Chapter Text
After a long cry, she finally told Brett the whole sordid story. How Emma had driven a wedge between them. How she's assumed Evan wasn't trying. How Gallo had seemed charming again after one too many glasses of wine. How everything that was good in her life imploded.
“Our relationship is code four,” Violet muttered sullenly, curled up in a corner of her couch.
“Violet, your relationship is not dead,” Sylvie said. She reached over and rubbed Violet's knee through the throw blanket.
“I cheated on him. After all my worries that he wasn't putting enough into our relationship, I turned around and cheated on him. He can do so much better than me.” She buried her face in her hands.
“Why don't you let him decide that, huh?” A knock sounded at her front door and Violet shot a panicked look towards her partner.
“Who is that?”
“You need to talk to him, Violet.”
“No, no. I am not ready for that.”
“I know it's scary, but you can do it. I'm gonna go let him in and then head home. I'm just a call away if you need anything later, and then I'll see you tomorrow for shift, ok?”
Violet closed her eyes and tried to steel herself for the conversation to come. Would he be angry to revisit her indiscretion? Disappointed? Would he welcome her back with open arms?
She guessed she was about to find out. She could hear the front door creak open, Brett chatting to Evan, and then the door shutting again. Here she was, alone with him for the first time since he dropped her off for shift before Stella and Severide's wedding.
“Hi, Violet.” His quiet, steady voice announced his presence as he came around the corner from her entryway.
“Hi.”
“It's good to see you.” In the last month she’d only seen him twice - once from down the street at a four alarm warehouse fire, and a second time from her car, him running on the lakefront path. It was so good to see him.
“Is it?”
“Of course it is, Vi.” He perched on the arm of the couch, his body turned towards her.
“I fucked everything up. I'm so sorry.”
He pursed his lips and gave her a solemn look.
“It's okay, you don't have to say anything. I know I did. She sighed. I was so convinced you weren't fighting for us, that I stopped fighting too. That morning after the wedding, when you showed up at my apartment and Blake was there…I know I fucked up. I don't know if there's ever any chance of you forgiving me, but I am so, so sorry.”
Evan was quiet for a long moment, clearly taking time to compose his thoughts before speaking.
“I can't say that what you did didn't hurt. It still hurts. But not having you in my life hurts so much more.”
“You shouldn’t say that. You don’t know the whole story.”
Evan slid down onto the couch seat and looked at her earnestly. “Then tell me, Violet.”
Violet picked at her fingernails for a few seconds, gathering the courage to tell him. “I’m pregnant.”
She watched as a multitude of emotions crossed over his face. Confusion as he processed her words. Elation. Heartbreak. And finally, resolve.
“Vi, I love you. You know I do. I can’t say the possibility of you being pregnant by Gallo doesn’t hurt my ego. But I can say that the thought of having a baby with you brings me so much joy.
“It’ll take time for us to get back to where we were. I don’t know if we can get there. But I want to try. And in the meantime, I’ll support you, however you want to play this.”
At his words, Violet started to cry.
“Can I…?” Evan started to ask. She nodded, and felt his arms wrap around her. She’d hoped he’d support her, but hearing and literally feeling him do so was buoying.
Eventually she pulled back, sniffling. Evan reached forward to wipe tears off her cheeks and she gave him a soft smile. She still couldn’t believe she had the love of this good, good man.
“I don’t think I want to keep it. Maybe someday, with you, but I’m not ready now.” He’d implied he thought it was her choice, but who knew if he really meant that. She silently willed him to accept her answer.
“Okay. I can go with you, and then I can go fill your prescription at the pharmacy and then get a heating pad for your cramps, your favorite chocolates, or whatever you need.” She curled back into his arms.
“Thank you,” she whispered into his collarbone.
“Always, Violet. I’m always here for you,” he whispered back, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head.