Carolina, Georgia and Ginny walked into the house, into the kitchen. Carolina had to change out of her clothes after spilling tea on herself while out of it at work.

Zion was cooking. "Hey. I thought we could bring dinner over to the Bakers as a family."

"As a family?" Georgia repeated.

Ginny looked guilty given everything.

Carolina looked relieved to be able to go over there to see if Marcus was okay. "I'm gonna go change, so don't leave without me. Okay? Just two minutes. Two minutes."

Carolina ran off upstairs to get changed.

✯

The Millers were now with the Bakers, and they were having dinner. Zion was in the kitchen helping with dinner.

Ellen sat next to Georgia. "He cooks. He looks like that, and he cooks. Life's fair."

Clint walked up to Ellen, signing: "Are you muttering to yourself how handsome that man cooking in our kitchen is?"

Ellen nodded, pouring herself a glass of wine.

Max was speaking excitedly with Ginny in the adjoining room on a sofa, grinning. "Oh, my God, guess what."

"What?" Ginny asked.

"Sophie just found out she got into NYU early decision," Max answered. "Isn't that amazing? I can drive up on weekends next year. We'll be like a chic New York couple." Ginny looked from Max next to her to Carolina at the table, still feeling guilty. "What?"

Ginny forced a smile. "Nothing."

In the kitchen, Clint was pouring things into a bowl, signing to Ellen: "See? I can cook too."

Ellen smiled, giving Clint two thumbs up. She looked at Georgia. "How are you? You don't look great."

Georgia was amused because Paul, Nick and Joe had all said the same thing. "I just love how honestly everyone is sharing their opinions with me today."

"You look stressed," Ellen told her. "Is it just Zion, or is it something else?"

"All right, everyone, come grab a plate," Zion called.

The kids, including Austin, but not including Marcus, all went to grab a plate and sit at the table with the parents.

"Uh, should I go get Marcus?" Carolina asked.

"He's resting," Ellen explained.

Carolina looked down, nodding. "Okay."

Ellen and Clint exchanged a look with Max.

Zion sat next to Georgia. "Home cooked meals are always good on hard days."

Ellen signed to Clint across the table, "I think Carolina and Marcus like each other."

Clint nodded in agreement.

Max signed to them: "They do. So cute."

"What are you guys saying?" Austin asked.

"Just how even my parents here know that Carolina and Marcus like each other," Max answered.

Carolina tilted her head back. "Max. My God."

Max smiled. "Sorry." Georgia, Zion and Ginny all looked amused. Austin smiled. Max signed along with what she spoke so Clint would understand. "So, Caro and Ginny's dad, how long are you in town?"

"Oh, I'm here to stay," Zion told them.

Georgia looked at him in surprise. Carolina and Ginny were touched that he was still trying to keep his promise to them, but skeptic given that Georgia and Zion had hooked up and they knew what happened every time after that happened.

Max looked at Carolina and Ginny. "Hmm. Juicy. Georgia, how's work? Will Paul live to mayor another day?"

Georgia chuckled. "Let's hope so."

Ellen also signed along with what she spoke so Clint would understand. "Paul called to check if Marcus was okay. Isn't that thoughtful?"

Carolina looked at Georgia, knowing that she had to have had told Paul about Marcus.

Georgia nodded. "He is very thoughtful."

Clint did sign language to communicate.

Ellen translated for the Millers to understand. "He gave me the info of a neurologist at Mass General. Now that's a mayor. Cynthia can care all she wants, but I want a mayor who takes action."

Max signed along with what she spoke. "Oh, yeah, I bet he takes action."

Carolina smirked.

Clint tilted his head at his daughter, signing to her.

"Clint wants to know what's wrong with Maxine," Ellen explained. "Which I think is a valid question."

"What?" Max asked. "Zion... a bunch of suburban stiffs, am I right?"

Zion looked amused. "Oh! No, girl, I'm the new guy. You're on your own."

"Clint, you have given me an idea," Georgia told him.

Ellen signed to Clint to let him know about what Georgia said. 

Clint signed to Ellen, "Is she dating Paul or this guy?"

Ellen shrugged. Max smiled.

"So, Ginny, how's Hunter?" Ellen asked.

Ginny was awkward because of the fight she had had with Hunter and they weren't talking at the moment. "Oh, he's... great."

Carolina gazed off, kind of distant from the conversation and dinner, not eating.

"Carolina?" Ellen asked. "Are you okay?"

Carolina looked up. "Uh... yeah. Sorry. Just really out of it. Excuse me. I have to go the bathroom."

Carolina really did go to the bathroom, having to gather herself because she felt like she could be on the verge of an anxiety attack, but it didn't build up to that as she thought it would have. Once she was sure she was okay, she went to head back down, pausing when she saw Marcus's bedroom door open, and seeing him asleep in bed, resting. She looked at him worriedly, standing in the doorway, not wanting to wake him up.

Padma walked into the hallway, to the doorway. "Hey."

Carolina turned to face her. "I was just... looking for the bathroom."

Padma held up a couple of books. "Brought him his homework. His mom said I could just come up." She walked in just enough to put the books and assignments down, about to leave, turning back to Carolina, sighing. "Do you like him?"

Carolina raised her eyebrows, annoyed that now she knew basically almost everyone could tell that she did. "What?"

Padma shook her head. "Look, he's not gonna be good to you. He's only gonna hurt you. He's selfish. He's messed up."

"So am I," Carolina replied. "And he's helped me more than my own sister has. And that was just as friends."

Padma sighed. "Well, I think he likes you as more than that."

Carolina pursed her lips, realizing just how much everyone saw it before but didn't say anything mostly until the last week or so to now.

✯

At home the next day, Carolina was laying in bed, using the painting set that Zion had gotten for her to paint and release some emotion in a positive way instead of a bad. When she heard a camera click, she looked up to see Zion standing in the doorway aiming the camera at her. "Can you not?"

Zion smiled. "Through the lens is how the world makes sense to me."

"Oh, really?" Carolina asked. "And what's it telling you now?"

"That you're pissed," Zion answered.

Carolina sighed, placing her painting things aside. "I begged you not to sleep with Mom. She's happy, Dad. Happier than I've ever seen her."

Zion sat in front of Carolina. "And I respect that."

"If you did, you'd stop messing with her," Carolina pointed out.

"It's not that simple," Zion told her.

"Really?" Carolina asked. "Why can't you leave her alone?"

"Because you can't choose who you love," Zion answered. "Your person is your person, and that is undeniable. Your mom and I have that. Look, I want us to be a family, for real."

"Yeah, well, I'm not getting my hopes up," Carolina replied. "It just gets me hurt in the end."

Zion sighed. "Fair enough. What about you, starburst? How are you doing?"

"Not good," Carolina answered. "I'm just... I can't stop being worried even after I know that he's okay, because of how it felt when I thought..."

"That you almost lost him, like with Noah," Zion finished.

Carolina nodded sadly. "And then completely frustrated because not only did Ellen and Clint apparently see, but so did my boss after seeing us talk one time the first day I got the job, when Marcus was literally my first customer, and his ex-hookup girl. Hell, you saw it just after seeing us interact after a few seconds when you first met him. It's just... how did everyone see it but me until recently?"

Zion chuckled. "You were in denial. It's natural after what you went through. But yeah, it was pretty obvious."

Carolina picked up a pillow to hit Zion lightly, making him laugh. "Not helping, Dad."

"But do you feel better knowing he's okay?" Zion asked.

"Yeah, obviously," Carolina answered. "I just... I'm still worried. And I know that he's resting and everything, and I haven't had time to see him. I know he's sleeping right now because I asked Max, and... yeah."

Zion chuckled. "You really do like him." Carolina bit her lip. "Did something happen?"

"We kissed," Carolina answered. "But, uh... after that, it was all bad because..."

"The accident," Zion finished.

Carolina didn't want to bring up her self-harm, nodding. "Yeah."

"I'm sorry, starburst," Zion told her. "Really. But he is okay. And it's not history repeating. You can rest a little easier now." Carolina nodded a bit. "Come here."

Zion and Carolina embraced.

Ginny knocked on the open door, holding her gift book from Zion. "Hey. I've been reading the book and I've figured out the code." Zion and Carolina pulled away. Carolina was not happy with Ginny, just looking down. "47 Knob Hill."

"That's the address to an apartment in Boston," Zion explained. "I want us all to live together."

Ginny and Carolina both looked at him in surprise.

"You're really doing this?" Ginny asked.

Zion nodded. "Sure am."

"But..." Ginny trailed off. "Mom agreed?" Zion nodded, since Georgia had agreed. "But what about Paul?"

"She's gonna talk to him," Zion told them. Ginny smiled emotionally, embracing Zion, while still avoiding eye contact with Carolina. Carolina still didn't want to get her hopes up. "I'm sorry it took so long for your mom and I to get this right."

"Yeah, well, you both are assholes, so..." Carolina trailed off. "But that's where we get it from."

The three of them managed small smiles.

When Ginny's phone went off, she checked her text. "Oh, it's Max. She's calling for a MANG SOS. Oh, Caro?" Carolina looked up. "She told me to tell you Marcus is awake."

Carolina took a deep breath of relief, looking at Zion. Zion nodded reassuringly. Carolina stood, and both Ginny and Carolina walked out of the room.

✯

Ginny went to talk to the girls and comfort Max over the breakup with Sophie. Because of her guilt, she had to come clean to someone about what she did, and she had admitted to Abby, who told her to not tell Max given her depressive state, and because it would make Ginny the worst friend ever, already being the worst sister ever. She told her that she would destroy MANG, and MANG was the only thing that Abby had left after her parents were divorcing. Abby didn't want this secret to take that away from her too.

Carolina went to check on Marcus in his room, seeing that he was laying down, listening to music through his earphones. She hesitantly knocked on the door.

Max sat up, turning to look at the door, surprised to see her, but relieved, sitting up. "Hey."

Carolina stepped inside. "How are you feeling?"

Marcus shrugged. "I'm, uh..."

Marcus shook his head, not knowing what to say.

Carolina sighed heavily, looking emotional, biting her lip. "I'm sorry about what happened. I, uh... I was so scared."

Carolina was trying not to cry, not knowing why she was getting so emotional like this in front of him.

Marcus stood, walking closer. "Hey." They embraced, holding each other close. "I know. I'm sorry."

Carolina shook her head. "Don't. Don't apologize. I'm... I'm just glad you're okay. But why? Why would you do that?"

Marcus knew that this would make things worse for her, shaking his head. "Caro..."

"Was it what I did... or almost did?" Carolina asked. "I..."

Marcus shook his head. "No, no, you didn't do anything wrong. I just... somebody said some really messed up shit and I got angry and upset and I did something so stupid without thinking. And I'm sorry."

Carolina just looked up in confusion. "I don't... who said something to you? What did they say?"

"It doesn't matter who," Marcus told her.

Carolina tilted her head skeptically. "Marcus--"

Ginny appeared in the open doorway, interrupting and buying herself some time before Carolina found out. "Uh, Caro, we have to head to Blue Farm for work. Don't wanna be late. Mom would kill us."

Carolina sighed in frustration, looking at Marcus. "I'll be back after."

Marcus nodded. "Okay."

Marcus cupped Carolina's cheek, and the two looked at each other before they kissed. Carolina managed a small smile, walking out hesitantly.

Ginny looked at Marcus, pleading with her eyes to not tell Carolina. Marcus just glared at her and shut the door in her face.

✯

Carolina and Ginny were working when Zion walked in.

Ginny walked over to him with a large smile. "Dad! Hi!"

Zion pulled both his daughters in for a hug. "Hey."

"Uh, this is where we work, and try to ignore each other when fighting, which is most days lately," Carolina explained. "Mom got us the job months ago to get me out of my shell again and to teach Gin a lesson after she shoplifted. It's pretty cool, huh? Farm to table."

"Yeah," Zion answered. "Yeah, it's cool. Um... hey, kids. We need to talk. You okay to sit down for a second?"

The three of them sat at a table. Zion sighed, trying to find the words to tell them.

Carolina already knew. "You're leaving. You and Mom, it happened again."

"Look, I love you so much," Zion told them.

"Why?" Ginny asked. "What happened?"

"But you were right," Zion told them. "You both have lives here, and so do your mother and brother. It's not fair for me to come in and mess it up."

"I said I don't want you to mess up Mom's life," Carolina told him. "I want you here. We both do. What happened?"

"Look, I'll be close by, so we can talk and see each other so much more," Zion told them. "Whenever you need me. You got my new address. I'll see you on the reg."

Carolina felt a bit better knowing that, since he was staying around, even if not directly in town, in case they needed him.

Ginny was still pissed and heartbroken. "You said this was different. I believed you. I let myself believe you. I'm so stupid."

Zion looked at them sadly. "Look, I know. I'm sorry. I mean it."

"What did Mom do?" Ginny asked.

Carolina gave Ginny a glare.

"Look, it's nobody's fault, okay?" Zion asked. "Do not blame your mother. I'm so proud of both of you and who you've both become."

Ginny stood, storming away. Carolina sighed, sitting back. Zion also sighed, looking down.

Carolina looked at Zion. "You're really staying close this time?"

Zion nodded. "Yeah. Whenever you need me. I mean it. You don't have to lie to me anymore, Caro. When you need me, I'll be there."

Carolina nodded in relief, eyes glassy, but she was still relieved to have him close by, standing. Zion stood, wrapping his arms around her.

Of course she was disappointed that they wouldn't all be together for real, but she wasn't surprised.

She knew that Georgia wanted to be with Paul and to have the power she had while helping the mayor and being with him. She knew that.

She knew that Ginny liked her friends and Wellsbury and everything else. She loved it here more than anywhere else they had gone.

Austin was struggling at school because of Zach, but he still had some friends. Even though at the moment, he was skipping school without his family knowing yet because he was worried about being around Zach and losing his temper again.

And Caro didn't want to mess up her family's happiness. She knew that Zion didn't want to ruin it either. She understood that was why he was doing this. Zion also saw how much she liked Marcus and how they could be good together. He didn't want to mess that up either.

And knowing that Zion would be close, and she didn't have to lie anymore to not disrupt his travels, she felt more at ease than she had been in a long time when it came to her father. She just hoped that would last where Zion was concerned.