"I didn't think you were a bad guy either," Evan shook his head and smirked. "For all my love for most of the Stone family, it's near impossible not to offend them in some facet. And they're a tribe. Say something that one of them perceives as bad, and the rest head hunt. Part of why I wanted to be the one to ask—to avoid some kind of incident. Never thought I'd be this glad I had." His memory was tinged with sadness.
The Marchands were the same way, to a degree. And so were the Zimmermans, if Evan's memory served him properly. No one screwed with one, without invoking the wrath of all the others. "Besides, one of the best jokes ever came from that. I keep a hoe handy. Just in case Stone gets out of hand."
Another bitter laugh and Evan nodded his head. "My first weapon was whatever I could scrounge up. Until my brother and sister and I got to a weapon shop, I used a broken piece of my porch. Beat infected skulls in with it," he chuckled grimly at the memory. "You use what you can find. And you did better than anyone could've asked you to."
Mirroring Elliot's sad smile, Evan nodded again. "Couldn't have asked for a better Hagen, bro. Never in a million years." It was hard to keep the emotion from his voice—his accent thickened and his usually steady, clear voice cracked a little bit.
Once again, Evan shook his head. "Is," he said. "Friendship doesn't end just because you won't be here anymore. I'm going to remember everything you said. Every trust you put in me. Every joke we told. I'm going to remember them forever. And even though you won't be here... you're always going to be my friend. Okay?" He chuckled awkwardly, sadly, and shook his head. "I think it is awkward manhug time. Because I totally just told you that you'd always be with us. But it's true. You will. Everyone who loves you will ensure that." He looked down and shrugged when Elliot pointed out the lengths that he'd gone to. "I was just doing what I'd want someone to do for me. In those shoes. I'm glad, really glad, I did it."
He chuckled. "I know of two people who thought way more of you than that." He didn't need to say who. "But I'm glad I helped. I'm glad... I'm really glad we're friends, man. And I'm still honored to be the godfather of your son. I'll do the best I can. And try and set a good example for him."
Chuckling once, hollowly, Evan nodded his head. "Impact is putting it lightly, Elliot. You've saved people's lives, yes. But you've also left a lasting impression on people. You put heart into everything you do. And you love the people around you with all your heart. That's more of an impact than a lot of people around here have and it's something that won't be forgotten." Not as long as Evan, David or Rae were around to remember it.
Elliot's pain, his regret, punched Evan in the gut again. But he squeezed Elliot's shoulder with his opposite hand and nodded his head when the other man looked at him. "You don't need to worry about a thing, man. I'll take care of them. And Leah will help. And Ellie, and Rory, and I'm sure O'Brien will help, too. They aren't... they aren't alone. And it may take some time, but they'll see that, too."
He breathed a sigh and tried to bring Elliot comfort. "I've... I've been where Rae is. Not the baby part, no, but I've lost the love of my life before. Leah and I won't let her become what we did. We won't let her, okay?" He wasn't sure it was something that he could promise; something that he could do, but he had to try. Elliot would have done the same for him.