Chapter Text
Getting back together after being apart was simultaneously the easiest and the most difficult thing Evan and Zoe have had happen in their relationship.
Living at two entirely different campuses hasn't been easy; early mornings, late nights, weekend visits and texts have managed to help the time pass quicker to summer. Getting back together was like putting on a soft, familiar sweater; they slipped seamlessly back into their roles.
Summer. When they both return home. Both the best and the worst thing to have happen to them. Each have their own reservations about it; Evan worries endlessly about still remaining in the Murphy's contempt after everything and Zoe obsessively wonders if Heidi Hansen still views her as the over privileged daughter of the two people who tried to pay for Evan to go to college in the first place.
Neither families are aware of the fact that Evan and Zoe have gotten back together. It's not as though they hadn't thought about telling their parents. In fact, that's all that they have been thinking about. The idea is daunting, as it always is when there is family history and memories.
"We're going home in a week and there is no way we can hide being together," Evan points out, lifting his arm to let Zoe curl up beside him on the couch.
Leaning her head against his shoulder, burying herself deeper into the comfort of his arms, Zoe savours every second of their weekends together. She wonders where they will be next weekend; telling their parents or hiding everything like they did in high school.
"We're in college, we can make our own choices," Zoe protests, "If I want to be with you, I can be with you. No matter what they say."
"I know," Evan agrees at once, "But, Zoe, think of the history of everything. You parents, me, you, my mom...I don't even know if your family forgave me for everything I did."
She hears the regret in his voice, almost more of a reflex to him than an actual reaction. Her forgiveness is more than enough for him but the lack of resolution with her parents is a lingering thought, always in the back of his mind. They had not told anyone the truth about everything but they had not spoken to him since. It's impossible to gauge if their feelings have changed over the past two years. Time can shift thoughts and feelings around, either for better or for worse.
"They loved you, Evan. That hasn't changed." Zoe knows this for a fact; her parents were devastated by the truth but they still spoke about Evan, even afterwards. There was always unmistakeable fondness in their voices, now matter how much they tried to hide it. Evan was their mirror of Connor, the son they thought they could get right. They lost Connor once, they couldn't bear to lose Evan completely too.
Evan doesn't reply; he strokes her hair, feels her small body press against his. Going home...is it even home anymore? It all still seemed so foreign when he'd left for college.
The same houses. The same families. The same people.
-
Heidi crushes him with a hug the second he steps foot in the house. Evan feels her trembling with relief and excitement. It takes Heidi a moment to look past his shoulder at Zoe. If she's surprised or shocked, she hides it well. Embracing Zoe as well, Evan is relieved. Despite whatever feelings Heidi may have beneath the surface, she'll save them for later in a much needed talk with him.
"Hi, Ms. Hansen." Zoe is shy, hesitant. She doesn't feel unwelcome in the Hansen house. It's something more akin to the fact that so much has happened between the two families, it constantly simmers in unspoken words.
Heidi gestures for them to come inside, set their bags down and take a seat in the living room. Zoe tugs at the hem of Evan's shirt to get his attention as they follow her.
"I should go, my parents are expecting me home too," she whispers, "Besides, I don't want to upset your mother."
Before Evan can reply, Heidi says as she takes a seat on the sofa, "I didn't know that you and Evan came home together. Aren't your colleges an hour away from each other?"
Zoe pushes through any awkwardness, her own streak of determination running through her. Would everyone in town have something to say about her and Evan getting back together? Yes, more than likely. It's not as though they can say anything that Zoe can't take.
Glancing over at Zoe for confirmation, Evan exhales slowly and carefully before announcing, "Yes, Zoe and I came home together. We're um...we're dating again."
Zoe adds with firm clarity, "We've been back together for the past six months now."
Heidi is processing this. Her lips part slightly, her eyes go back and forth between the two of them as if to connect the dots. "Wow, kids...that's...that's great. I wish you'd told me six months ago though but, um...good for you two. I'm glad you worked things out."
Zoe can feel Heidi's unuttered thoughts hanging in the air. Heidi is smiling but everything about her body language indicates that she really isn't.
Licking her suddenly dry lips, Zoe lifts her bags and says to Heidi, "I have to go, I'm sorry for not staying longer. Mom and Dad are expecting me home by now."
Heidi manages to say something along the lines of 'good to see you' and 'see you soon'.
Evan quickly follows the rapidly moving Zoe out the door and to the car. Catching her hands, he turns her around so he can look her in the face. His eyes are full of concern as he begins to ramble, "Did my mother make you uncomfortable? I'm so sorry, I don't know why she's like that, it's not fair to you at all. I'm going to go talk to her about it right now, don't worry, she doesn't mean anything personal towards you."
Zoe brushes it off. "It's fine, really. Our track record has been less than stellar, so it makes sense that she's thinking about that."
And it does make sense. Too much sense.
Evan hesitates. Around Zoe, they don't always have to voice their anxieties. The silence speaks loud enough for the both of them. In efforts to see him smile again, Zoe leans forward and kisses him on his soft cheek before climbing back into her car.
-
"Evan, you know I love you more than anything else in this world and that's why I'm trying to tell you this," Heidi insists, reaching across the sofa to put her hand on her son's knee. "As your mother, of course I'm worried about this. Please consider what happened before."
"We were a lot younger then, Mom," Evan replies with unmistakeable pleading for her to understand, "We talked it out. The fact that she...even wants me again is incredible in of itself."
"And the fact that she has forgiven you is beautiful and I am glad that she has. I really am. I'm so happy that things have changed for the better for the both of you two. But you two have a lot of history will be, realistically speaking, difficult to always overlook."
"I know that, I know that already. But out of all the things that have changed since then, the fact that I always have loved her hasn't." Warmth creeps into Evan's tone. Taking a deep breath, he tries again, "I know it won't be easy. Zoe and I talked about this. We're going to have a hard enough time convincing the Murphy's about everything." Evan pauses, his eyes brimming with hope. "Can you please be on our side? Please, Mom."
Heidi gazes at Evan for a moment. He has changed; maybe not in noticeable ways at first, but a mother knows even the slightest shift in her child. He isn't a little boy in school anymore, Heidi reminds herself with resignation, he's in college now and living his own life. It's hard for her to fully recognise the fact that he's not the same little boy who was so excited to sit behind the wheel in the truck on that February day.
But for his sake, she will try.
"I'm always on your side, Evan."