— honeymoon avenue,

JAKE was pleasantly surprised that Thanksgiving dinner was such a success, and lacked any real drama, but that was about to go down the drain, he was sure of it. Since the lockdown, him and Bree had essentially been dancing around their argument, and while he would have liked to chalk it up to them just being delirious in the middle of that disgusting, smelly cafeteria, he knew better. They said their goodbyes to his family, Morgan, and the Lopezes before they headed out, and he didn't even complain as Bree's car came to pick them up. The ride back to her place didn't take very long, and to say he wasn't getting anxious about this talk would be quite the understatement. They'd gone down this road countless times before, and it usually ended in them breaking up, but he was trying to be more mature now. Or at least he'd attempt to. As soon as he tugged his girl into her apartment, he kicked his shoes off by the door and then decided against taking anything else off since he didn't want to give Bree the wrong idea. "Baby girl, we need to talk." He stated as he walked over to sit down on the couch. The last thing he needed was for them to get sidetracked, which very well could happen any second, so he knew what he had to do. "Remember that fight we had in lockdown? After you saw me with your phone and I said I was trying to like hack into something?" He rambled before shaking his head. "I lied. I was going through your texts, and before you get mad, just...hear me out. I really did get a vibe from you and that one girl, and I knew you weren't gonna tell me anything, so I wanted to see for myself. I know it was wrong, but considering that I saw shit about you two going on a date and her saying some lovey dovey shit to you, my feelings and actions are slightly valid."

BREE had been thoroughly surprised by the sheer lack of drama. I mean, Thanksgiving is the holiday of drama and yet. Despite Puck, Morgan and Eva all being in the same space, with Noel, mind you, nothing. At least, nothing she'd heard about yet but she would have to see what Maya sent her tomorrow. For now, it almost seemed like Jakes suggestion of staying out of it because they can work it out themselves, wasn't ridiculous. It might even be a solid suggestion. Not that she would ever tell him that. It's best he doesn't think, she thinks, he has good suggestions. Even they were doing well, no serious fights, in what must be, a record amount of time. They had a nice ride back to her place and she intended on keeping it that way, with sex. Truthfully, she had been maybe, kind of, using sex as a way to avoid the conversation that was looming over their heads. Look, don't judge her, their conversation always ended in Jake pissing her off and then her pissing him off and if they didn't break up, they were petty and snarky at each other for two weeks, and things had just been so... peaveful. Ever since his mother showed up she felt closer to him and she didn't want to take those two steps forward just to end up eight steps back because of a conversation. So when they made it up to her apartment, she had planned on just stripping as soon as possible but before she could even get both of her shoes off he had beaten her too it. Baby girl, we need to talk. Sighing, she finished taking her shoes off. I can still save this, if I can just get my top off- her thoughts were cut off by Jake bringing up lockdown. Before she could even answer he was admitting to lying and she was already starting to see red. But then he kept going, because of course he did and she actually did hear him out. Unfortunately, it just agitated her more. "How are you going to say I wouldn't have told you anything when you didn't even bother asking to give me the opportunity to tell you anything?" She asked her voice slightly raised, already. "And if you know it was wrong, why are you already trying to absolve yourself of any responsibility! Your feelings are you feelings, fine, but your actions were absolutely not valid. Not slightly, not at all." She looked at him, livid because why was she being monitored like she was the one with a history of cheating in this relationship? Calming herself down with some deep, deep, breathing, she paced the length of her couch as she tried not to beat his ass for violating her privacy like that and then having the nerve to claim it was valid! After a minute of so she stopped pacing and just looked at him, unable to had the agitation but also sadness in her eyes. "Jake, if you can't talk to me about stuff like that, if you can't trust me to be honest with you then how is this relationship ever going to work?"

JAKE had known they were avoiding this for far too long, but that avoidance had given him ample time to accept his fault, come to terms with it, stand by his decision, but also recognize that he was wrong and that Bree was going to be pissed — and rightfully so. It was going to lead to a fight, which he was semi-prepared for now, so as soon as Bree started speaking, he simply leaned back against the couch and let her go off, nodding along as he listened to her and accepted that she was 100% right. She was usually right, and attractive as hell, when she was scolding him for something, but this time he wasn't going to get mad or just start snapping back. Instead, he kept his eyes on his woman, letting her get out every single thing she felt. Once she finally seemed to calm down and asked him a fair ass question, Jake sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm not justifying what I did, and I take full responsibility for betraying your trust, again. As much as I'd like to say being stuck in that sweaty, smelly cafeteria for so long just made me delirious, I can admit that my own insecurities drove me to do what I did." He admitted with a sigh. "And I did ask you about it afterwards, and you lied like there was nothing there, they were just like family or whatever. And then what, a week later I look on that stupid website and you're admitting that you used to be in love with one of them. It doesn't excuse what I did, not at all, but all you ever do is interrogate me about what and who I've done, yet you don't tell me shit either." He pointed out. Honestly, how they were still here and in love, he didn't know, but clearly they had some work to do. "You don't trust me either, and ignoring our problems isn't helping, so...we need to talk, Bree."

BREE usually matched Jake's energy. If he was chill and calm and mature then she would be too, but for some reason right now, she was still adamant on not doing this. A part of her brain was convinced, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that she could turn this around. "I don't want to talk. Every time we talk we fight and then we break up or you say you just can't do this right now, which feels like a break up, or I block you just to text you again after a week and..." She trailed off as she brain caught up with her mouth. "...and we never talk about it. So our problems stay problems and we always end up right back here." She said that more for herself than Jake, but she could at least appreciate what her boyfriend was trying to do. Break that unending cycle and actually work through their issues so they can grow. Exhaling out a big breath she stopped her pacing again and shrugged her jacket off before hanging it off the back of the couch. Slightly agitated that he was right, Bree held back an eye roll in favor of participating in this conversation. "I didn't lie to you, Jake. There isn't anything there. She is like family to me, all of them are. I was in love with her, in high school and we fooled around but she never felt the same. By the time my first year of college ended I wasn't in love with her anymore." It hadn't even really dawned on her that she hadn't told him about any of that because it felt so far away but she could see how it would be jarring to just read about it on the internet. "In september she asked me out, you had just dumped me or whatever you want to call it, and that dude had just offered me literal money to have sex with me and in general, the whole dating scene had been more than disappointing since we broke up the first time. I just didn't feel very good about myself. I knew I could trust her to make me feel good again without her having any expectations or feeling entitled to anything. So, I accepted her date. We did kiss and then she asked me out for a second date. I said yes, but then she told me you could see herself falling in love with me and that she wanted to take her and I seriously. I told her I couldn't because I was already in love with you and that I didn't see that changing. We watched the movie she took me to see and that was the end of it." She finally finished and she found herself leaning againt her couch next to Jake as she looked at him.

JAKE was about to interrupt when Bree recanted how most of their fights usually went down, which was spot on, but he chose to stay silent for now. With their fight and the unsaid bullshit lingering in the air for over a month now, he had already planned to cut off the sex if they didn't solve this now. It would be almost impossible to hold out, but he also knew that as long as they were physical in other ways, he could manage without letting Bree think that he didn't love her, like what had happened before. But for the sake of this not turning out how all of their fights did, he remained quiet again, and sure enough, Bree started to explain things this time without downplaying it. He wasn't surprised that his suspicions were right and that there had been something there, and now it made sense why he felt like one of those weirdos was eye-fucking his girl in the cafeteria. He could be humble about being right later, but he let Bree continue before he turned a little to face her. "Fine, you didn't lie, but you left it out. Being in that cafeteria with you and them was the first time I'd ever actually seen you all together, so it was just a lot and I got suspicious seeing someone else eyeing you like that." He stated and shrugged. "I'm sorry. I should have just asked you about it instead of going through your phone." Jake admitted before he reached over and grabbed his girl's hand, pulling her right into his lap. "And for what it's worth, I didn't hide the whole sleeping with my friend thing from you, I just forgot. It was a quickie after we both vented about our exes, and then she ran back to her boy the next day, and it wasn't memorable so it honestly slipped my mind. That's the only reason I didn't tell you about it." He stated reassuringly. "But are we gonna talk about you sleeping with her boyfriend? 'Cause I thought there was only one white boy in the picture but then there was another one? We need to talk about your tastes, Bree." He teased.

BREE hadn't really thought about how, because their relationship was a secret the first time around, Jake hadn't seen her with anyone other than himself or whoever her parents had her publicly interacting with. It was the first time she was considering how, jarring, it probably was to see her so comfortable and loving toward someone that wasn't him. Which was her own fault, she should never have had their relationship so separate from everyone in her life. Letting herself get pulled into his lap, she leaned into him and instantly felt more comfortable than she had ever felt while they were- well they weren't actually fighting, which was shocking. Lord knows they had fought, and would fight, over a whole lot less. But right now, she wasn't mad. Is this what maturing felt like? Normally this explanation would sound like a really terrible excuse but she believes with everything in her, that sex with Ellie would be extremely easy to forget. Holding back a smile, she bit her bottom lip at his critism of her choice in sexual partners. "My tastes, as always, are immaculate. Because neither one of them count. I didn't chose Shep, so he can't be held against me and not to pull a you but I immediately forgot Miles even existed, let alone that I'd slept with him, until I saw him in lockdown." Before he could protest, she placed a sweet kiss on his lips. "Besides, I only slept with them because I was trying not to sleep with you. Which I was not successful in." She admitted, remembering how quickly she folded for him at that damn mixer. "Anyway, you're the only one I've wanted since the night we met. So you don't need to worry about anyone elses eyes on me. You never did." She wrapped her arms around his neck.

JAKE wasn't surprised that Bree didn't expect his list to be so short, but she shrugged anyways. "To be honest, after that shit you pulled at the mixer, I did intend on there being a lot more. But then I met Puck and Maya, moved in with them, and pointless sex wasn't really that important anymore." He had pretty much said this to Bree before, and he had meant it aside from forgetting the thing with Ellie, so at least now she knew everything. When Bree started explaining her own shit, he wasn't even sure how to feel about there being 'several women' that had apparently been with his girl, or the fact that 'several' seemed to imply that Bree had slept with more people than even he had. For how much shit she gave him even when they weren't back together, it was a little shocking that she'd clearly been busier than he had been. But when she revealed two of the women she'd slept with, Jake's eyes widened. "You slept with my friend?" He scoffed. "The woman has literally tatted my entire body, I wing woman for her, and you're telling me you slept with her months ago and both of you just said nothing?" He gasped. "And then you slept with my brother's baby mama? The same one who we now see regularly? What the fuck, Bree?"

BREE had already known that Jake chose to prioritize his new found family but she had been telling herself that he was lying. Because that made it easier for her to justify not talking to him or working through her own feelings about their relationship, how it was, how it ended and how quickly it started up again after she saw him at that mixer. Being mad at him became her armor, and at first it had felt good but eventually it just made her miserable. Ultimately, she had been hypocritical in interrogating him about every woman he even looked like he might have spoken to, while she was actively sleeping with pretty much everyone who showed an interest. Which is why when he eye went wide and she knew he was judging her, she didn't stop him or defend herself. It was wrong of her to sleep with his friend, and while she hadn't been thinking about that at the time, hell she hadn't even known, she should have said something as soon as she figured it out but instead she kept it to herself. Santana, well, that was several levels of bad. "I know. I know. I should've told you, I didn't know when I slept with them who they were to you but eventually I did and I just... I was scared that you wouldn't forgive me and that I'd lose you." That was most of the truth, but since they were doing this, she might as well give the whole truth. He probably already knew anyway. "I also didn't want to be the bad guy. But I was the bad guy and I should have take accountability for that." That fear started to rise up, that this would be the thing that broke them. That she would be the one to ruin it beyond repair. "Can you forgive me?" She asked, her eyes big and pleading.

JAKE didn't even know how to process all of this right at the moment, not with Bree sitting on his lap and seeming mostly genuine with her explanation and her pleas. If there was one thing going around, it was people sleeping with friends or whatever of the people they were dating or fucking, so he figured it made sense that she'd ended up in bed with people that had some sort of tie to him. And he could be pissed, sure, but they were in a better place, so why should he take them back to square one? Staring back into her eyes at her question, he sighed. "You know, it's not so much that you're being the bad guy when you eventually come clean." He pointed out. "I believe you. About not knowing who they were beforehand." He nodded. Had he wished she'd said something when she realized it? Obviously. But it was done and they were here now, so he just shrugged. "I forgive you. But starting today, we are done keeping secrets. If we're gonna do this and try to make this work, we have to be completely honest with one another at all times." It was a big ask for them, but Jake knew that at this point, they truly had no other choice if they were getting back together — officially, anyways. "Is there anyone else I specifically need to know about? Did you sleep with Morgan, Eva, Noel, my sister, anyone else related to any of us?" He questioned curiously. "And just so we're clear, I haven't." He confirmed.

BREE felt an immense sense of relief as he said he forgave her and she could tell he meant it. This mature side of Jake was incredibly endearing and it was motivating. Not that she would admit to being immature, but she was petty and manipulative and passive aggressive and she could be cold, she wasn't called the ice queen for nothing. But this whole, mature, honest and forgiving Jake was really bringing out her own maturity and warmth and joy. So, when he said they needed to keep up this energy for the duration of their relationship, she found herself immediately nodding in agreement. "Yes, sir." She said with a smile as she kissed his cheek. "Morgan is basically another older brother, so ew definitely not. In the spirit of honesty, I tried to sleep with Eva, even took her class but then the whole throuple thing happened. I've met Noel like twice and the extent of my communication with Ali is her sending me memes I do not understand. As for anyone else..." Leaning back a little to think about his question, she knew it probably looked some kind of way that she couldn't immediately say no, but she just wanted to run through the list of people to make sure. "No, I have no slept with anyone else related to you or our inner circle." Leaning in again, she kissed him. "I just wanted to get over you and when not talking to you didn't work I thought sleeping around in front of your face would. It didn't, obviously and it just made me miss you more, to be honest. Which was very embarrassing to me. Point is, I'm sorry for being a bitch after the whole mixer hook up thing. In the future, I'll just talk to you or let you talk instead of cutting you out and then trying to use you for sex or whatever I was doing."

EVA groaned as soon as Pia turned down the Puckerman's street. The fact that her mom had forced her to show up with some Filipino dish after forcing her to stay at the family house for over a week was hands down the most brutal punishment Paula had ever inflicted on any of the Anderson children, and now that they were here, all she wanted to do was run. But considering that she couldn't exactly drive by herself, she had to improvise as best as she could. Her plan was to only go to the door, say hi, hand over the dish, and then immediately flee back to her sister's car. Puck had asked her to stay for a bit if she could, but this was the most she could do. She was far too sober to stick around, but especially not when Noel was gonna be there too. Ignoring whatever advice her sister tried to give her as she stopped out front, she just shook her head. "Just shut up and keep the car running." She advised before climbing out, and then it took her a few seconds longer than it should have to properly grab the pan with her one good hand. "This is so embarrassing.." She muttered to herself, gently kicking Pia's car door shut before she started her walk of torture up the driveway. While Eva would normally hold her head up high in even the worst situations, having to pretend that she was okay when one wrist was in a cast and she wasn't even driving herself around in front of Puck's family was different. Between him, his mom, Maya, and Santana, she was sure that all of them would ask what happened, and she didn't know if she could lie to them and make it believable. Once she reached the front door, Eva had to use her elbow to ring the doorbell, and then it was just her luck that it was Jake who came to open the door. He furrowed his brows at the cast before turning around to look for his brother. "Bro, it's for you!" Jake stated smugly before he properly greeted Eva, and then headed back to his seat with Bree.

PUCK loved Thanksgiving, really he loved any holiday that brought all of the people he loved together. Even though there was one person missing, he'd still managed to spend the whole day, smiling and laughing and enjoying the company of the people he cared most about. A part of him had been surprised at Morgan's arrival but his smile was ear to ear when he opened that door to his tall cowboy. Maybe he'd looked around for another car pulling up through the window as he tended to the food in the kitchen. Enough, that his mom did her hand on his neck thing, to calm him down and keep him grounded. Thankfully, it worked and he went right back to giving Jake and Ali a hard time, because it's his right as a big brother, and soon Maya and his mom were defending them and the house was filled with joy and so was Puck. They'd finally been able to eat, Puck was a bit extra about everyone sitting down to eat together on this day but it felt good to see everyone dig in to the food he, and his helpers (his kid and his mom), lovingly cooked for them. So when they were getting ready to overstuff themselves with dessert, he was surprised to hear someone was at the door, but he figured it was maybe a neighbor and he desperately hoped it wasn't that neighbor. But when Jake said it was for him, he figured it couldn't be her because he'd have mentioned that. But then who? Everyone he loved and invited was there. Except- as he walked up to the front door he couldn't help the smile the spread across his face. "You came." He said, before taking the dish from her and stepping aside to let her in. When he looked down he noticed her covered wrist. She was hurt. His brows furrowed and his face was covered in concern. "What happened?" Before he could get an answer his mom and daughter were flanking him on either side. "You must be Eva, oh my goodness, it's so nice to finally meet you. I'm Nora, Noah's mom. You have to have some pie with us and tell us what you brought because it smells delicious." Just for good measure Maya decided to chime in too. "Oh my God, yes, you have to come in and give me honest feedback on my campaign posters, because dad and grandma just say they're amazing, but they say that about everything I do." Puck tugged Maya back by the hem of her shirt and as he was about to apologize the bathroom door opened and it looked like everyone was having the same realization at the same time, except Eva, which was, shit, they're all in the same place at the same time.

MORGAN took a deep breath as he washed his hands in the Puckermans’ bathroom, staring at his reflection in the mirror. His eyes were a little more sunken than usual, the shadows of grief lingering on his face despite his easy-going nature. It had been hard to find the holiday spirit with the ache of his granddad's absence weighing him down, but he’d been determined to show up for Puck. He owed him that much, especially after everything. He’d even trimmed his beard, just like Puck had, that one day he’d been over to take care of him. As he’d arrived at the other man’s house, he’d had a bouquet of sunflowers, and it had felt like a small, but honest gesture; a piece of himself he could offer without overstepping. He’d mostly given them to Puck’s mom, with a grateful ‘thank you for having me over’, as he’d taken his cowboy hat in respect. He appreciated being here, even if it wasn’t home. The smell of roasted turkey and the sound of laughter did help a little, and seeing Puck grin like a kid when they hugged at the door made Morgan feel like maybe, just maybe, he hadn’t completely ruined things between them. He sighed, wiping his hands on a towel, and rolled the sleeves of his freshly-ironed maroon shirt up his arms, past his elbows and took one look at himself. It was a rare occasion that Morgan even ironed his shirt, but here he was, having put an effort into himself, and was wearing his Sunday best. He pushed the bathroom door open, ready to rejoin the lively group. Except he wasn’t ready for what - or rather, who - was waiting just a few steps away. Morgan froze mid-step, his gaze locking onto Eva. She stood near the door, her wrist in a cast, cradling a dish in her other arm, her expression a mix of discomfort and defiance. For a moment, he thought he might be imagining it. His surprise softened quickly into quiet happiness, his lips curving into a small, warm smile. “Well, hey there,” he said gently, his voice low but warm, as if he didn’t want to startle her. “Didn’t expect to see you here.” He walked over to stand behind his chair, holding onto it - for moral support? He didn’t know. He looked up at Eva again, but when their eyes met again, he gave her the faintest nod. No words, just quiet reassurance. Whatever she needed - space, support, or just a minute to breathe - he’d be here, keeping his distance but ready to help.

EVA hated when her plans didn't pan out how she'd wanted them to, and the second she saw that smile on Puck's face, followed by his reaction to thinking she had showed up to stay for a bit, she knew she wasn't about to just leave. That was further confirmed when both Nora and Maya came over, but she still smiled at them both as they clearly made their stance on it known too. "It's nice to finally meet you too, Mrs. Puckerman." She responded genuinely before she turned to Maya. "I can't stay long, but I'll look at your posters too." Turning down Puck and Morgan would have been one thing, but Nora and Maya? Impossible. She still hadn't set foot in the house yet when Morgan emerged from the bathroom, and her face was a mixture of both confusion, surprise, and slight relief. Paula had forbid Pia from bringing Eva back home unless she handed them both their dishes, so this saved her a trip, at least. But god, she hadn't been prepared to have to face them both under the same roof, while sober, and around everyone else. If there were ever a time for her to drink, it was right now. But since she couldn't, she just gave Morgan . "I didn't expect to see you here either, but Paula made something for you too so this kills two birds with one stone. I'll just uh..go get it." She muttered before Jake sprang up again. "I'll get it. You should get that pie Nora offered."Jake stated before he took off outside. With that solved, Eva really didn't have another excuse so she chewed on the inside of her cheek as she walked into the house. The best thing she could do was just start talking if she wanted to get out of here as soon as she could, so she turned to Puck and Nora first. "That's Inihaw na Manok — basically a barbecue chicken, some Filipino bread, and some sauce she swears pairs well with both." She explained as she motioned towards the pan in Puck's hand. "And uh..I'll explain the wrist later." She whined, though she was hoping he'd let it go after the pie thing. But needing to change the subject quickly, Eva turned her attention to the table, where the aforementioned pie was. "I can uh..take that slice of pie to go. After I go look at Maya's posters." She offered. Unfortunately for her, Jake walked back in with the other pan, and with Pia in tow since he'd invited her inside for pie as well. "Great." Eva groaned. "Well, can we sit down and get this over with now?"

PUCK was use to the holiday's being, a lot, but this was chaotic, even for him, and yet he felt, whole. Like for once there wasn't this void in him that all the love and happiness couldn't fill. As everyone was interacting and Eva was talking, he put his hand oveer his chest because it felt tight. Apparently, it had been too long since he's spoken because he was getting nudged by his daughter so he looked down at her, "Huh?" he said struggling to zone back into the moment, she was about to speak when Jake came back inside, when did he leave?, and not alone, he came back with, who Puck assumed, was Eva's little sister. He smiled at her and introduced himself before all of his senses kicked back on, and his smile returned to his face, although he hadn't forgotten about Eva's wrist and now that he'd processed what she'd said he knew whatever happened she was embarrassed. Took one to know one, he guessed. Soon, Maya was all but skipping off to bring her posters out and his mom was taking the pan of Inihaw na Manok from him and now his hands were free and it was just him, Eva and Morgan at the door, so he closed the front door and couldn't help but look at the two people he loved as they were all together again and for the first time in months it felt, good. "Pie, umm, we've got a couple options.' He said as he started leading them to the table. "There's pumpkin, sweet potato, apple and key lime." Before he could get another word out, Maya was there with posters and button in hand. "Dad made them all but I helped with the apple pie! And grandma made the ice cream and whipped cream. She said proudly and Puck smiled. "Uhh, yeah, so be nice if you don't like it." He laughed as he got ready to serve them with a couple plates. "What's looking good to you? Personally I do the Pie Platter, which is a slice of each with a shit ton of whipped cream and a scoop of ice cream on the side." He explained. It was taking a lot not to reach out and hold them or touch them in some way, but the fact that both of them were there, in front of him and it wasn't a day dream or something made it hard not to smile anyway. Even if it wasn't all perfect, or exactly what he wanted, it was a start, maybe.

MORGAN stepped back slightly as the conversation picked up again - Nora greeting Eva, Maya jumping in with her usual enthusiasm - giving Eva space to navigate the whirlwind of attention. He caught Puck’s gaze from across the room, the expression on his face unmistakable: happiness, mixed with something deeper. Morgan felt a familiar pang, but he swallowed it down. When the group moved toward the dining table, Morgan followed at a respectful distance. He was grateful just to be here, grateful to Puck and Nora for welcoming him when he had nowhere else to go this Thanksgiving. As Puck rattled off the dessert options, Morgan stayed quiet, his hands slipping into his pockets. He caught snippets of the conversation; Eva mentioning she couldn’t stay long, Maya showing off her posters - and let himself fade into the background for a moment, content to watch and listen. When it was his turn, he glanced up at Puck, his smile faint but sincere. “Pumpkin sounds good,” he said simply, his voice steady. “Thank you.” He didn’t elaborate, didn’t add to the noise of the room. Instead, he slid into a seat, quietly settling in as the pie was served. This whole situation with Puck and Eva wasn’t perfect - it was messy and complicated and far from the way things used to be - but for Morgan, this right here was enough. For now, he was here, and so were they, and that was more than he’d dared hope for. He woke up from his little daydreaming, as he heard Nora's voice, who was sat next to him. “How's your grandmother doing, Morgan? I'm sorry to hear about the passing of your granddad. I hope she's staying well.” The question had the cowboy almost choking on his pumpkin pie, but he swallowed hard and shot it down with a sip of his water, before dapping his lips of any leftover crumbs. “It's been hard for her,” Morgan started and nodded to himself. “But my family's in Montana with 'er, and I'm sure that once she's found a new routine, she'll be okay. But thank you for askin', ma'am.”

EVA had no choice but to roll with things now, so as soon as Maya was back with her posters, she went ahead and took a look at them as Noah led them over to the table and gave a break down of the pie selection. Honestly, it was a nice spread of dessert, and she wasn't exactly mad about getting sucked into staying now. She let Morgan choose a pie first as she told Maya what to add to her posters to really make them stand out, and she even promised to come back another day to help her if she'd wanted her to. They'd have to worry about that later though, and preferably when Puck wasn't home so she didn't have to keep doing this whole awkward thing over and over. Once Maya went to put her posters aside, Eva finally turned her attention back to the pie. "I don't like pumpkin, but I'll do the whole Pie Platter thing with the others." She decided. And as expected, Jake came back after dropping the pan off in the kitchen and took his seat back next to Bree, and then offered Pia an open seat out of the way so the throuple could all sit next to each other. Eva made a mental note to kick Jake's ass later, but she went ahead and sat down next to Morgan anyways. She was more than content to just be served her pie in silence, but when Nora mentioned Morgan's granddad dying, she furrowed her brows. "Wait, what?" She interrupted as Morgan answered Nora, and once he finished, she reached a hand over and lightly slapped his arm. "Why didn't you tell me about your granddad?" She questioned. He had sent her enough texts lately to have mentioned it, and considering that Nora had asked, then obviously Puck had known about it and told her, so why the hell hadn't anyone told her? "I'm sorry for your loss." She added before she turned to Puck and slapped his arm too. "And why didn't you tell me either? Or tell me that you'd invited him here too?"

PUCK smiled as he started cutting a piece of pumpkin pie for Morgan, kind of nervous because, well, he'd made this and he hoped Morgan liked it. Putting a dollop of whipped cream on top he picked up the plate and to avoid stretching across anyone, he moved beside the chair Morgan was in and placed the plate down in front of him, his hand brushing over his shoulder as he moved back around to get Eva's reply. Again, he smiled as he started cutting pieces of the pies for her and arranging them nicely on the plate. He heard his mom talking to Morgan, but he wasn't much paying attention, Instead he went to the kitchen to get Eva her scoop of ice cream and when he got back, all he hear was "I'm sorry for you loss." Then he was being slapped in the arm. "Huh?" He said trying to buy himself time as he placed her Pie Platter in front of her. Part of him wanted to say, 'don't know, why didn't you tell me you hurt your wrist?' But he was trying not to be petty, especially with Morgan and Eva. So instead he just looked at her. "That kinda felt like something he should tell you." It was the truth but also he just wanted Eva and Morgan to talk more, to reconnect. All of their dynamics were strained but being on the outside of that dynamic, made Puck stressed and worried that they weren't communicating at all, and if they were it wasn't positive or fiing anything. And while he was trying not to force things to go the way he wants them to, he figured a nudge here and there and a little encouragement wasn't doing any harm. "I invite you both and I didn't know if either one of y'all were gonna show up." It wasn't really an answer to her question and he knew that but he also didn't really have an answer. Okay that's not true. "I was being selfish, damn." He finally said, hand sup in surrender. "I wanted my best shot at seeing you both today and at all of us seeing each other." Looking at Morgan, he wanted to apologize, he probably shouldn't have told his mom, but after he spent the night at the ranch, Puck had to answer to his mother and she wasn't one to ask a question and accept an incomplete answer, so he'd told her about the voice note and all of it. As if she could read his mind, his mom spoke again. "I'm so sorry, Morgan, I shouldn't have told your business like that." She looked at him, sincere in her apology, her hand on his shoulder offering a comforting squeeze, before she started making asking the other's what they wanted for dessert to give the three a moment.

MORGAN's eyes dropped to his plate as the words settled in the air. Talking about his granddad felt like trying to walk on a broken leg right now; it didn't get easier, no matter how much time passed. When Eva’s voice broke through, sharper and more direct, he looked up, surprised to find her eyes on him, and that she'd even slapped his arm, although it was soft. Why hadn’t he told her? “In my defense, I thought I'd included that detail, when I left you that voice note,” he admitted, his voice quieter than before, almost sheepish. “And you’ve also had a lot on your plate. I just didn’t want to add to it.” His hand found the edge of the table, gripping it gently for something to hold on to. His lips pressed into a thin line before he added, softly, “I’m sorry, though. I should’ve told you.” When Nora placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and apologized for sharing his business, Morgan shook his head gently, his gaze lifting to her. “It’s okay, ma’am,” he said, his voice low but sincere. “I appreciate you askin'. it means a lot.” His eyes flicked to Puck for a moment, a quiet apology lingering there, for letting this happen, before he allowed himself relax back into his chair. He didn’t want to linger on his loss, not when there was pie in front of him and people who’d opened their home to him, but the knot in his chest wouldn’t quite loosen. Still, he picked up his fork, offering a small, hesitant smile to the table. The conversation picked up around them, but Morgan remained quiet, just focusing on his pie in front of him. It warmed his heart that he'd been invited in to the Puckerman's house, and he was grateful for it. After everyone had finished their dessert, Morgan took a moment to himself to just be thankful for the entire day, before looking at the watch around his wrist; the one he'd been gifted by his granddad. “Well, I don't want to be a Debbie Downer, but I do have an important production to show up to tomorrow mornin', and I gave my coworkers the full week off, so I better get goin' home to my girls,” Morgan said, referring to his horses, and getting up from his seat. He gently shook Nora's hand. “Thank you once again for havin' me over, ma'am. It's been a real treat,” he gave her a gentle smile before moving over to give Maya a gentle nudge. “Tell your dad to bring you out soon, okay? I've got a few horses that need your type of wranglin',” he gave her a little nod and a convincing grin, before making his way to the door, grabbing his plate of food from Paula, as well as his hat. “I hope y'all enjoy the rest of your Thanksgiving.”

EVA dug into her pie as soon as Puck put her plate down, and she took in Morgan's answer to her questions first, before she accepted the first one from Puck. With everything Morgan clearly had going on, she understood him just overlooking the fact that he'd left it out. And with the whiplash she'd been getting from his voice note and his texts, it made sense that something like that had just gotten lost in everything else. When Puck then confessed to wanting them both to show up so they could all see each other, she couldn't even be mad at him so she just nodded in acceptance. There wasn't much else she could say to either one of them at the moment, so although she didn't like the awkward silence between them, she just bit her lip and scarfed down the rest of her pies as quickly as she could. By the time Morgan seemed to be trying to make his exit, she was somewhat glad that he was making the first move to leave since she was about to do the same. Yet she knew she'd have to tell Puck about her wrist, and if she told him the truth he'd just tell Morgan, who would no doubt question why she didn't tell him the full story, so she might as well get this over with just once. Letting everyone else say their goodbyes to Morgan, she used her good hand to grab one of Puck's as she stood up, forced him out of his seat as well, and headed for the door. "We'll walk you out." She muttered as she dropped Puck's hand so she could open the door and step aside. Honestly, being alone with them both wasn't ideal while she was sober, but they hadn't been alone together since the whole campus fiasco, so she knew they needed this. Once both men were outside and the door was closed, Eva sighed as she faced them. "I know there's probably a lot we all need to talk about, but if I don't come clean about my wrist now then I never will, and I'd rather you both heard it from me at the same time, so..screw it. After lockdown, when everything went to complete shit with all of us, I started drinking a lot. Like bottles of wine and tequila every single day. It was the only way I knew how to cope with my feelings and my anger and whatever else I feel towards you two, so maybe I went a little overboard. Anyways, last week, I got drunk and then tried to drive home or to my parents' house I guess, and I crashed my car into a tree and that's how I got injured. But you guys don't have to worry because my parents are basically treating me like a prisoner now and making me go to AA meetings, so I've learned my lesson." She explained, and maybe that last thing wasn't entirely true but she sure as hell wasn't going to tell them that. "I should have told you when it happened, and I'm sorry that I didn't, but I knew you both would've tried to come over and take care of me, and I just wasn't ready to see you. Or..I guess I wasn't ready to let you see just how badly I've been handling the whole us not talking or seeing each other thing." God, how she hated being this vulnerable, especially with the two idiots who were responsible for the current headspace she was in, but if AA had taught her anything it was the importance of facing her bullshit head on — no matter how much she would have preferred to just take all of this to the grave. "And if either one of you feels the need to scold me for my actions, can we just postpone it for like a week? My entire family has been lecturing me since the wreck happened, so I can't handle another one right now."

PUCK sat down and watched as they ate their pie and felt a little swell of pride because it looked like they were enjoying them and he took a mental note. Pumpkin for Morgan and anything but Pumpkin for Eva. For a few minutes it was quiet between them and now Puck was worried about Morgan and how he was coping and process and about Eva, because how did she hurt herself? But they were together and Puck chose to focus on that while they ate. Too soon, Morgan was standing up and announcing his departure and he felt an ache as the room said their goodbyes to the cowboy. Then his hand was being tugged on by Eva and he stood with her. It took him a minute but just before she said they'd walk him out, he figured out that's what she wanted to do. Surprising though, since she seemed to be in avoi them at all costs mode, recently, which he understood, but now, maybe she didn't want to avoid them anymore? Following them both outside, he actively avoided the eyes of his family as he shut the door behind them. Soon enough they'd be up his ass about what happened so he intended to enjoy whatever brief moment they were about to have. Before him or Morgan, for that matter, had a chance to ask or say anything Eva was talking and Puck's eyes were on here. Intend to listen. With every sentence, every word she spoke, Puck felt his heart clench and his stomach drop and just when he didn't think it could get worse she'd say something else. It was hard for Puck not to blame himself, not to spiral into that place of shame and self hatred he'd spent the last six weeks clawing his way out of. But just having his people there, kept him grounded enough not to sink. It was a lot to take in, not just what she'd done, but about why she'd done it, and how that made him feel. Even if she hadn't told them not to scold her, he wouldn't. How could he when he'd been just as bad during lockdown, before lockdown. Even though he was worried and concerned, he was grateful to her family, to her parents for making her get help and keeping an eye on her. He was devastated that she'd kept it from him and Morgan because she hadn't been ready to face them or the way they'd made her feel. Yet, there was also a spark of hope, because she wouldn't have shown them such vulnerability unless she wanted some kind of future with them. Unless, a part of her wanted to rebuild that trust, they'd lost. The same reason Morgan sent those voice notes, the same reason he'd written those letters. In their own ways they were showing each other that they still wanted this to work, even if they didn't know how to get there yet. "I'm kinda just grateful you wanted to tell us at all." He admitted looking at her with a slight smile on his face. "Plus, not like I got any room to talk." He looked between the two of them, still ashamed of how he'd behaved from when he dad showed up again to lockdown. Fuck knows, he was a man of many mistakes and regrets, but he was really trying to do better, make better choices everyday. Choices that he could be proud of and he hoped Eva and Morgan were doing the same. "I'd like to be able to check on you though. Maybe you wouldn't mind me being around when you come back to help Maya. I don't wanna push but I care about you and no matter what kinda relationship we've got I wanna be there for you, however you'll let me." He took in a breath. "If you'll let me."

MORGAN stood outside, the crisp evening air brushing against his face as he adjusted his hat. He wasn’t sure why Eva had insisted on walking him out, but he didn’t ask. When it came to the two of them - hell, the three of them - he’d learned to let things unfold instead of forcing the matter. When Eva began to speak, her words hit him like a slow, deliberate wave, each sentence heavier than the last. Morgan kept his face steady, though his chest tightened with every word she shared. As she finished, the silence stretched out, raw and thick between them. He shifted his weight, his boots scuffing the driveway, and he looked at her with a gentleness he’d been saving for moments like this. “Eva,” he started softly, his voice as steady as he could manage, “I can’t imagine how hard that must’ve been for you.” He glanced at Puck, then back at Eva. “I hate that you’ve been goin’ through all that on your own. I hate that I wasn’t-... someone you could turn to when it got bad. But I understand why.” He let out a slow breath, his finger looping into his brown belt. “I’m sorry for everythin' I’ve done that made you feel like you couldn’t let me help.” His gaze softened even more as he added, “I ain’t gonna scold you. I don’t have the right. I’ve done my fair share of messin’ up.” Morgan hesitated, his fingers brushing over the edge of the leather of his belt like he wanted to fidget but forced himself to stand still. “I’m just real glad you’re still here, Eva. If you ever decide you want me to be there, even just to sit on the porch while you yell at me, I’d come runnin’. No questions, no expectations.” He swallowed hard, his voice quieter now. “I care about you, Eva. That hasn’t changed, and it won’t.” He glanced at Puck again, offering him a small, knowing nod, before stepping back and letting his smile creep through - soft, humble, and just a little sad. “You don’t have to say anything back. I just-... I needed you to know that. Both of you.”

EVA had half expected there to be some kind of lecture, since that was all she'd gotten lately, but she probably should have saw this coming. Both Puck and Morgan had fucked up countless times before, so of course they'd both be this damn gentle with her, even when she didn't deserve it. But it was a nice change of pace from the reaction she was getting at home at least, and it should have warmed her heart the way that it did, but that was kind of a typical reaction whenever they did something that wasn't breaking her heart. Letting them both say what they needed to say, she finally shrugged. "For the record, you're both horrible at keeping your distance anyways. Not that I'm complaining, but it was kinda obvious that you both still care about me." She pointed out, and it was rather evident, even if Morgan had been sending her mixed signals and she'd been more frustrated with him lately. "And it's not that I don't want either of one of you being there for me, I just don't know how to do any of this when we're..like this." She probably should have planned out what she wanted to say before showing up, but she also hadn't expected to see both of them at the same time either, so there hadn't been a way to properly plan out any of this, so she just had to wing it. "Noah, you can be here when I come back to help Maya. And I'm not gonna make you come over just so I can yell at you, Morgan. I can't promise that I'll ask either of you for help when I need it, but you can both check on me, and you can both come to me whenever you need me or if something happens — like losing your granddad." Eva stated before she turned to Morgan. "I really am sorry for your loss, and if you need anything, no matter what it is, just say the word." She offered before she stepped closer to him and kissed him softly, and then she turned to Puck. "And if you or Maya need anything, the same goes for you." She stated before stepping closer and kissing him just as softly.

PUCK kind of felt like he was dreaming. Not this today but the last couple of weeks. Things just seemed a bit too, good. I mean, things were still complicated and they were all still going through a lot, individually but right now, it felt like, maybe, they could work through it, together. Puck realized that might be asking for a lot, and just because they weren't arguing or yelling or whatever, at each other, didn't mean they were good or that they were going to find their way back to each other like he wanted. But it did give him hope. Hope that it wasn't impossible. While he was trying not to get his hopes up, he was an eternal optimist so he just couldn't help it. Both him and Morgan getting a kiss from Eva wasn't doing much to stifle that hope. But when he looked at them both, he could see that there was still so much for them to work through. Morgan's sunken eyes, a little lighter than they were but still heavy. Eva's clear exhaustion from being so vulnerable and the mental fight he knew she was having about whether to drink or not after this. At least it's what he would be thinking, it's what he still thought sometimes. So far he'd won those battles, and it looked like Eva had too, just like it looked like Morgan was forging a path forward, but they were going to misstep and stumble and fall and none of their foundations were strong enough to sustain themselves, let alone each other. Not yet, anyway. It made moments like this bittersweet, but Puck believed it wouldn't be forever, not with them all wanting to see each other and be there for one another. They'd figure it out, but it was gonna suck getting there. Pausing to just sit in the moment for a little longer, Puck reached out to them both, putting a gentle hand on each. "I appreciate you both coming tonight. I know things between us are rough, to say the fucking least, but having you both her made everything feel... complete. I know that sounds like a line, but I swear it's not." He said looking between them both, face full of earnestness.

MORGAN stood out in the pasture, his weathered jeans dusted at the knees, boots planted firmly in the grass. The late afternoon sun bathed the ranch in a golden glow, stretching long shadows across the rolling pastures. A light breeze carried the soft scent of hay and the distant sound of horses snorting contentedly as they grazed. It was the kind of quiet that settled deep in his bones, the kind that made him feel steady again after weeks of chaos and grieving. In one hand, he held a halved apple, extending it out carefully as the doe before him stepped closer. Her ears flicked warily, but her nose twitched with interest. Behind her, a speckled fawn poked its head out from her flank, watching the scene unfold with the same cautious curiosity. “Come on, girl,” Morgan said softly, his voice a low drawl as gentle as the breeze. “Ain’t nobody here gonna hurt ya.” The doe took another step, her dark eyes meeting his as if measuring the trust between them. With a delicate stretch of her neck, she plucked the apple from his hand, her teeth crunching quietly as she chewed. Morgan smiled, a dimple sinking into his cheek beneath the scruff of his beard. “That’s it. See? Nothin’ to it,” he murmured, as the fawn took a hesitant step closer. From his back pocket, he pulled another apple, already sliced, and crouched down to hold it out. The fawn looked up at its mother, seeking silent permission, before inching closer to take the offered fruit. It was in that quiet moment that the sound of tires crunching over gravel met Morgan’s ears. He looked up toward the drive, squinting against the sun, and his chest gave a familiar, achy squeeze when he saw Eva’s car rolling to a stop. He watched as she got out of the car, and motioned for her to be quiet and come towards him gently, hoping it wouldn’t startle the animals. “Here,” He told her, holding has hand out for her to take, so he could give her another apple half, so she could try feeding then curious fawn.

EVA had been grateful that her cast had just been reduced to a much more tolerable splint that she could adjust or remove when need be, making it much easier for her to do things for herself again, and things had mostly started to feel normal again. Her car had been repaired and restored to majority of its glory, she was back focused on work, and she was back in her own damn condo. There wasn't much more she could have asked for, but she was also back on civil speaking terms with Morgan and Puck and well...that scared her more than she'd wanted to admit (to anyone other than Bree, anyways). Agreeing to hang out with them individually, without anyone around to cockblock, was going to test the hell out of her sobriety, but as she pulled into the familiar driveway of Morgan's ranch, she knew there was no turning back now. Once she stopped and shut off the engine, she was half expecting him to motion for her to head towards the house so when she got out and saw he wasn't doing this, she sighed to herself. Of course the man would want her to stand out here and watch him be cute with animals! She had thought she was prepared for him to be his usual self today, but this was proving her wrong. But she just nodded and stepped over anyways, taking his hand as she peered at the deer. "You make a habit of befriending deer?" She asked softly. "I shouldn't be surprised, but I still am. Is this a common thing, or were these just fascinated by you being the animal whisperer and wanted to stop and chill with you for a minute?"

MORGAN's lips tugged into a soft smile as Eva took his hand, her fingers fitting against his as naturally as sunlight warming his skin. “Well, I can’t say it’s a regular habit,” he drawled, his voice rich with that warm, familiar cadence she could probably pick out of a crowd. “But every now and then, they wander by. I reckon they can tell when a place feels safe.” He glanced back at the doe and her fawn, who had relaxed enough to nibble at the grass nearby, their trust not entirely broken by Eva’s presence. “Animals got a way of knowin’ things about people. They don’t care what you say or how you dress - they just go off what they feel. Guess they figured I was worth takin’ a chance on.” His gaze flickered back to Eva, softening as he took her in. She looked good - better than good, even, now that she wasn’t weighed down by the cast or the bruises from before. The sight of her standing there, so close yet still feeling just out of reach, stirred something tender and a little raw in his chest. Morgan’s smile deepened as he gently squeezed her hand. “Now you, on the other hand, I wasn’t so sure you’d take me up on this invite. Thought maybe you’d change your mind and call Bree to bail you out.” His tone was teasing, but the faint hitch at the end betrayed something a little more vulnerable. “Glad you didn’t, though. Been lookin’ forward to this.” He hesitated, his thumb brushing lightly over her knuckles. “How you been? Really, I mean. Feels like forever since we’ve had a chance to just talk."

EVA nodded along as he spoke, deciding that she'd just listen to him talk about the animal thing for now. This was one of the reasons why she'd fallen for him in the first place, and as much as she hated it right now, she couldn't fight the way her heart swelled at this. If there was ever a time for her to drink, it would be right now. But since she couldn't, all she could do was just suck it up and admire the fact that he was hands down one of the most gentle men she'd ever met. "Every animal you meet feels that way about you, you know?" She questioned rhetorically, since she was sure that he knew that. Animals were almost as drawn to him as people were, which both annoyed her and intrigued her, but she was overlooking that as best as she could for now. When he shifted gears and turned the attention on her, she furrowed her brows a little bit when he mentioned Bree. "Wait, did she tell you what I said?" She was positive that Bree wouldn't have gone into the specifics of their conversation about him and Puck, but then again, those two were besties so maybe she had disclosed the intel as a precaution? She could understand it, sure, but it also gave her a reason to reconsider just how much she chose to share with Bree in case they were putting her in the middle of their bullshit. Letting Morgan speak up again, Eva sighed as she wrestled with how to answer his question. She used to be much better at concealing how she truly felt, yet lately, everyone in her life seemed to call her out whenever she tried lying so it seemed to be fruitless. "I'm a mess." She answered truthfully. "My wrist is better, and I'm back home and in class so that's a good start, but..I've been a wreck since everything went south with us and Puck. My parents are still making me go to AA too but to be fair, I don't think it's working like it should be since it wasn't my decision to go. But I still haven't had a drink since the wreck so..guess we're good?"

MORGAN listened quietly, his hand falling to his side as Eva's words sank in. She was still fighting her battles, and from the way her voice wavered, he could tell how much it was taking out of her. The urge to fix things - to smooth out the rough edges and take some of that weight off her shoulders - tugged at him, but he knew better. Eva wasn’t the kind of woman who wanted rescuing, not in this situation, and if there was one thing he’d learned the hard way, it was that she had to work through this at her own pace. “You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for,” he said after a moment, his voice soft but steady. “I know it doesn’t feel like it right now, but takin’ it one step at a time? That’s somethin’ to be proud of. You’ve got this, Eva. And if you ever need someone to just listen, well, you know where to find me.” He gave her a small smile, one that carried more hope than he dared speak aloud. “As for Bree,” he added, his tone lightening a bit, “you know she’s got your back. She’d never put you in a spot you couldn’t handle, no matter what she might’ve told me. And, for the record, she was just the first person I thought of, since she's the one who sees you the most, on a regular basis. With classes, her thesis, and brand management. Right?” He couldn't deny that there was some sort of curiosity floating around in his brain, wanting to know what they'd talked about; but he wasn't the type of guy to ask that, and so, he decided to put that thought to rest, and let it be. Morgan stepped closer, closing a bit of the space between them. There was that typical, automatic magnetic pull that Eva had about her, that he didn't even hesitate to give in to. Now that she was here - even if it was in a civil-kind of manner - he wasn't about to pass up the opportunity to be closer to her. “But I’m glad you came. I missed this.” His gaze dropped to her hand for a moment before meeting her eyes again. “I missed you.”

EVA had spent the past month being pushed — or forced, depending on how you looked at her entire family prying and her having to analyze her issues in AA — into opening up and being vulnerable, and she was both overwhelmed and pissed about it. Repeating how she felt about everything didn't feel like it was helping, even if her mom said otherwise, but without alcohol as her alternative to opening up, she didn't have any other options. Morgan trying to praise her and give her some sort of credit felt like it wasn't deserved, but maybe he did have a point? "Thank you." She muttered softly, deciding that was really all she could say in response to that for now. She did know that him and Puck were there for her if she needed to talk, but she also knew that even with her guard up again, she was pathetically weak for them and would just fold, which she was trying not to do now. "Yeah, I guess that makes sense. And you're not entirely wrong because I was struggling with deciding to show up or not." She confessed. Maybe that was too honest, but she had learned her lesson about not being completely honest so it was for the best. Biting her lip as he stepped closer, Eva didn't have a clue how she still had her bearings, for the most part anyways. This was what she'd been afraid of. Spending time together was one thing, but when he got this close to her, close enough for them to inhale each other's scents and hear every breath the other took, she was far too weak to stand her ground. And of course Morgan would say some shit she knew, but did not need to hear in her current state, and she hated the way her heart skipped a beat at that. "Morgan.." She uttered his name almost as if she might break if she'd said it any louder than that. "I know, and I—" Miss you too. It was the truth, but as she met his gaze again, she couldn't bring herself to say it so she just nodded. "I know."

MORGAN had been standing on the edge of something fragile and electric. The way Eva had said his name - it was barely a whisper, but it struck deep enough to stop his breath for a beat. Her honesty, even when she struggled to say what he could already feel radiating between them, reminded him why he’d fallen so hard for her in the first place. The nod she gave him, subtle but weighted, was all the invitation he needed. Slowly, he leaned closer, his hand shifting slightly as if to steady himself - or her. The air between them grew still, heavy with unspoken truths and unrelenting longing. Just one kiss, that’s all he wanted. No, needed. He was so close, he could smell her perfume, could feel her breath, and just one inch closer, and his lips would be on hers. Then, the sound of laughter broke through the quiet, startling both him and the deer grazing a little ways off. “Y’all done being moony-eyed out here, or should we come back later?” Peyton's teasing voice carried as she strolled toward them, reins over her shoulder and a mischievous grin that could only come from someone who’d been waiting for the perfect moment to interrupt. Morgan sighed, the moment shattered but not entirely lost. He turned his head just in time to see Brodie following behind Peyton, her boots kicking up little puffs of dust as she led her chestnut mare toward them. The tall cowboy ran a hand through his hair and turned toward his sisters, his lips twitching into a reluctant smile. “Y’all are the worst,” he drawled, but there was no real bite in his words. “But since you’re here, I might as well introduce you.” He glanced back at Eva, his gaze softening as he nodded toward the approaching pair. “Eva, these two troublemakers are my sisters, Brodie and Peyton. Peyton’s the one with the loud mouth-” The youngest sister cut in immediately. “Excuse me?” She said, feigning offense as she leaned her weight on one hip. “I prefer to think of it as being-… expressive.” Morgan rolled his eyes playfully and started to grin. “Loud,” He reiterated, before gesturing to Brodie. “And Brodie's my twin sister, and the one who thinks she’s quiet, but she’s just as nosy as Peyton.” Brodie gasped, though it was only for dramatic effect. “Not true,” She said, though her amused tone made it clear she wasn’t denying much. “It’s called observational, Morgan.” The older brother chuckled and shook his head before turning back to Eva. “And Eva,” he said, his voice softening again, “is-… well, she’s someone real special to me.” Peyton's grin widened as she gave Eva an exaggerated once-over, her arms crossing loosely over her chest. “So this is the Eva, huh? You’ve come up in conversation more than a couple times.” Brodie offered Eva a gentler smile, her tone warm and genuine. “It’s nice to meet you. Don’t mind Peyton. She thinks she’s funny.”

EVA saw and felt it coming before Morgan even started leaning in, and every ounce of her body just froze in response. She had kissed him and Puck on Thanksgiving so she couldn't exactly reject him doing the same thing now. And even if she wouldn't allow herself to fully admit it, something deep down inside of her wasn't against it. It would set her back 100 yards on whatever healing journey her parents had forced her on, but how bad could a simple kiss really be? Luckily they didn't have to find out as they were interrupted before their lips ever touched, and she had never been more grateful or flustered in her entire life. Turning to the source of the intrusion, she quickly plastered on a smile and tried to put that little moment behind them. After all, she'd just endured her own family taunting her so the last thing she needed to do was give Morgan's sisters more ammo to do the same right now. She nodded along as he introduced his sisters by name, and when he got to his twin, she furrowed her brows as she studied Brodie's features. "Uh..." She paused, her eyes trailing over Brodie's facial features again before she nudged Morgan's arm. "Is it just me, or does your twin look like she could throw on a blonde wig and literally be Hannah Montana?" Eva questioned, and sure, maybe it was just her being too worshipping of the fictional rockstar, but Brodie really did look like her. But she focused again as Morgan introduced her, and if she could feel the blush growing on her cheeks at the way he basically said a whole lot without saying much at all. When Peyton spoke up again, she accepted her playful jab before turning to Brodie. "It's nice to meet both of you, and no worries. My siblings are all like that too, so I'm used to it." She admitted with a smile. "But uh..since you two have the horses out anyways, maybe we should go for a ride too, Mr. Weston? It has been a while since our last lesson anyways, and Clover probably misses me."

MORGAN couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled up at Eva’s comment about Brodie looking like Hannah Montana. He glanced at his twin, who had paused mid-stride to narrow her eyes and place a hand on her hip. “Okay, first of all,” Brodie began, mock-offended but clearly amused, “Hannah Montana wishes she had my bone structure.” Morgan smirked, shaking his head. “You know, she’s not wrong actually.” Brodie shot him a smug grin, then turned back to Eva. “But I’ll take it as a compliment. You’re sharp, I like you.” Peyton rolled her eyes. “Don’t encourage her, Eva, or you’ll never hear the end of it.” Eva’s playful banter in response to his sisters made Morgan’s chest feel lighter, and for a moment, he let himself just enjoy the easiness of it all. When Eva suggested going for a ride, though, his grin widened, the idea sparking a warmth in him he hadn’t felt in a while. “Well, I reckon Clover has missed you,” he said, tilting his head toward the barn. “And I’d be lyin’ if I said I didn’t miss teachin’ ya. How about we saddle up?” Peyton raised an eyebrow. “You’re gonna let her ride Clover? I thought she was your prized mare or somethin’.” Morgan smiled, the drawl turning warm, full of fond memories of their dates. “She is, but Eva knows how to handle her just fine.” He turned back to her, his voice softening a little. “We’ve got some new trails out back if you’re up for it. And these two can tag along, I guess.” He motioned to his two sisters, playfully rolling his eyes, before his grin softened again. He honestly preferred having alone-time with Eva, but that small hopeful part of him also figured that, if he got to spend more time with her - no matter what situation it was in - she would eventually come back around, and therefore eventually have to meet his family anyway. Besides, the hope only managed to grow inside of him, hearing Eva use the term for him, that she'd used, back when they were still good. “Unless you want to go alone, Ms. Anderson.”

EVA eyed Brodie's cheekbones at her comment before nodding. "Okay yes, you do have killer cheekbones — but show me a picture of you in high school and I bet you two were identical." She suggested, and she could already envision it. How the hell Morgan hadn't made the comparison before, she didn't know, but there was no way she could unsee it now. She was half tempted to ask her to sing one of Hannah's songs to see if she'd butcher it like her twin or miraculously sound exactly like the queen herself, but she decided against it...for now. "Thank you!" She responded to the compliment, which was pretty accurate. As much as her own siblings had been overwhelming her lately, it was nice to meet and be around Morgan's sisters now, who were a lot more chill than her entire family would have been if they'd been around Morgan or Puck. When her idea for them to go for a ride seemed to be right up his alley, she smiled. If nothing else, them being on separate horses would have kept enough space between them, but it also would have been the perfect way for them to still spend time together, do something they enjoyed, and even still talk just without the temptation of leaning in close and almost kissing. She raised a brow when Peyton questioned her being able to ride Clover, but Morgan's response solidified her decision. "I can handle the new trails, I suppose." Maybe she should asked for more details first, but she was at least confident that he wouldn't let anything happen to her so she figured there was nothing to worry about. The decision of whether his sisters could tag along being in her hands made Eva still for a moment, but then she shrugged it off before starting to head for the barn. "You two don't have to wait for us if you don't want to." She decided as she glanced back over her shoulder at the sisters. "But let's go, cowboy. We can't keep Clover waiting forever." She teased.

MORGAN chuckled as he fell in step beside Eva, his hands sliding into his pockets as they made their way toward the barn. “You know,” he began, glancing over at her, “Brodie’s probably diggin’ through her old yearbooks as we speak, just to prove you right- or wrong. Either way, you might’ve just unleashed a monster.” From behind them, Brodie’s voice called out, “Damn right I am! I’ll find one before y’all are back.” Morgan shook his head, chuckling as he turned his attention back to Eva. “And now you see what I’ve been dealin’ with my whole life.” Reaching the barn, he opened the door and stepped aside, letting her go in. The scent of hay, leather, and horses immediately filled the air, grounding him in the familiarity of home. “Clover’s in her usual spot,” he said, nodding toward the stall at the far end. “She’s been itchin’ to get out on the trails again, so I’d say you’re about to make her day.” As they walked toward the stall, Morgan couldn’t help but admire how easily Eva seemed to fit into this world of his. The way she teased him, charmed his sisters, and now moved with confidence through the barn - it was all enough to make his chest ache in that way he hadn’t fully let himself feel in a long time. “She’s lookin’ good, huh?” Morgan asked as they reached Clover. He gave the mare a gentle pat on her neck, her ears flicking forward at the attention. “Still your favorite, I reckon?” He leaned against the stall door, watching as Clover nudged Eva’s arm, clearly remembering her. He busied himself saddling up his own horse, a sturdy gelding named Sequoia, while keeping half an ear on Brodie and Peyton’s chatter from outside. “You’re brave lettin’ them decide whether to tag along,” he teased lightly. “They might just show up with cameras, ready to document every second.” When both horses were ready, Morgan grabbed Clover’s reins and handed them to Eva. “Alright,” he said, his voice softening as he met her gaze. “The new trail isn't tricky at all, I promise.”

EVA only laughed as Brodie confirmed her twin's suggestion, and she was excited to see those photos now. "Having a twin seems kinda fun." She teased, though she couldn't imagine having one of her own. The half-things were enough as it was so an actual twin? Definitely not meant for her. Once he opened the barn door, she grinned as she headed right over to Clover's stall. "And to think that I was afraid to get close to a horse the first time I came out here." She teased as she wasted no time petting the horse. She still surprised herself with how much she actually enjoyed being around horses and going for rides now, but Morgan has sort of gotten her hooked and she had missed this, even if she'd been too pissed at him before to admit it. "In Clover's defense, she is the most calm, and the one who got me comfortable with all of this, so yeah. She just might be my favorite." She teased, petting the horse again before she glanced back towards the barn doors. "Hey, you left the decision up to me and I didn't want to seem rude if I told them they couldn't come. Or worse — they were already spying so even if I said they couldn't come, what makes you think they wouldn't have just tried being sneaky and following us anyways?" It's what all three of her siblings would have done, and even Jake and Bree would have done it too if they had been here, so she wouldn't have blamed Brodie and Peyton if she had tried getting rid of them. Pushing herself up and onto Clover, Eva made herself comfortable on the horse before taking the reigns from Morgan. "Oddly enough, I do at least you when it comes to this, so I'm fine. I'm not even nervous." She promised, and she truly wasn't. It was his ranch after all so she knew he wouldn't take her down some crazy trail, so she was more relaxed now than she'd been in a while. "So, why haven't you taken Clover out on the trails lately? Has she been too busy on movie sets, or were you just too busy with the other horses?"

MORGAN adjusted his hat as he swung into Sequoia’s saddle, the motion practiced but unhurried. Sequoia shifted slightly under him, but Morgan gave a gentle pat to the horse’s neck, calming him with a quiet touch. He glanced over at Eva, his smile soft and easy as she got comfortable on Clover. “She is somethin’ special, isn’t she?” he said, watching Clover nuzzle against Eva’s hand. “To be honest, she’s the one that makes me look good most days. I don’t know how she puts up with me neglectin’ her lately. Between the movie sets and the training, I’ve been so caught up in work I haven’t given her much attention.” His smile turned sheepish, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. “Feels like all I’ve been doin’ is runnin’ from one thing to the next.” As they started down the trail, Morgan kept Sequoia at an easy pace beside Clover, the rhythm of the ride calming the usual busyness in his head. The breeze carried the scent of sun-warmed grass, and he breathed it in, his shoulders relaxing a little. “Don’t get me wrong,” he said after a moment, his tone quieter, “I’m grateful for the work. It’s more than I ever thought I’d have, doin’ somethin’ I love. But I reckon I get a little too focused sometimes.” He glanced at Eva with a humble smile, his brown eyes meeting hers briefly. When they crested a hill, Morgan pulled Sequoia to a stop, his gaze sweeping over the ranch below. The light painted the pastures in warm gold, and for the first time in a while, he let himself really take it in. “I wasn’t sure if you’d want to come back out here,” he admitted, his voice low and thoughtful. “After everything, I mean. I wouldn’t have blamed you if you hadn’t. But seein’ you here again? It’s good. Real good.” His smile turned soft, almost shy, as he glanced back at her. “Reminds me of why I kept doin’ what I was doing, although I should've respected y'all's space.” Morgan admitted, offering Eva a sad smile. “I'm sorry 'bout that, y'know?”

EVA furrowed her brows as Morgan talked about being caught up in work again, and she probably shouldn't have been surprised by that. He had a lot going on, so of course he would have thrown himself into work again. She didn't entirely like it, yet she knew it was just how he handled things. "She adores you, so I'm sure she understands. But for Clover's sake, if you need someone to come over and love on her while you're working, I'll do it." Maybe she was a little too into the horseback riding thing, at least with Clover, but it wouldn't be such a bad thing to come over and keep her from feeling so neglected. "But as for you, running doesn't solve your problems, you know? It's a temporary fix, like a bandaid — or at least that's what they tell me in AA about drinking my problems away." It was a stupid way to look at it, in her opinion, but deep down she knew it was true. But unlike drinking, the ride down the trail was more soothing, the peace and serenity offering a more delicate kind of comfort that she'd needed lately. Eva assumed that it also gave Morgan the same kind of tranquil space to just pause and let everything sink in, which is why she assumed he was just freely rambling off how he felt. Stopping right beside him and Sequoia, she sighed as she just kept listening, not wanting to interrupt since he obviously needed to get all of this off his chest. But once he finished, she shrugged nonchalantly. "You had it all figured out before, you know? Balancing work with time for yourself...and others. I know there's been a lot going on lately, but you still need to make time to just breathe, or just give yourself a break." She knew that was easier said than done, but he still needed to hear it anyways. "And honestly, I didn't even know if I'd ever come back out here. I almost didn't. You can thank her for that." She teased as she softly ran her hand along Clover's neck before she glanced over at Morgan again. "I can't speak for Noah, but it was never really about the space for me. It was you love bombing us after you'd fucked us over." She admitted, giving a slight shake of her head before she looked his way again. "I didn't need a condo full of poppies, a table full of food, or you publicly declaring your love for me. What I needed was for you, and Noah, to have figured your shit out before you got me invested in something that neither of you were ready to commit to. I needed you to have worked out your feelings for her before you fed me all that shit about how you felt about us. You went and had sex with her immediately after that conversation and then days later, you were trying to convince me that all of this is love." Pausing, Eva was at least grateful that she'd cried enough over the past few weeks and couldn't bear herself to will another tear now even if she'd wanted to; however, the hurt and anger from Morgan's actions were clearly still lingering. "I don't trust either one of you, and I don't know if I ever will again, but I've missed you. I've missed the stupid Hannah marathons, the riding lessons, definitely the dinners — but I don't know how to just be friends with you or Noah after everything we've been through."

MORGAN kept his hands loose on the reins as he listened to Eva’s words. The sting of her honesty hit deep, but he didn’t flinch away from it. He deserved it - every word. He let out a soft sigh, his gaze dropping. “You’re right,” he said quietly, his voice heavy with regret. “I was selfish. I thought I could fix everything with grand gestures ‘cause I didn’t know what else to do. And I wasn’t ready. I can’t tell you how sorry I am for all the ways I hurt you.” Morgan looked over at Eva then, his eyes filled with humility and a quiet ache. “I don’t blame you for not trustin’ me. I don’t know if there’s anythin’ I can say to change that, and honestly, I wouldn’t expect it to happen overnight anyway.” He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck, the weight of his mistakes hanging between them. “I thought if I could show you and Noah how much I cared, it’d make up for all the times I let you down. But that’s not love, is it? Love isn’t about provin’ somethin’ after you’ve messed up. It’s about showin’ up before it ever gets to that point.” He sighed again, his shoulders slumping slightly. Morgan gave Sequoia a gentle nudge forward, and a click of his tongue, encouraging the horse to move forward again. After a few moments, he spoke again, his tone softer. He hesitated, his hand brushing the edge of his belt. “I don’t know how to fix what’s broken between us, Eva. I don’t even know if I can. I just know I don't want to be without you in my life. So if I have to keep waitin' then I will. Because I meant what I said in my text. I'm happy just being in love with ya.” Morgan’s gaze shifted back to her, a small, humble smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “And you know you're always welcome to come out here to love on Clover while I’m workin’, I reckon she’d be just as grateful as I would. Selfishly, I enjoy havin' ya around too.” There was no pleading in his voice, no expectation. Just a quiet hope, fragile but sincere, as they continued their ride down the trail.

EVA might not admit it, but being subjected to AA and her family's unprovoked opinions had sort of helped, at least in getting her to just say whatever the hell she wanted to say to her dumb asses. She wasn't even aiming to hurt Morgan anymore, but they weren't going to get far if she didn't tell them the truth, so she was just going with it. Meeting his gaze as he spoke, she started processing what he was saying and was tempted to interrupt him, but she decided to just stay silent and let him get out what he needed to say. Once Morgan got Sequoia going again, she clicked her tongue just like he'd taught her to do and Clover was on the move as well, and her mind was racing as she tried to decide what else she needed to say to him. Or better yet, what else he needed to hear. "I've only seen one example of love in my life and truthfully, everything you and Noah did reminded me of that — of my parents. The only time they say or show that they love each other is after one of them, usually my mom, fucks up, so you going out of your way to prove you loved us after everything just kinda felt like that." Eva stated and sighed. "And deep down I know that you two aren't them, but with everything's that happened since we started whatever we were, I just can't guarantee that there is a way to fix this — at least not romantically." She ignored the way that saying that stung, since it was true whether any of them liked it or not. "I am trying to be okay with us still being in each other's lives and being...something close to friends, maybe? That's why I decided to come today, but it's just gonna take some time to get as close as we were before."

MORGAN kept Sequoia at an easy pace, his gaze shifting between Eva and the trail ahead as she spoke. He let the silence stretch out for a moment once she finished, letting her words settle like the crisp breeze brushing through the trees. Finally, he exhaled. “I get it,” he said softly, glancing over at her with a bittersweet smile. “And I can’t say I blame you for feelin’ that way. I never wanted to remind you of somethin’ hurtful, but I can see now how my actions came across. And I hate that - hate that I made you feel like what we had wasn’t real, or that it was somethin’ you couldn’t trust.” Morgan reached up to adjust his hat, buying himself a second to gather his thoughts. “I've admired you since the day we met, y'know? Not just with how much you've achieved, but with how brave you've been, going into it all. The way you’re able to just put it all out there, even when it hurts, that’s somethin’ I’ve admired about you since gettin' to know ya better. I guess I’m still workin’ on bein’ that honest with myself, let alone anyone else.” He gave a faint chuckle, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I want you to know that I respect where you’re at. I’ll take it, and I’ll be grateful for it.” Morgan glanced over at her again, his expression open and earnest. “I’m not expectin’ us to just go back to how things were. Hell, I’m not even sure we should. But whatever this ends up lookin’ like, I want it to be somethin’ real, somethin’ built on trust this time.” As they rode on, the quiet rhythm of the horses’ steps filled the space between them. “And for what it’s worth,” he added after a moment, his tone lighter but still sincere, “you’ve always been more than just a quick 'wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am'. You’re somethin’ special, Eva.” He didn’t press her for anything more, didn’t try to steer the conversation in any particular direction. He just rode beside her, content to let her set the pace - on the trail and in whatever came next for them.

EVA hadn't been baiting him for yet another apology, which he'd done more than his fair share of, but she still nodded in acceptance anyways. She was sure now that both Morgan and Puck were more than sorry for everything that had happened, and she was working to forgive them as much as she could which felt like...progress? It was better than where they were before, she supposed. Chewing on the inside of her cheek, she felt her face growing flush at his compliment, and damn if she didn't need the ego stroke today. "Thank you, Mr. Weston." She stated softly. "But being honest with yourself is pretty fucking hard, so I get that." She was still doing that work herself so she couldn't blame him for still struggling with it too. But at least he was okay with taking things at her pace and letting her be somewhat in control as far as where things went with them, and she knew Puck was too so that was something. She gave him a small smile when he expressed wanting them to build something that was real and based on trust this time, and while it sounded good, she was still skeptical about it; however, she'd just keep that to herself. Loosening her hold on the reigns a little as Clover kept trotting along, Eva felt a slight flutter in the pit of her stomach at her next admission. "I don't really feel like I'm anything special, but that's good to hear." She'd never say that to anyone else, but it felt right to be honest about it with Morgan. They rode a little further before she brought Clover to a halt, and then she furrowed her brows as she glanced over at him. "So what's going on with you and Noah anyways? Are you two gonna work things out and..I don't know, actually commit to each other now?"

MORGAN let the reins rest loose in his hands as Sequoia kept an easy pace beside Clover. Eva’s question wasn’t unexpected, but it still gave him pause. He tipped his hat back a little, the weight of the conversation matching the slow, steady rhythm of the horses’ steps. “I don’t know,” he said finally, his voice soft but honest. “The whole thing with Noah’s layered, y'know? It's complicated. And I guess I am, too, in my own way. After everything that happened, I think we’re both a little scared of messin’ it all up again.” He glanced over at her, his eyes warm but filled with a quiet kind of sadness. “He was there for me when my granddad passed. Even after sendin' him the same kinda voice note I sent you, he showed up. Helped me through a lot of dark days when I didn’t think I could handle any more.” Morgan’s gaze dropped to the trail for a moment, his thumb idly brushing the leather of the reins. He hadn't meant to just forget to tell Eva, but there was something happening. And in all fairness, he might've gotten overstimulated anyway, with both of them knowing at the same time. “I’ll always be grateful for that. It reminded me of why I loved him in the first place - why I still do.” Sequoia flicked an ear back at him, and Morgan gave the horse a gentle pat on the neck. “But I don’t want to rush back into somethin’ just to end up right back where we were. I think we both need time to figure out what we want, what we can actually handle. If we’re gonna try again, it’s gotta be right. For him, for me, and for anyone else who ends up a part of it.” He met her gaze then, hinting directly at her. There was only her. “I’m learnin’ the hard way that love can’t fix everything. It takes work - honest, messy work. But I want to be sure, you know?” Morgan exhaled, the weight of his words leaving his chest lighter than he expected. “What about you, though? You think there’s a chance you and him could figure somethin’ out? Or is it just too far gone, like with me?”

EVA didn't know what answer she was expecting, but with the way she'd tried to fight coming to Noah's for Thanksgiving, and was already basically considering his offer for Christmas, she hadn't known if Morgan had been in the same boat with him that she was in. But as she listened to Morgan's response, she wasn't entirely surprised that as soon as he'd gotten the news about Grandpa Weston, Noah had been right there taking care of Morgan. It was just how he was so she wouldn't have expected anything less, and she could understand why that alone was enough to spark such a reminder. It also helped explain why the whole Thanksgiving set up had happened, and she was even more sure now that Noah's hope was bound to bring them all back together somehow, even if it wasn't how they all hoped it would. Eva squirmed under his gaze when he obviously hinted at her, and clearly Clover took note of it with the way her ears perked up, and Eva just ran a hand along her neck to signal that she was fine...mostly, anyways. Once her own question was turned on her, she shrugged. "I never said it was too far gone with you, you know? And Noah's not entirely off the hook either. I know his therapy and stuff is going well and he said he's doing better now, but I don't trust him either. Even if he didn't have feelings for anyone he slept with, he still hurt us too — as far as I'm concerned, you two are in the same boat." But Eva knew that wasn't exactly answering his question, which felt slightly harder to answer in her current mindset, yet she did sort of have an answer. "But as far as us figuring something out, just him and I? The answer's no. Or not..that came out wrong. If things were to go there again, I can't see myself doing this without both of you. I mean, if I had to, then maybe, but...I don't know, it would just be weird not being with both of you when I love—" Eva's entire body froze when that word slipped out, and she was sure that her face had gone pale now. It was almost like she could hear her entire family's nagging in her ear and with all of them repeatedly pointing out that she loved Morgan and Puck, maybe she had subconsciously accepted it already. Yet that was the first time she'd said it, and now she felt entirely too many emotions to unpack now. "You know, we should probably head back now. I'm sure Brodie found one of her old high school pictures by now, and I uh..we can turn both of your sisters into Hannah fans." Eva suggested, and she didn't even wait for a response before she was clicking her tongue and tugging on the reigns, and Clover started back down the trail again, though not fast enough for her liking.

MORGAN glanced over at Eva, his chest tightening at the way the sun caught the loose strands of her hair. She looked beautiful, as always, but there was something else - something raw and vulnerable about the way she carried herself in that moment. He knew he and Noah had hurt her, had failed her, and no matter how many times he said he was sorry, it would never be enough to erase the damage. But hearing her say that she didn’t trust either of them yet, that she put them in the same boat, felt like a dagger twisting in his gut. Still, Morgan respected her honesty more than anything else. It took guts to say what she was saying, and that alone made him love her even more. He kept his gaze on the trail ahead, the reins loose in his hands as Sequoia moved steadily forward. “I get that,” he said quietly, his voice soft but firm. “And I reckon you’re right to feel that way. Trust ain’t something we can rush, and I don’t expect you to give it back just ‘cause I want it. But-...” He hesitated, his voice trailing off as he fought the urge to say more, to beg her to believe in him again. This was so unlike him; he usually knew what to say, and Eva had him thinking things through a million times before. Instead, he glanced over at her, his expression open and earnest. “I hope someday I can earn it back - for real this time.” When Eva started to speak again, Morgan focused on her, his full attention drawn to every word. And then it came; the word that changed everything. Love. His breath caught as her voice faltered, and for a second, he wasn’t sure he’d heard her right. But the look on her face - the way her eyes widened in panic, her cheeks flushing - confirmed it. She tried to backtrack, stumbling over her words, but it was too late. The truth had slipped out, and it hit Morgan like a freight train. He didn’t say a word, didn’t dare interrupt her. But his heart was pounding, his chest tight with emotions he couldn’t begin to sort through. She loves me. The realization was overwhelming, and he didn’t even try to hide the way his lips curved into the smallest of smiles. When Eva abruptly suggested heading back, Morgan nodded, his voice caught somewhere between his throat and his heart. He didn’t trust himself to speak, not yet. As they made their way back to the barn, Morgan’s thoughts raced. By the time they dismounted and led the horses inside, he knew he couldn’t let her leave without saying something; or showing her something. The moment her back was turned, Morgan acted. He crossed the stable floor in a few long strides, grabbing her waist and pulling her gently but firmly behind one of the half-walls, up against the nearest wooden post. His fingers curled around her hips, holding her in place as his chest pressed against hers. Before she could say anything, he leaned down and kissed her. This wasn’t the gentle, cautious kiss from Thanksgiving; it was raw, desperate, full of everything he hadn’t said and everything he couldn’t hold back anymore. It wasn’t a demand. It was a confession, a promise, a thousand unspoken words wrapped into one moment. His hand slid up to cradle her cheek, his thumb brushing softly against her skin as he kissed her like it was the only thing that mattered. He didn’t pull back until the sound of his sisters’ voices echoed into the barn. He pulled away softly, because all he wanted, was to keep going, showing her how much she meant to him, but instead, he managed to place just one more gentle ending to it all, right on her lips, before forcing himself to step away, so his sisters didn't see anything. “Eva, who'd you say I looked like again?” The sound of Brodie's voice could be heard as they made their way over to them, and Peyton’s laughter broke through the barn, while Morgan turned his back to them and started busying himself with unsaddling Clover. But he couldn't help but let his twitch slightly upwards in a smile, still feeling hers on them.

EVA had practically lost the ability to even register anything else once she'd slipped up, so getting back to the barn was all that mattered. And as soon as they made it back, she climbed off of Clover and gave her a few more loving pats to make sure she felt the love, and to signal that she would at least be back soon, even if it was while Morgan was busy with the other horses so she didn't have to deal with the love thing any time soon. But of course Morgan Weston, the same man who was into grand gestures and getting names tattooed on him, wasn't about to let her off the hook that easily. And in her attempt to avoid making eye contact with him, she had left herself unprepared for what happened next. It all happened in a bit of a blur, and even Eva hadn't been able to process anything until his lips were on hers. Fuck! This was exactly what she'd been afraid of, and after their close call earlier, she had been maintaining a safe distance from him to ensure that this wouldn't happen, yet here they were. And much like she'd expected, her resolve was far too weak, much like her body, and she didn't even miss a beat as she kissed him back. Her kisses at Thanksgiving hadn't been planned, yet she'd methodically limited them to chaste kisses, just enough to let them know that she had obviously still cared about them. But this wasn't that — this time, she didn't hold back, not even a little bit as she matched his intensity of the kiss. Her mind was spiraling at this point, and by the time Morgan finally broke away from the kiss as his sisters caught up with them, she was at a complete loss for how to form words again. Brodie's question went in one ear and right out the other as she pushed herself off of the wooden post, trying to pull herself back together so she didn't give away what had just happened, which was damn near impossible with how flushed her face was now. Readjusting her clothes, Eva eventually managed to swallow the lump in her throat before shaking her head. "I uh…I should go." She muttered, her tone much softer than it ever was as she turned to Brodie and Peyton. "It was nice meeting you both, and I'm sure I'll see you both again sometime." Or maybe she wouldn't and she'd never have to die of embarrassment like this again, but only time would tell. And with Morgan's back turned towards them, she could at least look his way now. "And um..take care, Mr. Weston. We'll talk…soon, I guess." That was all she could get out before turning on her heels and practically running right out of the barn, desperate to get into her car and head home so she could unpack what had happened with Pia.