evanxcooper

[evanxcooper]

Evan took her sister's sympathies to heart, but her shoulders lifted all the same. It was over, right? Her relationship with Riley was over and there was nothing she could do to change the past. Evangeline reached out, placing her hand atop of her sister's. "Hey, stop," she wrapped her fingers to connect their hands, "I don't need an apology from you. You're home now and that's what is important. Any time you need anything, you just call, text, show up at my front door. I don't care," Evangeline squeezed her sister's hand, "I'm just glad you're home." @heracooper

Hera hated this. She hated hearing her sister feel this way and because she was so distant in the past, she had no idea Evan was going through all this. She understood the feeling, feeling the same with Dylan after the two of them were together for so long and he just left, but it ached knowing Evan was going through the same when she felt her sister deserved the world. "I'm sorry you feel that way." She swallowed. "If he didn't, he's an idiot. He's already one, but an even bigger one. You are amazing and he was lucky to even be graced with your time." Hera told her. A soft smile came over her and she nodded. "I want to change that too. I want myself and for Maia to have a family. I'm sorry I've been so... closed off over the years. I hate that I wasn't here for you." @evanxcooper

[evanxcooper]

starter for @tannerkohli

location: hopeful horizons medical

When Evan saw that Tanner was on the schedule for the day, she spent most of the morning preparing. Physically, she could handle anything that the other woman threw at her. Mentally, Tanner was probably top five worst clients she had come across. When a client did not want to partake in physical therapy, they were often unbearable to deal with. When the receptionist let her know that Tanner had arrived, Evan exited her office and put a smile on her face. "Tanner," she greeted the other woman, "how are you feeling today?" A question that would likely get her some smart ass answer in return.

[evanxcooper]

"Yeah, only the best for him." She said, forcing a small and polite smile. It didn't reach her eyes, though. The bathroom was suddenly much smaller than it had been when she walked in. It felt like it was closing in around her the longer she stood in there. The time that had lapsed between her divorce from Riley and seeing him at his brother's wedding with Ruby didn't feel long enough. Like it put the nail in the coffin for the lingering feeling that Riley had never really been all in for their marriage. She had put on rose colored glasses, avoiding waiting for the other shoe to drop when she should have known all along that Riley would find his way back to Ruby. "No need to apologize." Her tone was curt, her smile stiff as she looked at the other woman. "Enjoy yourself." Evangeline turned on her heel, abandoning the reason she had come to the restroom in the first place. @rubyelliot

END.

Ruby hadn’t meant to say it out loud. Their daughter. The words had slipped past her lips before she could stop them, an instinctive truth spoken a few drinks too deep, too tired, too raw. The moment they left her mouth. Her fingers fidgeted with the edge of her dress as her heart pounded against her ribs. She hadn’t even looked at Evan yet, but she could feel the shift in the air between them, thick, heavy, unmistakably tense. “She is.” Ruby said quietly, voice tight, strained. Her gaze flickered up, finally meeting Evan’s with a nervous, almost apologetic smile. “Only the best for Casper, right?” She meant it as a joke, light, deflective, but it fell flat in the charged silence between them.

Ruby inhaled through her nose, steadying herself, trying to find her footing again. She hadn’t wanted to hurt Evan. She hadn’t come here to stir up old wounds or throw salt into ones that hadn’t healed. But from where Evan stood, Ruby knew it probably looked exactly like that. “I guess.” She could still feel Evan’s eyes on her, steady and unreadable. Ruby looked back up, her own expression laced with a quiet kind of vulnerability that she didn’t usually let show. "I'm sorry." She said in a softened tone, but her words were genuine. Knowing seeing her here with Riley wasn't easy. @evanxcooper

[evanxcooper]

She felt her lips tug into a smile at his dramatics, "Of course your hair is better, she said, a roll of her eyes to follow, "I wouldn't lie to you about that." Her expression softened as Arlo spoke of Solana, "She's lucky to have you." She knew how deep their friendship ran and she meant the words. Arlo had always been one of the good ones at the end of the day. "The world needs more people like you." Evan said warmly before her head shook at the news of her sister. "Yeah, a baby," she said, still dazed about it herself. Though, she loved the baby dearly. "It's been a lot to take in but I'm glad she's home. She shouldn't be going through this alone." Evan told Arlo, a pause following before the mood shifted once more. As Arlo's face lit up with pride and affection, she leaned in to look at the phone. "Oh my God." Evan gasped as her eyes locked onto the photo, "Are you sure he's real because he is unfairly gorgeous." @arlocontreras

"If you do just spare me and tell them to change their name immediately. I am one of a kind after all." Arlo stated, shaking his head dramatically. The curls on his head bouncing as he did. "Or at least lie to me and tell me my hair is better." he laughed, shaking his head as he looked at his former foster sibling. "I was too. I'm just happy Solana told me; I want to do whatever I can to help her, you know?" he shrugged. It wasn't just Solana that he'd help in that instance; Arlo was that kind of person, to help anyone that he could however he could. It was just a bonus that it was one of his oldest friends. At the mention of Hera he nodded. "I'm sorry a baby?" he questioned. "And no one knew?" The Cooper's had always been thick as thieves in Arlo's eyes so for him to hear what sounded like shock about a baby made him curious. Though that was long forgotten at the mention of his boyfriend, the look of confusion replaced by a blush of his cheeks. "It's fantastic. He's kind of the best." he smiled, pulling up his phone to show her a photo. "Isn't he beautiful?" @evanxcooper

[evanxcooper]

Evangeline watched him for a moment, his throat giving him away before his words did. Though, she didn't call him out on it, just knowing was enough for her. "You don't have to say anything," she replied, crossing her arms over her chest in a defensive mechanism. "I didn't bring it up to argue, just felt like I was missing something. Again." The word came out more edged than she expected as she exhaled sharply all the same. Once upon a time she used to be his first call, the first person to know everything and now she was standing in a world where it felt like it was moving on without her. "I'm so glad you have what I've always wanted," she said, shaking her head. A kid. That was something Evan had always wanted and she held on to hope so blindly. Looking at him a moment longer, letting her gaze linger on the man she had loved. The same man that had never fully loved her. "See you around, Riley." She said, turning on her heel as her heart pounded in her chest, making her feel faint. @rileyjelliot

END.

He cleared his throat, thankful the music wasn't too loud at the moment, dying down so they didn't have to scream over it. His eyebrows shot up and he blinked a few times, swallowing and hoping she didn't notice though that wasn't not possible. Between his Adam's apple bopping and the fact that she did notice a lot, he knew that she would catch on. "I wasn't but okay," he lied, but knew he shouldn't have, "I mean yeah we were both in the same area but." He stopped and knew that maybe it wasn't worth it, he didn't necessarily owe her an explanation, but at the same time she did deserve the truth. "Oh, I do know that she's way watching and hanging out with Casper. Otherwise I didn't know she was calling her," that was the truth, though she didn't know if Evan had known Ruby was going to be there. He narrowed his eyes ever so slightly and took a breath, "what do you want me to say Evan? I can't help what happens with Ruby and our daughter." @evanxcooper

[evanxcooper]

"You were first and you will always be my favorite if I happen to come across any more Arlo's in the world," though she didn't think that were possible. He was unique and someone that Evan cherished deeply in her life as a friend. "Solana, yeah," she nodded her head, "I'm sorry to hear about your friend," she hadn't been close with Solana and Vance, not like Arlo had been but it was not unlike news to travel quickly. "I hadn't known until I came home and you remember Hera?" She said in reference to her younger, adopted sister, "She's back too and with a baby," there was no judgement in her tone, but still surprise. "But a boyfriend, huh? Now that sounds exciting." And she were invested in it already, "How is that going?" @arlocontreras

Arlo smiled, shaking his head as she complimented his outfit. "It's something I've had laying around for years." he shrugged, though he couldn't lie and say it wasn't one of his favorites. When she told him she needed more people to greet her like that, he let himself smile. "You just need more Arlo's in your life, I get it." he nodded. "Though maybe not too many, I was first." he winked. Despite the fact Arlo hadn't been adopted into the Cooper family officially, they'd all been the closest thing to a family to him throughout the years. They certainly felt like family, and for someone that had spent his entire life searching for one, he certainly wasn't going to let that go. "The usual. Trying to resettle in this town, spending time with friends - Solana included, I don't know if you remember her - seeing my boyfriend. All the works, truly." @evanxcooper

[evanxcooper]

Evangeline lifted her brows in disbelief. How could she have been so blind before? His lies were more obvious now, blinding her like the rising sun did this morning. "Mm," her hum was quiet, but it wasn't one that she gave in agreement, "you seem to have forgotten how much I notice," even if she had been guilty of putting on her rose colored glasses during their marriage. "I know you were with Ruby, Riley." She stated, matter of fact. "I ran into Ruby earlier," Evan continued, revealing that fact. "She mentioned making a call, to your daughter." The words still stung and she felt her nostrils flare as she spoke. "I didn't expect to get all the truths coming out in one night." While it was a happy occasion for seemingly everyone else at the wedding, Evan felt like she was on the verge of cracking as the blows kept coming. @rileyjelliot

There were only so many times Riley could put on a wide grin and say his thank yous to people. Those people who were congratulating him on his brother getting married. The pit in his stomach arising every time as his own marriage had fallen apart, that despite his love for Ruby, still bothered him. So a little escape from it all with the woman he loved was what he had needed, as he tried to sneak his way back into the reception. He always tried to apologize for his towering frame when bumping into anyone, not matter what or who. "I really am sorry," he said with a nod, his eyes meetings hers for a moment as he then looked away, down at himself to make sure he was all smoothed out. Clearing his throat at her question, he shook his head, "not that I know of. I was wrangling an errant groomsman, one who got way too excited at the open bar so early." He hooked a thumb behind him, obviously not telling her where he really had been just moments before. @evanxcooper

[evanxcooper]

Their daughter. The words echoed in her mind and she froze just for a breath. Her eyes shifted to Ruby, quickly and sharply at the words. She didn't reply, not right away. Evangeline let out a small huff that was too polite to be bitter and too stunned to be effortless. Adjusting the ring on her middle finger, it bought her a second longer to speak. Evangeline had gathered bits and pieces from his social media that he was back in Ruby's life, causing her to block him in the long run. Each subtle post dug a knife deeper into her back. And now this? Hearing that he was in contact with the daughter that he had to give up all those years ago. "Well, she must be something special." Evan kept a steady gaze on Ruby, "This place is also the most revealing, I've come to find." Bathroom admittances were seemingly a rite of passage. "It seems a lot of people are finding their happily ever after at the Elliot wedding." @rubywritesrp

Ruby hadn't expected company. She hadn’t locked herself in a stall or collapsed onto a velvet couch as she might have ten years ago, but needed a break. Just five minutes to breathe, regroup, and shake the weight of expectation from her shoulders. Weddings brought it out in people, even when you weren’t the one in white. Too many smiles, too many “So how did you and Riley find your way back?” questions, too many eyes watching her like a curious animal at the zoo. She offered a small, polite smile—one that reached her eyes, even if it didn’t linger there long.

Her voice stayed light, easy, like this wasn’t awkward in the slightest. “I’m doing well, thanks.” She paused, thoughtful, before glancing at her phone. “I came in here to make a quick call to our daughter, actually. She's watching over Casper for us.” Her tone stayed even, vague on purpose, as if the word daughter was just a passing detail and not a quiet bomb dropped in the middle of tiled silence. She didn’t wait for a reaction, instead offering a faint laugh as she looked toward the door. “Somehow, this is the quietest place in the whole venue. Besides the parking lot, and I didn’t feel like dodging drunk groomsmen out there.” @evanxcooper

[evanxcooper]

"You have a heart that people can only dream of having," she said with a sincerity that was genuine. She hadn't been home in many years outside of small trips here and there but she was grateful to still have a family in Kismet after her divorce from Riley. "That's great news," Evan had always been a sucker for a happy ending, whether in a show, a movie, or book but especially in real life. She could only wonder if she we were going to get her own happy ending one day. "It's good to be home, dad." @tomasxcooper

END.

He was glad that she did see that, that she saw he had put his heart into his family for years. If it was a foster kid for a few days or the ones he adopted, he loved them all. "I am glad I did." he did love ot hear that from the older kids, whom he and the family had taken care of over the years. He just wanted to keep every kid he could happy and safe. "Ah, it makes it even better to have you around," he smiled at her. "But please, I love that crazy," he teased. "But we do have the two in now, but it's been good," he smiled. "But I do think the boy we have will be back home soon." he was happy for that. @evanxcooper.

[evanxcooper]

"I think," she paused, as she hadn't confided in her sister in quite some years, "what hurts the most is that the woman that he's always loved is back in his life, too." Evan sighed, "It almost makes me feel like our marriage meant nothing, like I was never someone he loved." And Evangeline knew that she was being irrational, her emotions heightening with the words spilling over her lips. "Thank you," her expression softened, her heart swelling with her younger sister's words. "That means more to me than you could know." She paused, "I know we haven't been close in a long time, Hera, but I want that to change. Especially since we are both back home." @heracooper

"Then he should've made sure you heard him when you brought it up again." She told her sister. She knew it wasn't all on her and she didn't want Evan to think it was either. "You're welcome." She nodded and smiled as well. "Good. I wouldn't want you to give up on that dream. If anyone is going to be a good mom, it's going to be you." She said before grinning more. "We could. I'm all for raising Maia alongside someone I love." @evanxcooper

[evanxcooper]

starter for @georgiaelliot

location: forever & always, the elliot wedding

Attending the Elliot wedding was a choice that Evangeline battled up until the moment she sat down at the ceremony for two people to share their vows with one another. It reminded her of her own wedding and her nails pressed deeply into the palm of her hand to keep the tears from rolling down her face, not that anyone would have thought it out of the ordinary. The ceremony shifted to the cocktail hour which shifted into the reception. Once dinner had finished, she found herself looking for an exit, until she spotted a face that made the need to leave melt away. Georgia Elliot. Though she were divorced from Georgia's brother, the two had always been close.

"Look at you," she smiled warmly as she approached, "and on the arm of Abraha, Whitney no less. Leave it to you to make a statement at your brother's wedding," she teased, wanting to keep it light.

[evanxcooper]

Pushing inside the door of the bathroom, Evan felt a sense of relief as the music and laughter faded. It was replaced with the quietness of the bathroom beside the click of her heels until she came to a stop at the sight of someone else in the bathroom. Not only had she run into her ex-husband, she was now graced with the luxury of running into the woman he had always been in love with. The brunette met the eyes of Ruby in the mirror, first, before Ruby turned just slightly. "Ruby," she said simply, though her lips lacked a smile. She had come to the bathroom to escape the niceties she had been toying with for the duration of the evening.

Walking towards the sinks, she kept a careful distance, as if she might get burned or burn the other if she got any closer. "I'm doing fine," she said finally, her voice a bit softer this time around. "How are you?" She turned on the faucet, as if her true intention had been to come in here to wash her hands but in the moment, it was to wash away the memories that felt fake knowing that the one that got away was back in her ex-husband's life. @rubywritesrp

Who: @evanxcooper

Where: Hudson & Lexi's Wedding

When: Reception

Ruby gripped the edge of the marble sink with both hands, her wine-stained lipstick faded just slightly at the corners from the last sip she'd taken before slipping into the bathroom. The soft thrum of the music and muffled laughter from the reception still buzzed behind the door, but in here, the world felt quieter. Safer. Her reflection stared back at her, tired in a way that had nothing to do with the celebration and everything to do with the ache that seemed to tighten in her chest around Riley’s family. She exhaled through her nose, slow and steady. This wasn’t new. That quiet pressure, that invisible weight of feeling like the odd piece in a puzzle that didn’t quite fit. It hadn’t mattered how many smiles she gave, how many polite conversations she held, or how she danced with Riley like they were the only two in the world.

The door creaked open behind her. Ruby glanced up in the mirror just as the sound of heels echoed against the tile. And then she saw Evan. Of course. She’d clocked her earlier, lingering by the edge of the crowd, dressed to kill, still with that same quiet composure that Ruby had never quite known how to read. She had been expertly avoiding her all evening, weaving through dances and conversations like a seasoned traveler dodging turbulence. Now there was no exit. Ruby straightened a little, fixing her expression like a mask she’d worn a thousand times before. A soft smile curled on her lips, pleasant but unreadable. “Evan,” she said, turning just slightly, voice light, cheerful, too cheerful. “Hey. How are you doing?” @evanxcooper

[evanxcooper]

Attending Hudson and Lexi's wedding had been something that Evan had second thoughts about. Yet, she cared about the Elliot siblings despite her divorce from Riley. She had done surprisingly well over the evening thus far, floating through polite conversation and doing her best to steer it away from the fact that she was not attending with Riley. She only hoped to survive the evening with grace. "It's okay," she said, reflexively as someone bumped into her. She was getting ready to apologize herself when she met his eyes. Of course. Riley. Her eyes quickly moved as his finger adjusted his collar, smoothed his shirt. Evan was no stranger to those subtle details. "Did the dress code get changed to disheveled charm?" Her brow raise curiously in his direction. @rileyjelliot

Who: @evanxcooper and Riley

Where: Elliot-Fontenelle Wedding

When: May 24, 2025

At his brother's wedding, Riley didn't have any expectations other than to have a good time and support his brother and new sister in law. He was the best man and had brought Ruby along as his date, knowing it was a bit tense with everyone involved. But he understood and kept things casual and civil, that is until getting some alone time with her. After sneaking back out into the reception, he nearly bumped into someone, "Oh shit. Sorry." He replied before realizing who that someone was, as he smoothed out his shirt and fixed his collar and hair. "Oh, Evan. Sorry, I didn't mean to barrel into you."

[evanxcooper]

"I know that you do. We all know that you do,. You always made it feel like home, even when I didn't have a clear idea of what that looked like." She had only been a kid when she arrived in the Cooper home. It was a terrifying time in her life as she adjusted to a new life, one where love didn't come with attached strings. "I know you say you don't mind but we both know that the house is too quiet without the chaos and that will drive you crazy." She teased, knowing there was a reason that the Cooper home always had some foster. @tomasxcooper

He hated it as much as he loved it. He loved that his kids were growing up and getting older. But he knew it was a good thing; it made him happy that it happened to his kids. "It happens to us all," and it was good, it did to everyone. He smiled at her, his eyes starting to get wet at her words; he found it so sweet. "I just care about all of you, and love all of you. " If he adopted his kids or just had them as a foster, all of them were his kids for life. He hated to hear that some foster homes were so bad, and some did do it for the money. Really, he didn't care for the money he wouldn't take if he could say no, he could. "Very much lately, with everyone at home but me, I don't mind it," he laughed, "and the daycare sleep is for the week," he joked. "But they are, why I love all of you," he really did. @evanxcooper

[evanxcooper]

"If he did, I obviously didn't listen." Evan said with a sigh, though she could only remember that it was a problem that they kept pushing down the road to deal with at a later time. "Thank you, though." Here she was, listening to wisdom from her younger sister and it was almost just what she needed in the moment. "I don't want to give up on it," she told Hera, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Though if I do that, we can be wrangling toddlers together." She joked with her younger sister. @heracooper

Hera hated seeing her sister like this. She couldn't imagine the heartbreak of wanting a kid with someone and them do something like that. She truly felt for her and nodded. "Putting up blinders isn't your fault. He never said otherwise, did he? That's on him." She tried to assure her. "You will get there, though. If I can have a baby, you will get there. I trust that." She sat back a little. "And maybe it's for the better. You'll get to be a mom with someone who wants it too now. Or you'll do it on your own. We can be single moms together." She smiled at her. @evanxcooper

[evanxcooper]

"Intention does not change impact," she said gently, averting her gaze momentarily. She folded her arms gently over her chest. It was out of habit and not to be defensive against Riley. As she looked over at his mother, her features softened. "I get that. I never stopped caring about her." That didn't go away just because they didn't work out in the end. "And for what it's worth, I hope you are doing better, too." @rileyjelliot

END.

He had never set out to hurt Evan, that wasn't in his nature. And he didn't blame her for being angry at him or even hating him, though when she said she didn't he furrowed his brows in response. "Still," he shook his head, knowing he was the reason their marriage ended. He then nodded, understanding that she was and he didn't blame her, "I don't blame you." He said softly, looking over at his mother before turning his attention bsck to Evan. "Okay, and I just want to make her happy and comfortable. So thank you." @evanxcooper

[evanxcooper]

"Yeah," she started, "Casper is a good boy," her voice was even but careful as she continued on. "Though, I suppose, some things are a little more complicated than a dog." Evan gave a small and polite nod to Ruby's joke, "Glad that Casper has someone watching out for him." There was a quiet pause, the weight of everything now resting on her own chest. She knew that Riley had never stopped loving someone and that someone was standing before her now. Evan glanced at Casper once more, unsure of what to even say. A thousand thoughts ran through her mind. If Casper was with Ruby and she had known him the last few months, Evan's thoughts ran rampant with the fact that the two had been spending time together. And it shouldn't matter to her, they were divorced after all. Yet, she couldn't help but continue to think she had never been enough for Riley. @rubywritesrp