Chapter 6: For Forever

Getting engaged hadn't been at all nerve-racking for Evan. What would no doubt be nerve-racking was seeing Larry and Cynthia Murphy again.

He knew from Zoe that she had finally told her parents of her new romance, and that she was now engaged. Of course, her mother and father had insisted on having her bring her fiancé home to meet him. That was why Evan was sitting shotgun in his wife-to-be's car, anxiously tugging at his dress shirt collar.

The déjà vu alone was killing him. The last time he had had dinner with the Murphys, his entire story had fallen apart and his mother had been deeply embarrassed by the family's offer to pay for Evan's college, using the money they had originally set aside for Connor.

He eased, but only a little bit, when he felt Zoe rub his arm. "It's going to be fine," she cooed. "They've forgiven you; I told you that."

"Do they know that it's me? That….?"

Zoe shook her head, which didn't make him feel much better. "I sort of chickened out of going that far." She shrugged. "They'll be surprised…"

"And that's supposed to make me feel better? Because it's not working, sweetheart."

Zoe leaned across the console and kissed him tenderly. "I'll be right beside you. I promise."

It was some comfort, at least.

Zoe parked on the curb, at the base of the driveway leading up to the Murphys' large house. Evan didn't think he would ever be back here, and he found himself shaking as he and Zoe, hand-in-hand, ascended the drive. Right before they hit the porch steps, Zoe suddenly took Evan in her arms and kissed him furiously, deeply, passionately. When they broke apart, Evan looked dazed.

"What was that for?"

"You need to know that I love you – no matter what," Zoe was panting hard, breathless. "The past is the past, and all is forgiven. And no matter how Mom and Dad take it, we are still getting married."

Despite her assurances that her parents had forgiven him for Connor and would be happy for them, Evan was starting to wonder if, at the very least, Zoe didn't trust her own parents to keep an open mind or offer their blessing. She'd confided in him that she had felt overshadowed by them growing up on account of Connor's looming, destructive presence, and that only the absence of her brother had caused her parents to pay attention to her.

"… even if we have to elope."

"What?" Evan's eyes went huge.

"Kidding," she smiled, but it looked weak. Before Evan could say anything (or perhaps pelt back down the driveway and leap back into her car), Zoe had rung the doorbell.

Cynthia Murphy opened the door and Zoe smiled brightly, squeezing her fiancé's arm. "Hi, Mom! How have you been?"

Cynthia and Evan locked eyes, and he watched as the Murphy matriarch's orbs expanded once she realized who her daughter's fiancé was. Evan could feel himself wincing…. so he was shocked when Mrs. Murphy broke out into a pleasantly surprised, but beaming, even welcoming, smile.

"Well, I'll be…. Evan!" She hugged him before he could prepare himself. "How are you?!"

"F-fine, Mrs. Murphy…." Evan mumbled, tightening his grip on Zoe's hand.

"Oh, Cynthia, please," Mrs. Murphy ushered them in. "Larry! They're here!"

Larry Murphy came hustling down the main staircase, pulling up short when he and Evan met eyes. Evan had figured going in that Larry would be the hardest hurdle to clear; he and Connor's father had bonded the most, aside from Zoe… and the breakdown of that trust had been the most wrenching.

Evan thought he saw the man's eyes narrow ever so slightly. Larry Murphy had grown grayer in the close to a dozen years since Evan had last seen him; there were wrinkles set into his face that made him look rugged.

Evan felt his knees knocking, and Zoe's hand was an anchor in his churning sea. He felt his lover lean into him, whispering just on the edge of her breath assurances that she loved him, she loved him, she loved him…

Larry was standing in front of him now. A beat, and then he grinned through the tiniest of chuckles.

"Well, this is a surprise. Good to see you again, Evan." And Zoe's father held out his hand. Evan's palms were sweating, he could feel it, but he still clasped hands with the man anyway.

"It's… been too long, Mr. Murphy." At his side, he could feel Zoe watching the exchange anxiously.

"I think we're past the formalities at this point, son," Larry now full-on smirked and the foursome headed back into the dining room.

Evan tried not to submerge himself in the PTSD being back in this room brought him. This was where the Big Lie had started, and it was also where it had died. Taking their seats, Evan felt Zoe lean her head on his shoulder, press a kiss into the curve of his neck. He breathed.

"So:" Larry grinned at the couple, the light in his eyes apparently genuine. "When did this happen?"

Zoe pursed her lips, which were lifting into a happy smile. "Well…. Evan and I bumped into each other at our high school when we were both giving presentations… over a year ago now. We met up again at our class reunion, and things sort of… progressed from there." She turned to her lover, blue eyes sparkling. "Isn't that right, honey?"

Evan's nod bobbed like a bobblehead toy. "Yeah."

"And what are you up to now, Evan?" Cynthia asked, passing the dinner plates out.

"I'm an arborist over at Ellison Park, and was promoted to Forest Ranger there recently. It's excellent work, and I get plenty of time with Zoe." He turned to his sweetheart and smiled at her brightly. She grinned back adoringly, squeezing his arm.

Larry glanced between the couple, actually smiling softly. "How nice." Another pause, then: "So: when's the wedding?"

Evan felt hope course through him; for her part, Zoe looked thrilled. "We were hoping April, perhaps?"

"You could make that work," Cynthia mused. "And Evan, it will be a pleasure to see your mother again. Larry's mentioned seeing her in the courthouse a time or two."

Evan was stunned. He supposed it should have occurred to him that, as a lawyer himself, Larry might have encountered his mother at some point over the years. Mr. Murphy was now chuckling.

"I was pitted against her on an insurance fraud case about, oh, five years ago?" He shook his head ruefully. "She kicked my ass. You must be very proud of her, Evan."

Evan grinned weakly, stuttering, "Th-Thank you, sir. Yes, very much so."

The dinner surpassed any of Evan's expectations, and though it is said that interacting with the in-laws is never pleasant, Evan found himself looking forward to being a part of this family…. in an honest way this time.

As he and Zoe took their leave, Evan actually hung back to speak to Larry.

"Larry, I…. I know that I let you down, a long time ago. I might still, going forward, but I will never let down Zoe. That happened once, and it nearly broke me. I…."

Larry held up a hand, shaking his head and grinning. "We made our peace with that some time ago, Evan. So long as you take care of my daughter and make her happy, that is all I ask."

"I'll be true to her," Evan nodded eagerly. "… and to you."

Larry's grin only broadened. "I know you will."

And they shook on it.

The wedding of Evan Hansen and Zoe Murphy was held in a downtown hotel one fine spring evening. Zoe was absolutely resplendent, glowing, in her dress, and was thrilled to be changing her name.

In lieu of a tuxedo, Evan was wearing his forest ranger uniform. His bride had insisted on it, and how could Evan deny her anything?

Evan had once thought that his eulogy at Connor's memorial would be the speech of his life, but he was wrong. Giving his vows – that was the speech of his life. His mother had been helpful in letting him practice on her (which had been sort of awkward but provided enough giggles that it eased some of Evan's nerves), and when Evan turned to face his blushing bride now, he did not stutter once as he poured out his love for her.

By comparison, Zoe's vows were quite simple. "I'd never shared myself with anyone before you. And even though I once felt like I shouldn't, I found my way back to you. I love you. It might have taken some time, and been so even before I was aware of it, but I love you." She was teary as she concluded, "I love my husband."

Their union was sealed and then the officiant told Evan, "You may kiss your bride, Ranger Hansen."

Evan was practically floating as he and Zoe kissed, blushing all over as the congregation burst into applause.

Relaxation finally came during the reception, when he was dancing with his wife, Zoe at rest and snuggled in his arms.

"I think our wedding was wonderful," his bride, the new Mrs. Hansen, concluded, sounding quite satisfied.

"The best – and I haven't been to many!" Evan joked. He thought about it. "Or, really…. any."

Zoe threw back her head and laughed musically, resting her chin on his chest. "I love you," she sighed, craning up to kiss him lightly. They quickly became involved, and when Zoe pulled away, she looked… aroused.

"I say we ditch. You with me?"

Evan smirked, even through his heart pounding. "Lead the way."

Zoe beamed, taking his hands in hers. "Come with me," she whispered, and they slipped off towards the elevators.

When the Hansens got up to their honeymoon suite, Zoe tackled her groom to the bed as soon as the door was locked behind them, both of them laughing. Evan found his wife very assertive and methodical as she stripped him of his ranger uniform – though, despite what she had told him she wanted to do when she first saw him in it, she didn't use her teeth to undress him. The sultriness, the sheer power she radiated left Evan panting and wanting more, but once he was disrobed, Zoe languidly rose off him.

"I'll be back," she murmured against his lips.

"What…? Where are you going?"

"Just stay here: I know you won't be disappointed…" And she sauntered away into the adjacent bathroom.

"Zoe…." Evan bawled, crawling to try and chase after her, but he thought better of it once he nearly fell off the bed.

It was only moments later when Zoe returned…. completely bare of her dress. Evan's jaw could only drop as his wife struck a pose against the wall and then stalked deliberately towards him, crawling up the bed until she was straddling him. Sitting almost regally astride his hips, she bent down to whisper in his earlobe:

"I love you. Let me show you. Please, Evan… let me show you how much I love you…"

Within moments, he was inside her, watching in awe as Zoe bounced on him, lashes fluttering, head thrown back as she guided his hands to eagerly let him touch her.

"Mmm…. Hmmmm…. Yesssss….. Evan….."

Evan's thrusts up into her quickly became frantic. He was close, so impossibly close, and he figured it best to pull out before…

But his bride tightened herself around him, keeping him close and buried inside of her. "Stay. Stay…." She whispered, riding him frantically. "Be with me, Evan…. I want your child deep inside me…."

The knowledge that she wanted to have his child caused Evan to lose all semblance of control he had left. "God, Zoe!" And he came deep within her, her walls milking him completely. Zoe finally cried out and followed her husband over the edge a moment later, collapsing in a sweaty mess on top of him.

Kissing him deeply, Zoe could only slur out, "I love you…" before she fell asleep in Evan's arms.