The Parenthood Drabbles

Lovers

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters.

Lovers

In the style of Emily Zhang and Esperanza Valdez

"Did I tell you about the time in the labyrinth?"

Oh, for gods' sakes, here we go again.

Apparently Theseus saved his coolest party stories for when girls at the bar were really tired of hearing him talk. That was the thing with Elysium; if you wanted a beer you couldn't just walk into a place and sit down, because anywhere you went there were too many interesting people and people who thought that you were interesting that may or may not be interesting themselves. In this case she was dealing with a not-interesting type, which was why Emily minded being caught up. Also his thugs were surrounding her and that wasn't cool. She knew all of his myths already; including the one where he ditched the knocked-up girl he 'loved' on an island halfway through his trip home. That was reason number three hundred and ninety four that Emily had said 'no' when he'd asked her out, but that hadn't stopped old Theseus here from chatting up a storm.

Emily couldn't just walk out on him either. A bunch of his ancient buddies had put up stools all around them, so Emily was circled like a hunted fox.

He couldn't hurt her or anything -not that dead people were beyond injury, but Emily would brain him before he came anywhere close- but she wanted him to go away. She was bored, and all this biting-back-comments and being starred at was making her uncomfortable.

Her saving grace came in the form of a woman with too many curls wearing a pair of well-worn jeans and a jacket covered in stains and grease that was still slick.

"Oh there you are sweetheart, sorry I'm late." She said putting her arms around Emily from behind.

"Oh," Emily said trying not to freak. "Hi." She tried not to make that sound like a question.

Then she realised what was going on and it was genius.

"I know we'd said get a seat by the window, but I thought here was nice," she said playing alongg.

"Oh, no worries, no worries. Whatever you want, I want."

"Emily..." Theseus asked. "Who's... that?"

"Oh, I'm sorry for my manners, my name is Esperanza." The woman said extending her hand. The old hero shook it gingerly. "We came down here together; we have one of those rickety apartments by the Victorian manors."

"Yeah," Emily nodded. "Plane crash on our honeymoon."

"It was exceedingly tragic. And so romantic." Esperanza said.

"Ah," Theseus said looking down at his hands. "Lovers. I see."

"Actually, we're married. Hence the disastrous honeymoon trip." Emily said just to keep the look of his face alive.

"Em, you've already had a beer, why don't we just get coffee instead. Or grab some takeout, and just have supper right away. I'm starving." She said.

"Good idea," Emily said hopping off the bar stool. "It was a pleasure to meet you Theseus."

Theseus nodded gruffly as they elbowed their way back outside to the streets of Elysium.

Outside Emily sighed.

"Thank you so much."

"Not a problem," Esperanza said. "I've seen him do that to a lot of people; trying to break them down until they go out with him."

"Jerk, eh?" Emily asked. "Did he do it to you?"

Esperanza laughed. "Please. Not while I'm me."

"Why do you say that, you're fine." Emily said.

"You're not actually lesbian, are you?" Esperanza -whose name Emily was already mentally shortening to 'Anza'- worried.

"No, definitely not."

"Alright," Esperanza said. "Are you here on your own?"

"Yeah," Emily nodded.

"No parents or kids? Husband? Husbands? Siblings?"

"You know, for someone who just saved me from getting a heroic retelling of the story of the labyrinth, you're very interested in my love life."

Esperanza smacked her arm.

"And... my father isn't in Elysium. My mother's still above. My son's alive. His father... well, it's complicated. But nope, I'm here all alone like a big girl."

"Same," Esperanza said. "For all three, as a matter of fact. On an unrelated note, do you actually have plans tonight or do you want to get takeout for real?"

"Food sounds great," Emily said. "That was just the story of my life, right there."

"Amen to that," Esperanza said. "Chinese food?"

"I refuse to eat that stuff."

"Whoops, sorry. Thai?"

"Thai sounds good." Emily said. "But I don't know a...."

"I've been in Elysium long enough to get myself an apartment," Esperanza said. "I know a place for everything."

"Amen to that too," Emily nodded.

And the two walked off.