everyonelives | the ground could open, he could still say please

I should have been there.

( For you. Not her. )

You married a stubborn woman, Michael Sullivan.

Yeah, but I knew that when I married her.

[He's never been blind about Evelyn one way or another. She's always been the frustrating, infuriating kind of woman that lesser men would seek to tame or think might fade once they've wedded or bedded her, but Michael's always loved the challenge of Evelyn. He didn't want a wife that would bend to his will, he wanted a partner who wasn't afraid to challenge him, and she's always had that in spades.]

Some might even say it's why I married her.

What a gamble that was.

( She smiles, the effortlessness recaptured as she lets herself linger closer. )

I shouldn't have stayed away.

[He shakes his head.]

Probably was better. I know you weren't completely safe, given the job we do, but at least you were safer.

[He doesn't know what he would have done if he had lost his wife and his son.]

I don't know about safer. But, no, our lives don't grant us a lot of safety.

( The choices they make are a part of it, but their lives are inherently dangerous. She knows that. She knows what she signed up for. What they signed up for together when they became real. )

But, we chose this life and until then, I respected and honored every choice you made. I think I let losing Lucas... I think it's the first choice I ever resented and, that's not fair. We are not psychics. ( They save psychics. ) It could've been you. Or, Cooper. Or, me back here.

( Something she really thinks? )

If I had been in New Orleans...

( Monroe's death spread through the hunter network, both the legitimate one for true hunters and hers. )

I was thinking there were innocent people involved who did want to help, ones who probably feel like they have nowhere to turn. What to do next. What does it all mean. Not that you and I can answer such high-minded questions, but maybe we can help them out. Maybe even going so far as to deprogram. If it's needed.

( She breathes him in. )

We've always made a great team, Michael.

I convinced some of them to leave. Odds are I could convince that same some to work together.

[They raised two teenage boys with more impulse than common sense, they could probably handle Monroe's cast-offs.]

A lot of 'em were pretty green. Came right out of the military like Mickey or something similar. Might take a lot of work to whip 'em into shape.

( She'd bet more than probably, but she wants it to be his idea, too. )

We've worked with less.

( Garth once upon a time, and look at him and his cute werewolf family. )

We'll say goodbye, first. Maybe stay one more night. But. He doesn't need to go with us. He never did.

( Cooper had gone off alone before, back when he insisted on taking his own hunts. But this is more than that. )

You know better than I do, is this love? Is... he in love?

I don't know if he knows it yet.

[Which could take a minute. He's not sure Cooper's ever been in love before in a real way beyond infatuated teenage puppy love. But he can see the signs.]

But they've been through a hell of a thing together. If that didn't break them, I'd say he's pretty close.

I want that for him.

( She wanted it for both of her boys. )

I do too. But he's got to figure it out on his own.

[They can't push him into it or sway them by giving too much of a blessing. He's got to choose it for himself.]

But I think he will. William's a good kid. Think he's a little scared of me, but I think I'll let that keep going for a little while longer.

[His prerogative as a parent.]

You can be intimidating when you want to be.

( But not in the early light of morning, in her embrace. She has seen his softer sides. They are there, despite the few years of hardening. He has always been made of stone where it counts, but she likes all parts of him, what's underneath. )

You didn't threaten him, did you?

[He shakes his head.]

No, I just slept in the back seat of his car from New Orleans to Central City. Apparently just my mere presence is intimidating.

[He's enjoying it, even if he probably shouldn't.]

Well, you're his boyfriend's father. If they're using that word.

( This is what she's missed. This is the easy part. It's better than their hunting banter or their arguing. It's their lived in dynamic she's missed.

She points out, however, he will not be sleeping in her backseat! )

We're going to share driving duties.

Of course. I would expect nothing less.

[He also likes to drive, so it's not like he minds.]

And I'm not sure what word they're using. But I'm sure you'll find out soon enough.

I need to make things right.

( She will. She doesn't know when he's coming back (if they're coming back) but she will be there. She will always be there. He just... needs to know that. )

You will.

[Coop forgives easily when it comes to his parents. Disrupting lunch is the least of what she's done to him.]

I'm sure they'll be back from whatever it is they're doing at some point.

Hurricane Evelyn has taken whole small towns down to the studs.

( This is nothing.

Her arm hitches to his. It feels natural. She doesn't want to let go. )

I'll be here when he's ready. We'll both be.

We will.

[And he relaxes some, now that he and his wife are back on the same page.]

Want to go out and explore the city a bit?

Yes.

( She doesn't need to do what she wants to most, kiss him, because this is the intimacy she has missed and this isn't their garden. But, they are on the same page and maybe she was the problem. Maybe they're both the problem.

Later, the marrieds return tipsy, but happy.

It's in the morning when William brings Cooper back for breakfast that their paths cross as she's bringing mugs of coffee up to his father. William, Cooper, and his mother with piping hot coffee meet in the foyer. )

Good morning. William.

( "Morning, Mrs. Sullivan." )

Call me Evelyn or take a shot to the foot. ( She cants her head to the side. ) Sorry. First impressions and me... I'm not actually threatening you. And my gun's upstairs.

Hi, Mom.

[Cooper doesn't really seem all that phased by this, because he grew up with this, but he also doesn't seem condoning of shooting his boyfriend in the foot.]

You and Dad have fun?

( She hasn't met a boy like this, morning after whatever. Either Cooper did what he did away from them or she caught the glimpse of a morning after interaction, or just the guy leaving from her son's room.

This is a first. )

We're good. ( Again. ) Could we talk?

Of course.

[He glances back at William with a small smile.]

I'll come find you when we're done?

( "Yeah, send up the bat signal if you need anything." He says it encouragingly, but still with a lighter lilt. He is here for Cooper in any capacity. She's going to ignore being compared to a Batman villain. )

I know you're not a quitter and I know spending time here, taking a much-deserved break after everything - I know it's not the end. I'm sorry that I acted like it was a slap in my face. I know it's not.

I know. I caught you by surprise.

[He doesn't hold it against her.]

I just didn't know you had such strong feelings about me hunting.

Hunting's all we know. And, whatever you do, if it isn't hunting, I want you happy. I know it's not an easy life and I know it's not - the safest - but I did think you loved it. Before Monroe... Everything felt clearer and true. I guess I didn't know what would come out of the other side for you after. And I guess I worried it wouldn't be hunting.

( And that's how it had sounded. But, even if that is the case, she can't take it personally. Her son has his own life to live. )

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