Hi all! So, this fanfic is just super fun and easy to write. I am having a blast! I hope you all are enjoying the story too! AS for posting... I'm thinking I'm going to stick posting 3 chapters at a time. It takes a little longer to write like that, but then ya'll get a bigger chunk to read. Let me know what you think! Or if you have some ideas for the upcoming chapters. I love being inspired by others :).

Evangeline

Several weeks had passed since my last church attendance. Joseph felt that it would be best for me to manage the children while he forced the others to sweat in his hotbox of a chapel. That was fine as far as I was concerned...I doubted my nerves could handle another sermon like the previous. The children of Eden's Gate were lovely. They spanned ages from three to thirteen and I was thrilled to have the time with them. It took me away from the situation I was in. II felt children should be allowed to play and have fun...so we spent the day outside. I didn't have much to work with when it came to toys...so I did what I could with what limited resources were available to me.

It hadn't been easy...but after fishing out some heavy-duty plastic sheets, spikes to pin it to the grass, and a hose...we were in business. The kids didn't know what to make of it and I gave them a gentle smile to encourage them.

"Haven't you used a Slip'n'Slide before?"

I frowned as I got mostly "no" from the group. I took a deep breath. Alright...I would let that bother me on another date. Right now there were more pressing matters. Making these youngsters have fun. I kicked off my sandals and ran towards the slip and slide. I dropped onto my stomach and slid all the way down towards the end.

It was such a cool reprieve from the sun and an even nicer trip down memory lane. When I was a kid, mom and dad used to set this up for Joey and me all the time. We would throw ourselves down it until we were raw. Then the day would end with us huddling around a little firepit and roasting marshmallows. I smiled sadly...wishing there was some way I could get in contact with Hudson. I walked back towards the little ones and shook the water from my dress getting them wet as well. They laughed and came closer to me. A little boy tugged the hem of my dress. Abraham… I believe his name was.

"Can I go next?" He beamed. "Please mother?"

I felt my soul ache...being called mother was such a privilege...I just wish it was under different circumstances. I couldn't think about that now...right now I had to show these kids how to play and enjoy themselves. That was the goal of the day. Escapism. I took his hand and we both ran and slid across the slick plastic path. His laugh filled me with such joy, and his small arms wrapped around me in a hug.

"Again mother! Again!"

Finally, the other children began to join in. We all took turns sliding through the cold water, the smaller children going with me on my turn. The laughter and smiles were a lovely change from the usual gunfire and yelling that could be heard...and the faces of each child were all the confirmation that I needed. As the day went on...parents began to trickle back into the compound. They didn't look overjoyed to see their children drenched to the bone...but none said anything to me as they transported their smiling little ones to their homes. It was just getting dark as the last child was claimed. It was cooler now and the dampness of my clothes was starting to get to me.

I began cleaning up the tarp when a large hand clapped over my shoulder. I screamed...but when I turned around...it was John facing me.

"Wow there Eva...it's just me."

"For the love of…" I gasped. "Do you have to constantly sneak up on me like that?"

He smirked.

"Sorry …" John looked over my shoulder to the watery mess behind me. "What the Hell were you up to today?"

"Fun. I imagine it's hard for you to remember what fun had been like."

"No one said we can't have fun, Evangeline."

"The kind of fun I'm talking about doesn't involve torturing someone or shooting a gun."

He seemed to deflate at that moment. Turning away from him I went back to cleaning up after today's water war. God, I was cold...without the sun the stagnant water that had been left behind felt like an ice bath. I was just about to continue rolling up the tarp when I suddenly felt John's heavy jacket set on my shoulders. It was warm and smelled of something peppery and oaky. I pulled it closer, unable to resist the protection it gave me from the chill that was crawling up my spine.

John finished up the rest of the clean-up, telling me that the water would damage the leather of his jacket. I smirked and nodded...grateful that he was willing to help me...even if he had to come up with some excuse to keep me from getting in the way.

"What do you consider fun then?" He asked, leading me back to the lodge.

"Lots of things...taking pictures, watching scary movies, sitting by the lake, and watching the stars."

I watched him and blushed as he chuckled.

"God...you really are a girl scout, aren't ya? Next thing your gonna tell me you like baking and know how to knit."

My face burned and I huffed looking away.

"Wait...you are joking...you know how to knit?"

"Look my mom taught me...and it isn't like I'm super good at it...I went through a phase!"

His smile and laugh were contagious and I found myself giggling along with him. He seemed different tonight...less foreboding and more… at peace. I knew it would be short-lived...but at the moment I enjoyed it.

"...the lake thing...we could do that." He said. "We could take some food out there too."

We ?

"Are...you asking me out on a date?"

John had his own ticks I was quick to pickup on. One of them was putting a hand to the back of his neck and looking away when he was nervous or uncomfortable. Kind of like he was doing right now.

"Fuck it...yes. Yes, I am asking you on a date."

The last time I had been on a date I had been in college...and it had been with the man I had previously assumed I would marry. It definitely had been something...I don't think romantic was one of the adjectives I would use to describe it, however. I was hesitant to say yes… mainly because I felt that this was going to affirm their sick dream about me being "the mother" of Eden's Gate...but...it wouldn't hurt to get to know John better, maybe...maybe we could help each other.

"I'll have to check my calendar…" I teased.

He walked me inside and I handed him his jacket as we got closer to my room. He looked at me...but something was different. Before I thought he looked at me with almost a savage hunger. Like he wanted to skin and hang me up to dry...now he was looking at me like I was almost another human to him.

"Tomorrow night," he said. "After service."

I nodded and waited for him to disappear down the hall before retiring to my own room for the night.

It felt like decades since my last date. I couldn't even remember what I wore for that travesty. Several of the other women in the compound donated some clothing for me to wear, but it wasn't anything fancy. What did I even care? John no doubt knew I couldn't go shopping...so what I could get was what I could get. The heatwave hadn't let up yet...so I opted for a braided updo to keep it off my neck. I didn't have makeup or even perfume. I had just...me. And just me made me self-conscious. Just me had an uneven skin tone and huge pores. Just me had scarring from when I had the chickenpox and could NOT stop itching it. Just me...was so average.

It shouldn't matter...why was I trying so hard? Joseph's prophecy couldn't be real...it just couldn't. And I didn't want to throw fuel on the ever-growing fire by validating his twisted delusion. John was late...but when he finally did arrive, he had different clothes on. There were many nights he came home with blood on him...it always bothered me...but I was glad to see he had the forethought to change for our little outing.

"You look nice." He said. "I'm sorry I'm late...it took some time to get our dinner."

I smiled at him, genuinely touched that that was his reason for being late. It was a huge contrast to what I was expecting had held him up.

John knew Hope County like the back of his hand. He didn't take a single main road to get us to our venue and before I knew it, he was pulling into a small gravel parking lot. The lake was empty and dark, but the moon guided us as we walked towards the wide wooden dock. The water lapped gently against the wooden supports and the only sound that accompanied it was the occasional croak of a frog or hiss from a cicada. He sat a backpack down beside me and began unpacking our dinner.

"Hope you like lasagna." He said, handing me a plastic fork. "And sharing...because I forgot to grab plates."

I laughed and gently peeled away the metal foil. The smell of robust tomatoes, garlic, and basil fell upon us and my stomach growled in response.

"How did you get this?" I asked, taking the first bite.

"Uh uh uh...If you knew all of my tricks I'll have nothing to surprise you with."

We ate our supper and for the first time in weeks, we talked. He told me about his horrible childhood...all that he had suffered and what he had learned from it. It broke my heart that he experienced such pain...such abuse. And for what? For a coerced confession. He asked me about my childhood...and I felt almost ashamed for complaining about it in comparison. So I didn't...I told John about my mother...how she had always been my rock through life. How loving and beautiful she was on both the inside and outside.

"I can't wait to meet her."

My throat tightened at this sentiment, but I chose to smile through it and nod. There was only one way John would get to meet my mother...and I doubted he would be thrilled about how to get there.

"You barely talk about your dad...what's his story?"

"... he and I aren't exactly close. Dad always wanted a son...he got me instead. Then when I was old enough to marry...he wanted a grandkid… more specifically a grandson to carry on the family name."

I rolled my eyes feeling bitter just thinking about it.

"It's nothing compared to what you went through," I added.

"Hurt comes in different forms, Eva. Neglect can be just as damaging as being beat."

I didn't want to talk about this anymore, so I did what I did best...deflected and changed topics so we were back to talking about him.

"What made you pick this place?"

He finished the last of his Dr. Pepper and chuckled, turning to face me. He had his one knee pulled into his chest, while the other hung over the edge of the dock. Maybe it was the lack of light...but...he looked kind of handsome when I thought about it.

"We'd always swim here…" he grinned. "Joseph, Jacob, and Faith. It was in the beginning when things were much smaller. It would be after a long day of getting a door slammed in our faces...and Joe brought us here every time to lift our spirits."

The smile he wore wasn't forced...but it also wasn't one of joy either. It looked sad...and tired. John looked tired.

"Hey...let's go for a swim." He grinned.

"What? Now? We don't have a suit."

"Oh please...who's gonna see us?"

He tugged his shirt and vest off and dropped them into the backpack. Before I could protest further he jumped from the dock into the dark blue abyss below. I sat on the edge of the dock, watching his head break through the water's surface. He waded over and once again, placed both arms on either side of me.

"C'mon girl scout...the water is perfect."

"I...would rather not…"

"Don't be such a killjoy, get in here."

"John-

-don't make me pull you in Evangeline."

"No! Don't!"

"Then get in here woman!"

"I can't!"

"Why?"

My face burned and I bowed my head looking down at my hands. God this was so embarrassing to admit.

"I don't know how to swim...okay?"

His expression softened and he held both of his hands out to me. I looked at him and shook my head.

"I won't let you drown, Eva…I promise."

"I'm afraid…"

"I know...but that's why we need to do this. C'mon, I'll keep you afloat."

My stomach was doing somersaults...but for some reason, I felt he was telling the truth. I reached forward and took his hands. Without warning, he tugged me into the water with him. I gasped as it engulfed me and began to fill my lungs, but just as John said...he took hold of me and pulled me up. I coughed and sputtered but quickly wrapped my arms around his neck...pressing my cheek into his own.

"I've got you, angel." He soothed "I've got you."

Gently he pushed us both away from the dock and I squeezed him tighter as colder water rushed underneath us. I looked into his eyes and he looked back into mine. Gently his hands cupped my face, his thumbs wiping away some droplets of water.

"Christ...you are a sight to behold...ya know that?"

His forehead lightly fell to mind and I could feel the heat from his body as he pulled me even closer. My heart was thumping loudly in my ears. I could smell Dr. Pepper on his breath...I could almost feel his lips on my own.

"I want to kiss you…" John breathed. "But… you have to do something for me…"

"What…" I whispered.

"Say "yes"."

I closed my eyes and as that singular word slipped past my lips, John had them locked in a kiss with his.

(I HOPE YA'LL ENJOYED THIS CHAPTER! PLEASE REVIEW AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YA THINK :D)