go to bed now?” She asked, giving up, and walking up the stairs, ignoring her parent's call. All they heard was the slamming of her bedroom door.
Wesley and Angela sat together in their living room, the weight of their daughter Erin's recent struggles heavy on their hearts. As they reflected on the situation, a pang of heartbreak washed over them, accompanied not by disappointment, but by a deep sense of concern for their daughter's well-being. To guide her towards a future they deemed fitting, they had overlooked the signs of her inner turmoil, neglecting to provide the support and understanding she so desperately needed. As they sat in the quiet of their home, the realization of their shortcomings as parents weighed heavily on them, their hearts breaking for the daughter they loved so dearly, and the pain she was enduring alone. Determined to make amends and be there for Erin in the way she needed them to be, they vowed to approach the situation with empathy, understanding, and unwavering support.
“Let’s go to bed love,” Wesley said softly. “We all need a moment of peace.” Angela, although reluctant, allowed Wesley to pull her to bed. She didn’t want to be the mom whose daughter hated her, but she did feel completely out of place right now. She could only hope for something better tomorrow.
|~|
The next morning dawned with a heaviness that seemed to linger in the air, a silent reminder of the events that had unfolded the night before. Angela and Wesley, determined to give Erin the space she needed to process her emotions, agreed to let her have the day to herself. With heavy hearts, they set off for their respective jobs, leaving their daughter to grapple with her thoughts in solitude.
As Angela settled into her desk, her mind preoccupied with worry for Erin, she couldn't help but notice the somber atmosphere that seemed to pervade her surroundings. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sight of Zoe, sitting quietly beside her with her laptop open, a sign that she was serving a form of punishment.
As Angela sat at her desk, her mind consumed with worry for Erin, she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. Startled, she turned to see Zoe standing beside her, a concerned expression etched on her face. Angela's heart swelled with affection as she took in Zoe's compassionate gaze.
Zoe leaned in close, her voice barely above a whisper as she spoke to Angela. “I wanted to say I am sorry, I never should have let it get as far as it had last night.” Angela nodded in understanding, her eyes reflecting a mixture of gratitude and pride for Zoe's apology.
“Honey you have nothing to apologize for.”
“That’s not true,” Zoe sighed. “I knew there was something going on with Erin and I didn’t tell anyone. That’s on me.” She sighed. “I have no plans on getting back together with Erin, not after tonight. But I want you to know that I am sorry if I disappointed you.”
Ever since Zoe was born, their bond had been unbreakable. From the moment Zoe was born, she had been Angela's constant shadow, following her around the police station with wide-eyed wonder. Angela, in turn, had always looked at Zoe with an overwhelming sense of love and pride, seeing her best friend's daughter as one of her own.
Zoe had always admired Angela, seeing her as more than just an aunt, or her dad’s best friend, but also as a role model. She admired Angela's strength, determination, and unwavering sense of justice. Whenever Angela was at work, Zoe would eagerly tag along, soaking up every moment spent in her presence.
But now, as Zoe sat beside Angela, her heart heavy with guilt and regret, she couldn't help but feel like she had let her down.
Zoe hated to know she had disappointed both Angela and her parents. The thought of letting them down weighed heavily on her conscience, threatening to overshadow the bond they had shared for so long. As she grappled with her own feelings of inadequacy, Zoe couldn't help but long for the days when she had looked up to Angela with nothing but admiration.
“You haven’t disappointed me,” Angela reassured. “You girls made a mistake. Doesn’t make you bad kids.”
“Hmm.” She hummed. “Still, I am sorry.”
“It’s okay hun,” Angela put a hand on the young girl’s shoulder. “We will figure this out.”
Hopefully, she was right.
|~|
When Angela got home that night, Wesley was still at work, working late on a case. The house was quiet but Angela knew her daughter was home. She has decided on a way to approach her daughter. She picked up takeout from a place that both she and Erin loved, a place Wesley always commented about. She was determined to work things out tonight.
Knocking on her door lightly she received no answer.
Angela pushed open the door, she found Erin sitting on her bed, her gaze fixed on the wall with an intensity that spoke volumes. The sight of her daughter, her eyes red and swollen from tears, tugged at Angela's heart.
Without a word, Angela crossed the room and took a seat beside Erin on the bed, not touching her, but just sitting there. Erin tensed at first, her body stiff with emotional turmoil, but slowly she seemed to relax.
“Are you here to yell at me again?” Erin asked, her voice muffled by the pillow.
“I brought you dinner.” She said. Erin frowned slightly, before turning around to see her mother pulling things out of the take-out bag. She was no stranger to her mother coming up to her room to eat with her, but things have been so tense lately that they haven’t done it in a while. “You hungry?”
She wanted to say no. She wanted to tell her mother to just get on with the punishment. But her stomach growled. She was hungry, so she nodded very lightly and Angela was handing her the bag.
As they ate in silence, there was a quiet sense of routine normalcy. Angela stole occasional glances at Erin, noting the pensive expression that lingered on her daughter's face.
Erin, in turn, kept her gaze fixed on her food, lost in her own thoughts as she mechanically picked at her food. Though the air between them was no longer as fraught with tension, there were still lingering issues that hung unspoken in the air, casting a shadow over their meal.
“I really am sorry Mom,” Erin spoke softly after what felt like ages.
“I know you are.”
“Do you?” She asked, more loudly than she had intended. “It just feels like every day I keep fucking up and disappointing you guys”
“You aren’t disappointing us Erin,” Angela reassured.
“But I am! I am not like Jack. I didn’t get the soccer scholarship you hoped for! I am not even smart enough to get into college! I keep messing up at every turn.”
“Is this what this is about?” Angela asked softly. “You think you aren’t smart enough?”
“I don’t think it Mom, I know it. I’ve been told by my teachers that I should look for other outlets. No school wants me!” Erin stood up, putting distance between them. Angela felt a wave of anger wash over her, not at Erin but at her teachers, and herself, for letting Erin believe that she wasn’t smart, or was incapable of doing something great with her life.
“Erin-”
“I am suffocating mom! I’m in a world that seems designed for everyone but me. I know I'm not like them, I've known it for as long as I can remember. My brain doesn't fit the mold, it's a puzzle with missing pieces, I don't need people to remind me of my differences, I feel them every waking moment. The stares, the whispers, the silent judgments – every day. I'm tired, so tired, of being the odd one out. All I want is to be like every other kid, but no matter how hard I try, I'll always be an outsider, a stranger in a world that refuses to understand me.” She was crying. “I wish I was like Jack! I wish you had someone you can be proud of and show off but I am not just not that!”
“Erin, I don’t want you to be like Jack,” Angela said softly.
“But you do! You wish that I wasn’t like me! That I didn’t mess up and nearly ruin not only my life but the life of the only person who truly liked me for me!” She let the tears fall. “I ruin everything that I touch!”
“You do not,” Angela said firmly. She walked over and took her daughter's shaking hands into hers, and her other hand cupped her daughter’s face. “I am sorry that I failed you.”
“What?”
“I have been so focused on your pain that I did not see how much pain you were in,” Angela said to her. “I failed to see how you were hurting and I am sorry for that mi amor.”
“Mom…”
“I should have seen it. We shouldn’t have put so much pressure on you. I never wanted you to feel like the things you wanted to do weren’t meaningful. I just wanted what’s best for you.”
“I know mom…”
“You are a brilliant and beautiful young lady. You are not defined by your mistakes, and I am sorry if I made you feel otherwise.” She said softly. “I am beyond proud of you, no matter what happens or what you choose to do, I will be in your corner.”
“I messed up last night,” She admitted.
“You did.” Angela nodded. “But that doesn’t mean I love you any less. Your father and I both love you so much more than you’ll ever know. Don’t you dare let anyone tell you can’t do something?”
“They are right though,” Erin said, looking down. “I got rejected from every college I applied to Mom. I lost my spot on the soccer team. No school is going to want me.”
“Then we will find one that does. Or we find another way to get you the life you want. This isn’t the end.”
“My teachers-”
“Your teachers are idiots.” She said firmly. “I am an idiot. Just because it takes you a little longer to understand something does not make you an idiot.”
“I wanted to make you proud.” Angela pulled her into a hug.
“You already did.” Tears glistened in their eyes, silent witnesses to the raw vulnerability that enveloped them both. Angela was holding her daughter close as if trying to shield her from the pain of the world.
Their tears mingled together, a silent exchange of emotions too deep for words. And as they stood there, tears streaming down their faces, they knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, hand in hand, hearts entwined in a bond that could never be broken.
“I will always be here for you Erin. Always.” Angela promised as she held her baby girl.
“Thank you, mom.” Things weren’t perfect. Wesley and Angela still needed to decide how they would approach helping Erin process this next step of life. There were words left unsaid by both Zoe and Erin. There was punishment that needed to be served for breaking and entering. But right now, everything is okay.