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It was finally happening. After the terror of Emma Jacobs, and the CFD brass keeping a watchful eye on them, and sneaking around like they were having an affair, it was time to be a real couple out in the world. It took some time after Emma was finally gone to be cleared of any wrong doing, but once they were, both Violet and Evan felt like they had earned some level of grace. Or maybe they just didn’t care as much anymore after being blackmailed. Whatever complaint someone wanted to lodge about them couldn’t come close to what they had just been through.
They went to breakfast one morning at a spot not too far from Evan’s place, and could have run into a CFD member there, but luckily did not. But it gave them the courage to get out a little more, and not have to glance around to make sure the coast was clear before a quick kiss, or taking each other’s hands. Time was marching on and their relationship was only growing stronger, giving them the confidence they needed to be unapologetic about striking up their romance in the first place. Violet would be lying if she wasn’t at least a little worried about how the relationship was going to go once they were fully public. It was a new dynamic for them, and while she would love to show him off to her family and friends, that complicates life too. For a while, she’s had him all to herself, and that part was wonderful.
The lightness Violet was feeling these days could also be contributed to the fact that Sylvie Brett was back in Chicago, and working shifts with her again was a dream. Violet was feeling a lot of gratitude for the fact that Brett brought her to Firehouse 51 and how well they had worked together. Never was she so appreciative of a good partner after the chaos that was Emma Jacobs. And even though Violet and Evan were still keeping things quiet, the summer was looking up.
As they neared the end of shift, Violet sent a text to Hawkins: Helping Brett catch up with paramedicine paperwork and then we’re grabbing a drink at Molly’s. See you later?
He replied: Sounds good, tell her I say hello. Definitely see you later.
Violet smiled into the text, which wasn’t anything special, but still felt good. She replied with a heart emoji.
Over in Hawkins’s office at HQ, Evan stared at the phone with a goofy smile. They had been through a rough time together and had come out the other side stronger and more committed than before. He ached to see her now, but knowing she was helping Brett made it more manageable. He needed that paperwork too. A thought entered his mind at that moment which he should have quickly dismissed. But as he straightened up his desk and cleared away folders, he kept mulling it over in his mind. If there was one thing Evan Hawkins realized about himself after being with Violet, it’s that he seemed to show his affection through actions rather than words. He just hoped that what he wanted to do was not totally off the mark so much he would land in the doghouse with not only her, but with their bosses too.
Back at Firehouse 51, Violet and Sylvie slogged through forms, time sheets, and call logs. As they neared the end, Violet helped Brett organize the files and tuck them away.
“Drink at Molly’s?” Violet said. “I think we need to celebrate your return.”
Brett laughed. “Haven’t we already done that a few times now?”
“Toasting your return to Firehouse 51 after everything that happened while you were gone will never get old, I assure you.” Violet replied.
Brett frowned. “I’m sorry, I never thought anything like that would happen while I was gone.”
“It is not your fault,” Violet said. “Let’s not talk about it anyway, let’s just focus on how awesome it is to have you home.” She wrapped an arm around Brett's shoulders.
Molly’s was not crowded when Sylvie and Violet walked through the door. They spotted Gallo, Ritter, and Severide at their usual back table and made their way over. Sylvie and Violet were quick to grab a drink and join them in the light hearted conversation. The three of them had been rehashing Capp’s moves on the dance floor at Stella and Kelly’s wedding. The memory making them all laugh.
After a short time, Violet took a sip of her drink and looked up just as the door to Molly’s swung open. In walked her tall, dark, and handsome boyfriend much to her surprise. “Evan,” she blurted out, sitting straight up in her seat. Her breath caught in her chest for a moment thinking something must be wrong. Why else would he be here? But then she spotted his casual clothes. She watched him scan around the bar until they locked eyes. He gave her a little smile and a shrug of the shoulders as if to silently say, sorry I couldn’t help it. Brett, Ritter, Gallo, and Severide all looked up to see what garnered Violet’s reaction at the table.
As Evan made his way over to them, knowing looks went between Ritter, Gallo, and Brett. The three of them knew this was unorthodox. And clearly Violet didn’t know this was going to happen or she would have prepped them all for this new social encounter.
“Hi,” Evan said softly to Violet, kissing her gently on the cheek.
“Uh, hi. I didn’t know you were coming out to the bar. I thought we were meeting up later?” She was trying to be normal, but she was almost talking through her teeth. She was so programmed to talk this way with him around coworkers.
“Just couldn’t wait,” he said with all sincerity, his hand resting on her lower back. “Brett, Ritter, Gallo.” He acknowledged them with a nod. Evan extended his hand to Severide. “Evan Hawkins,” he said, introducing himself. “Violet’s boyfriend." It felt strange to say out loud, but he wanted it to be clear to people they trusted. If the Emma situation taught him anything, it was that they needed friends and allies if they were going to navigate a relationship while working together.
“Kelly Severide, nice to meet you,” Kelly was certainly aware of Hawkins after the Emma Jacobs drama that unfolded around the wedding, but Severide was so caught up in his own drama that this was the first time he put it all together.
“Another round for the table?” Evan asked pointing at the nearly empty beers they were all holding.
“Sure thing,” Severide responded. “My wife, behind the bar, can help you out.” He smiled as he glanced her way.
Hawkins nodded in return and made his way across to the bar. Violet gently slid off her bar stool and went to help him. As Evan waited for Stella, Violet stood next to him, looking at his profile. “Violet’s boyfriend?” she said quietly.
“That’s what I am, right?” he responded, turning to look at her.
“I’ve just never heard you said it out loud like that before?” she admitted.
“Does it sound good or bad?” he wondered out loud.
“Good! Great actually. I just. . . didn’t know we were doing this today,” she said.
“I just thought, why not? Enough already. It’s a CFD bar, I’m CFD too, we’re here with a group. Let’s just try it out. If we had planned it, you would have freaked out about all the details going right anyway. It’s just a couple of beers with your firehouse.”
He was always reassuring, calm, and cool, while she tended to feel things passionately and quickly. It’s what attracted her to him, and vice versa.
Meanwhile, back at the table, hushed whispers were flying about, as Severide tried to catch up.
“So that’s the field chief Violet’s been secretly seeing?” Severide asked.
“Yeah, he got into hot water over it too,” Brett countered.
“Then when Brett left, the replacement, Emma Jacobs, she went full psycho. Sabotaged Violet, tried to get her fired, and blackmailed Hawkins too, threated to ruin his career. Turns out she did the same thing at her last firehouse.” Gallo said, quickly getting Severide up to speed. Brett winced at the tale; it crushed her that Violet and Hawkins suffered so much because she left town.
Severide’s eyes widened at the drama he was glad he missed. “So, what do we think of him?” Severide asked, looking at each of them.
“He’s a good chief,” Brett said. “He paved the way for my paramedicine program. And he seems to be head over heels for Violet.” She smiled, looking at them at bar. They were awfully darn cute together.
“Violet’s really gone to great lengths to protect their relationship. She is definitely serious about him.” Ritter said. Then their eyes went to Gallo.
“I wasn’t crazy about them together at first,” Gallo admitted. “But after seeing them go through what they did, I can’t deny anymore that what they have is real. He wants what’s best for her. He makes her happy.” Ritter and Brett were proud of Gallo’s mature response.
“Okay,” Kelly replied, “it sounds like this guy’s got your vote of confidence. If he’s with Violet, then we’re with him.” He glanced Hawkins’ way. The three others agreed.
Back at the bar, Stella broke away from a customer and with a broad smile across her face, approached Violet and Evan. “Hi there,” she said cheerfully.
“Another round for the table, please.” Evan asked.
“Will do,” Stella responded. As she pulled beers and set them on the bar, she eyed Violet and Evan. They couldn’t keep their eyes off each other. They both smiled as if no one was watching. They stood so close to each other as to breath the same air. She recognized this, as she’d lived it before. Young love. Falling for each other without being able to help themselves. Pretty adorable.
“Here ya go, lovebirds,” Stella said, then winked at Violet.
“Thank you,” Evan responded. “Oh and congratulations, I heard it was a beautiful wedding,” he tilted his head toward Violet, implying he got the full download of details afterwards.
“A Firehouse 51 wedding is always a good time,” Stella responded. “You’ll have to come to the next one.”
Evan turned to look Violet seriously in the eyes. “I’ll be there,” he said. There were no future weddings planned for anyone at Firehouse 51, and no one she knew who was engaged. As Evan carefully walked the beers over to the table, Violet had to pause a minute at the jolt that went through her.
“You okay?” Stella chuckled. Violet opened her mouth, but nothing came out. “Oh, honey, don’t look so shocked. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. This is not the first time that man has thought about you walking down the aisle. And take it from someone who has had some very recent experience in that department. Go ahead and imagine the man of your dreams at the end of that aisle. It’s okay to let yourself go there.”
Stella was right. Violet was holding back. It’s what they’ve had to do since the start of their relationship and she knew no other way with him. Maybe this was the start of letting that dam break a bit. She looked at him talking with her close friends. Why did it look so wonderful? Why did she feel so good about it? She reached out and squeezed Stella arm and nodded in thanks for the encouragement, then she joined the table again, wrapping her arm around Evan’s waist and kissing his shoulder. In her eyes, Evan saw his decision to come to Molly’s today was the right one. Hopefully, many more Molly’s nights to come.