It Stays As It Was Left

2017.2004.2006.2008

January 2017

"I know this is difficult for you," Stevie said as she set a cardboard box on the bare mattress. "But you won't have to deal with this for very long, only until August, sug."

Zoë rolled her eyes and sat on her new bed with a huff. "Whatever," She grumbled. "It's not like you care about what I think."

Stevie sighed and took a seat next to her on the bed, moving the cardboard box so she could bring her daughter into her arms. It felt like just yesterday that she was holding her day-old body, rocking and cooing her and Zoë gazed up at her with big brown eyes. Now, she was seventeen-almost eighteen and was planning on moving out in August to attend Mountview over in Europe. Lenny was lucky enough that he could visit her whenever he wanted to, but Stevie wasn't as lucky. She had two kids to take care of, especially now that Jason was going to begin filming Aquaman in a few months. Hell, Jason would be able to visit her more often than Stevie could, and she was sure he would. Stevie had made him promise to drop off different care packages and check in on her to ease Stevie's mind.

"What's with all the attitude?" Stevie asked. "I know it's been rough having to move twice in the past five years, but you seem so upset."

Zoë frowned and chewed on her lip, looking exactly like her mother did almost thirty years ago when she wondered whether she was making the right decision to put her all in Sula. "Don't you think you're moving too fast?" She asked. "You and Dave have only been together for a year... almost. Now you're moving into a house with him."

"Have I ever done anything slowly?" Stevie asked dryly making her daughter giggle. Zoë did have a point, though. In fact, there were times when Stevie worried that she was making the mistakes she had made in the past. She had done it twice now, moved too quickly, and then lived with the results of that. This time, though, it felt different. Maybe it was because of her history with Dave, but everything felt like it was moving how it was supposed to.

"Look, sug," Stevie said, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "I can understand why you may think that everything is moving too fast. Sometimes I think that, too, but, I know this is the right thing to do."

Zoë stayed silent, stewing in her mother's words.

"What's really going on?" Stevie asked. "You told me that you wanted me to find someone. I did, sug. What's so bad about this guy in particular?"

"I just don't get it," She whined. "You've been with him before. Why go back to him? Why not..."

"Why not your father?" Stevie guessed and Zoë nodded.

"I'm sorry," Stevie sighed. "But your father and I won't be getting back together any time soon."

"But you guys are getting along," Zoë said. "For the first time in my life. Maybe that's a sign."

Steve held back a snort, not wanting to upset her daughter any more than she already was. It was sweet that Zoë still wanted her parents to be together, but there was absolutely no way in hell that was ever going to happen. She and Lenny were such different people, even when they were together and even though she and Dave were pretty different, they worked far better than Stevie and Lenny ever did.

"I'm sorry, sug," Stevie said instead. "I know it's hard for you, havin' to grow up in two different houses. But, your father and I won't get back together."

Zoë pouted and pulled herself from her mother's grasp. "Why not?" She asked. "I'm old enough to know. Tell me! Why is there no chance of you two ever getting back together."

Stevie supposed Zoë was right, she was seventeen. She had always been far more mature than her actual age, which broke Stevie's heart, but there was nothing she could do to fix the mistakes she had made in the past. She could just explain them.