A/N - thanks for sticking with me this far, enjoy some drama :)

"That asshole," Grace mutters under her breath so Theo won't hear the curse word. "I'm gonna kill him."

Teresa sits in silence on the couch, fiddling with her fingers. She still can't wrap her head around Patrick ditching them at the park. She had to call Grace to come pick her up and take her back home, and as she told the story her best friend looked ready to murder somebody.

Ten minutes later and Grace is still fuming about it, moreso than Teresa is. She's upset, of course, but she isn't really surprised. While it was completely out of the blue, she knew it was bound to happen. Patrick would leave like every guy did. No guy stuck ever stuck around, and she hated herself for thinking that he would be any different.

She watches Theo play with his toy cars on the floor. The boy hasn't known Patrick for very long yet he's already so attached to him, and that makes this situation even worse. Theo doesn't understand that Patrick ran away from them. She had told him that Patrick had an emergency so he wouldn't worry, but soon he'd start asking questions about why the man hasn't come and seen them.

Maybe Patrick really did have an emergency and that's why he randomly up and left. But even if that were the case, he could've given her some explanation. He left them stranded at the park with no way to get home. That is unforgivable in itself.

"It's whatever," Teresa sighs. Her entire body feels heavy. The only thing she really wants to do is fall into bed and sleep for days, but she has to pretend like everything's okay for Theo's sake.

It's what she did when Evan left them. During the day she acted as if everything was perfectly fine, but when evening fell and Theo was sound asleep, she curled into a ball in bed and wept. As much as she hated him for hurting her and Theo, she couldn't stop loving him. Unloving him was the hardest thing she ever had to do.

"It's not whatever, Reese," Grace protested. "He took you and Theo to the park to have a picnic, then randomly gets up and leaves you guys there without a car? What kind of man does that?"

"Patrick does, apparently," Teresa mumbles.

Grace shakes her head. "I change my mind about him. He's a dick and he's not good for you."

"He had a reason," Teresa says. "I know he did. It might not be a good reason but he had one."

"That still doesn't give him the right to leave you and your kid stranded at the park."

The brunette just shrugs in defeat.

Grace sighs, knowing that her words are going in one ear and out the other. "Do you need anything at all? If you want me to babysit Theo for a while I can. Just tell me."

"No, it's fine."

"Are you sure?"

Teresa manages a weak smile and nods. "I'm sure. Thanks for taking us home."

"Of course." Grace wraps her in a hug, pouring all her love into it. "Call me if you need me, okay?"

"Okay. Thank you, Grace."

Grace shoots her one last smile and bends down to embrace Theo. "I'll see you soon buddy."

"Bye, Aunt Grace!"

After she leaves, Teresa sighs and gets up off the couch, her hand clasping her phone tight. She's been waiting on a call from him but has received nothing, not even a text.

She doesn't want to believe that this means he's done with her for good.

If he is done with her, well, it's her fault for getting her hopes up. She isn't typically a hopeful person, but when Patrick entered her life all she could do was hope.

Hope that he'd stay. Hope that he wouldn't be like all the men before him. Hope that he wanted her just as much as she wanted him.

But then again, who really wants to take on a single mom and her kid? It's not like she has much to give. Unconditional love isn't enough for anyone these days.

"Mama?" She feels tiny fingers tugging on her dress and she looks down at Theo. "Someone's at the door."

She's been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't even noticed the doorbell rang. She figured it was Grace; she tended to always leave something every time she was over.

But as she goes to open the door, she sneaks a peek of the person on the porch through the curtains and her heart stops.

It isn't Grace. Standing there instead is Evan.

What the fuck?

Her blood turns to ice as the doorbell rings again. Next comes a solid knock used with knuckles that bruised her cheek once.

"Mama, answer the door," Theo demands. She knows he thinks it's Grace. If he knew it was his father, he'd start crying and run to his room.

She doesn't understand. Why would he show up out of nowhere? She should've moved; she should've took Theo and left for someplace where he'd never find them. Instead she stuck around in the same house where he could easily come back for them.

But why the hell would he want to? Now, of all times?

She has two options. One: she can run and hide in the basement with Theo until he leaves. Or two: she can open the door.

She knows he won't leave until she answers. She knows all his tricks so there's no use in ignoring him. He'll find a way inside.

Drawing in a shaky breath, she turns to Theo and manages a convincing smile. "Theo, can you go to your room please? Take your cars."

He looks at her confusedly. "But why?"

"Just listen to me, okay? I'll come get you in a minute."

Knowing better than to argue, Theo collects his cars and trudges upstairs to his room. Once she hears his door shut, she swallows hard and opens the door.

Evan immediately paints on a charming smile when he sees her. She can barely acknowledge the changes in his appearance due to the loud beating of her heart in her chest.

She notices the way his dark brown hair has taken on some grey specks despite only being thirty-eight. His features are more defined, with a sharper jaw and bushier eyebrows. He's lost a little weight but not much. All in all, he looks pretty much the same.

Still handsome. Still evil.

"Teresa," he exhales a relieved breath, reaching out to gather her in his arms, but she simply steps back and stares blankly at him.

His arms fall to his sides, his smile dimming. "Right. You're not a hugger. Silly me."

All the words she wants to say feel lodged in her throat and painful to swallow down. She backs up further into her house, her hand shaking as she grips the door.

Why is he back? What does he want? Did he come to make her life hell again? Did he come to take Theo away from her? Questions run through her head at maximum speed as an alarm blares in her ears.

"Teresa," he frowns. "What's wrong? Are you alright?"

She finally manages the courage to speak, but as she does her voice sounds faraway. "What do you want?"

"What do you mean?" His brows furrow to show his confusion. "I came back for you and Theo, of course."

"No," she shook her head. "What do you want, Evan? Really."

"Why don't you believe me, T?" He steps towards her. She reaches for her gun but realizes she's wearing a dress and her gun is in her bedroom hidden beneath her pillow.

"Get away from me."

He obeys, but his expression is concerned. "T, you're scaring me. Tell me what's wrong. Are you and Theo okay? Where is he?"

"We're fine," she snaps. "He's fine. We've been great until you showed up out of fucking nowhere."

"Teresa, please don't be like that. I know I've shown up unannounced and I'm sorry. I would've called but you blocked my number."

"For good reason."

He sighs. "T, I'm sorry. Truly. I fucked up leaving you and Theo and I'll never forgive myself for that. You two are the best things that have ever happened to me and I want to be here for you again. For both of you."

"Why now?" She clenches her fists so tightly she draws blood from her palms. "You suddenly decided to come back for us on a random Sunday afternoon? It's been a fucking year and now's the time you want to make things right between us?"

"I've been thinking about it a lot, I just haven't had the courage," he lowers his eyes almost as if he's embarrassed. "I've been a real coward, but I knew that if I didn't come back now I might never have the chance to again. Life's been so fucking hard without you and Theo. I just— I need you two back."

"Don't you think it's too late for that? After all the shit you've put us through?" She knows she probably shouldn't be arguing with him, shouldn't urge him to lash out, but she's been holding everything in for too long. "You hit me, Evan. You've traumatized Theo and neither of us want you in our life. We're perfectly fine without you so just leave us alone."

"Teresa, please." His eyes are pleading, reminding her of all the times those same eyes looked into hers and poured his love into her soul. Now she wonders if it's all been a lie.

"Leave, Evan. I won't tell you again."

"Please. I'll get on my knees if I have to." He tries to reach out to touch her cheek and she flinches as his fingers brush her skin. "I love you, T. I love you and Theo so much. More than anything. I want to be yours again. I want to be a good father to Theo. It's all I want. All I fucking want."

Tears fill her eyes, no response spilling from her lips. So he continues. "I'm better than I used to be. I know I fucked up with you. I know I've did terrible things and I hate myself for hurting you. I wasn't in the right headspace then. I know that's no excuse but I went to therapy and I got help. I'm a better man now. I can be good for you and Theo. Please let me prove it to you."

His speech holds sincerity, but he's always been a good liar and manipulator. She hadn't realized that until way later.

But despite the pain he's inflicted onto her, she can't help but remember the times where they were truly happy. The times when they felt like a family. The good times don't outweigh the bad, but she longs to go back to the nights when they'd both read Theo a bedtime story, kiss him good night and head to bed like a true couple in love.

It makes her yearn for what they once had.

Finally, she mumbles a soft, "I need time, Evan."

Surprisingly, instead of arguing, he nods in understanding. "Okay, T. Take as much time as you need. I'll be here for you whenever. Can I see my boy before I go?"

The words my boy make her tense, but she can't say anything about it. Theo is still his son.

"I don't think that's a good idea," she responds, her eyes trained on her feet. "I should give him a heads-up before he sees you again. He doesn't do well with surprises."

He cracks a smile. "Just like his mom, huh?"

She wants to smile but can't. "I'll see you later."

He bows his head. "See you, T."

She closes the door and expels a long breath, her eyes fluttering shut. She doesn't know if she made a good decision letting him back into their lives or not. He seems to have changed, even if it's just a little. That counts for something, right?

As she goes to sit on the couch, the thought of Patrick fills her head and her heart stutters. She reaches for her phone and checks the screen with hope.

Nothing.

And maybe nothing is what he feels for her after all.

XxX

His tea is cold.

He sits rigid on the couch, his tea in front of him untouched. He feels cold and empty and so fucking stupid.

He knows he's made a big mistake in deserting Teresa and Theo in the park. The guilt is clawing at his bones, sinking into his blood and eating him alive.

He's never hated himself more than he does right now.

The worst part is he has no idea how to make things right with her. He can't just call her cellphone and apologize; it wouldn't do him any good. He left her in the dust, literally, along with her son. There's no way she would forgive him for doing something as soulless as that.

Hell, he'll never even forgive himself.

It was stupid, what he did. One minute he was floating on a cloud of happiness and the next the memory of his family crashed into him like a bullet train. He was overcome with grief at that moment despite the most amazing woman sitting right beside him. He could tell Teresa was concerned— the soft look in her eyes said it all, but he couldn't bring himself to confess. The only thing he knew how to do was run.

It's what he'd always done. He ran from his problems. He ran when things got too heavy. That's why people never stuck around for long; they always knew he would end up leaving, so they did it first.

Teresa didn't know that about him, though. She probably thought he was this perfect guy with a perfect life. She expected him to stay, yet he ran like the coward he was.

He wouldn't be surprised if she hates him now. If he was in her shoes, he'd hate himself too.

He can't help wondering what she's thinking right now. Is she waiting for him to call her? Is she hoping he'd show up at her door and apologize? He should do both of those things, but can't bring himself to. The voices in his head are growing louder and louder, convincing him that Teresa would be better off without him. He's damaged goods while she deserves the world. The only thing he can bring to her is pain, and she's been through too much of that already, he can tell even if she hasn't told him anything yet.

She's the best thing that's ever happened to him since Angela and Charlotte died, and it terrifies him to acknowledge that. What would they think, knowing that he's fallen for a single mother and her son? Would they judge him? Pity him? Or would they love him just the same?

He wishes he believed in spirits so he could conjure them up right now and speak to them. It would make this a thousand times easier.

"Angela," he murmurs, trailing a finger around the rim of his coffee cup. "I don't know what to do anymore."

With that, he gets up and trades his cold coffee for a bottle of beer.