Author's Note: I don't own anything or anyone from Eureka (although I do call dibs on Scooter).

This story is a reaction to the episode Stoned and that awful, heartbroken realization on Jo's face when she asked Carter what if Zoe and Zane's "relationship" were to last. So my prompt for this was to speculate on what a potential long-term Zane/Zoe relationship would look like. It was challenging to say the least.

I actually wrote this story months ago and got distracted with other things. Then I remembered its existence a few days ago as I was organizing my hard drive. I had some time this weekend so I thought I'd try to polish it up as much as I can and share before I got distracted again (because then who knows when/if it would see the light of day).

Enjoy and thanks for reading!

Chapter One: A Date with Disaster

"I think he's hungry, Zo'," Zane said from his seat next to her at the table.

"And I think I know what he wants," Zoe answered in mock annoyance at his know-it-all tone. He had just had a snack and although he was certainly a growing boy and had taken after his father in the metabolism department, she was pretty sure that a snack wasn't what the little boy they called Scooter was whining about. He had been cranky since they had sat down; since this morning actually. He constantly wanted to be picked up and held rather than sit on his play mat or in his high chair. She couldn't understand why he was so grumpy since he had actually slept through the night for once.

She handed Scooter his favorite holographic e-book and he immediately started to push the buttons to get the characters to light up and talk to him. The delighted squeal that it elicited caused Zoe to shoot an I-told-you-so glare towards the man next to her.

"Lucky guess," he said responding to her challenge by flashing her a particularly flirtatious grin. Zoe was having none of it. He knew full well than to second-guess her well-honed instincts when it came to Scooter.

"And don't forget about his play-date tomorrow that you promised to take him to. I don't want you getting all caught up in some experiment and forget. You've been hard enough to track down lately as it is."

Zane leaned back and put his arm around the back of her chair with his usual cocky assurance. "But I'm a very important guy around GD, sweetheart. Science stops for no one." Zoe rolled her eyes just as he predicted she would and nudged his arm off of the chair with her elbow. Yeah, he had annoyed her good. "Well, almost no one. So no, I won't forget to take my little dude to his play-date with that cute curly-haired girl he likes to make mud with."

"You two are so weird," Kevin commented from across the table, shaking his head. Jenna giggled at her brother and went back to whatever she was writing on her tablet.

Allison shot them a warning look before sitting down with a few of their lunch items. "I suggest you two watch yourselves. Jack and Jo will be here any minute and I don't want you pushing Jo's buttons right now. I want to have a normal, pleasant lunch for once." Zane rolled his eyes before reaching around Zoe to give his son his sippy cup in case he got thirsty. "I mean it Zane," Allison added putting an extra tone of authority into her voice.

"Hey, no one knows more than me the effects of getting on her bad side. I'll be on my best behavior." He barely suppressed his irritation at Allison's tone. "Whether things are 'normal' or 'pleasant' is up to her as far as I'm concerned." Scooter tracked his sharp, blue eyes from Allison to Zane and finally back to his book.

Zoe pushed the cup away from the little boy's animated hands and kissed him softly on the head. "Stop worrying, she'll be fine. We're in the middle of Café Diem so she's not going to make a scene here."

"Well, you don't know Jo as well as you think," Zane said in exasperation. "Really Allison, when is this going to stop? She was supposed to be over this and I'm getting tired of being the constant target of her inexplicable grudges."

Zoe gave him a sympathetic acknowledgment. "Even Dad's tried talking to her which is so incredibly weird since he's been doing his best to stay out of the whole situation," she added.

Allison shrugged having very little sympathy for Zane under the circumstances. "These things need to run their course. You'll live. Part of it is your fault anyway from what I hear. You should think before you open that smart mouth of yours and antagonize her."

Zoe scoffed at the idea. "Yeah, like that's going to happen. Zane, Jo and antagonism are like cosmically connected or something. Besides, that excuse is getting old," Zoe said, looking over to Allison after being assured she wouldn't be interrupted by a bored, whiney little boy. "It's insane that Jo hasn't eased up by now. What we're dealing with in the here and now is nature and destiny and all that. Zane is as much at fault for the current circumstances as a star is for going supernova or –"

"Right, and just as destructive," Allison couldn't help but add with a hint of snark.

"My point is," Zoe said testily, "is that things turn out the way they're supposed to and Zane shouldn't have to be yelled out for things taking their natural, logical course." Allison didn't look convinced. Whether it was about the 'natural' or 'logical part remained unclear.

"Thank you," Zane responded beaming at her. "See, somebody loves me in this place."

"Hey guys, there they are. You might want to cut out all the bickering." Kevin reached for the plate of snacks only to have Allison push his hand away.

All eyes turned to the two people approaching their table, their attention a little bit more wary of one over than the other.