Gonna Be the Death of Me (adopted by Brendon Urie)

//twenty nine - burden//

Song of the Chapter: Moving Boxes, With Confidence

Brendon and Sarah sat on the couch as they let the words sink in. "Eva wants an explanation from her dad about why he left her," Theo said, looking at his feet and clenching his fist. Whenever Eva mentioned her dad, he always became quiet and seemed like he was holding back anger. He had hurt her so much. Sarah felt her eyes become tear-filled as she thought about how much pain Eva must have been in. She wasn't angry that Eva wanted to know why, it didn't mean she loved her or Brendon any less or wanted her real parents back; it just meant that she wanted to finally let that part of her past go. But no one knew how to get that closure for her. 

Brendon put his head in his hands as he racked his brain trying to think of how to feel. Eva's biological father made Brendon as mad as Theo, especially when he saw how distressed Eva got at the mention of him or that note he left her like the first night she came home. He wanted the best for her, but her father always just hurt her and Brendon never wanted that for his little girl. The girl he's known for almost half a year meant more to him than anything in the world. Alex just looked concerned. "She ran away when she told us. We told her we didn't want him getting the chance to say he was sorry and explain and she got upset. She ran somewhere and I have no clue where." Brendon looked up at him and gained the same worried expression as Alex. "We sent Pete to go find her. He always knows where to look." That calmed everyone in the room down a bit and right as they settled back into the silence, the back door closed with a soft thud and chatter started from the kitchen. 

Eva stood at the counter, fiddling with the fruit bowl and picking up a clementine before slowly peeling it while staring off into space. "Earth to E," Pete joked, waving his hand in front of the distracted girl's face. Eva looked up and smiled a little at him. "You good?" the older questioned. Eva nodded as she bit into a piece of the clementine before answering "I just feel weird and a little sad about what almost happened a little bit ago. And I really don't want to face them Pete." Pete nodded and pulled her into his side before whispering "You're gonna be okay. I'll send them in here okay? Just keep eating your fruit and looking at nothing." Eva laughed before sticking her tongue out and taking another bite. 

"Hey guys. I found her. Can you come in the kitchen to talk to her?" Everyone in the living room nodded and stood up before walking over to the next room where Eva still sat distractedly staring and playing with the peel of her fruit. "Hey E. How you doing?" Brendon asked, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and squeezing lightly before walking to the other side of the counter. "I'm okay. I'm sorry I ran guys. I just got freaked out about wanting my dad to explain everything." Alex and Theo looked at each other then back at her. "We understand why you want to explanation. We just got so angry because of how much he hurt you. But, it's your biological parent and you should get the explanation you want and deserve." Theo smiled at her as she teared up and hugged him for his sentiment. "Thank you babe," she whispered into his neck. 

"And E, we understand wanting to know and we're not offended. We know you love us and want us as your parents." Eva's hair whipped back over her shoulder as she looked to Sarah and smiled. Eva pulled her parents into a hug before sitting back down at the counter and eating the last piece of the fruit as Brendon reached for it. He pouted and folded his arms as Eva stuck her tongue out. Sarah was behind Brendon laughing at them and Pete took a picture of the happy family. It was the happiest they had all been in a long time. "This is going on every single social media platform possible," Brendon squealed as Pete sent him the picture. 

Eva looked over to Theo and Alex. "Wanna head upstairs?" she asked as threw away her trash. They happily nodded and Theo scooped Eva up from the stool before whisking her to the stair case. Brendon smiled to himself watching her laugh and smile. "We're getting her back again, and I think it's gonna stay like this for awhile." Sarah nodded and leaned into Brendon's shoulder. "I was starting to really miss the old her."

"So was I," Pete smiled, thinking back to only thirty minutes ago when she didn't even want to give in to her temptations like she would have a week ago. Eva was coming back, happy, healthy, and stronger than all of them combined.