Pretend she sat on him (Elizabeth, Peter)

[elizabeth-long.livejournal.com]

When Liz arrived at Peter's in the morning, she was careful not to slam the door open, lest she disturb another one of Peter's family members who happened to be in the vicinity. Or Gavin, who still didn't like loud noises... She actually found Peter, however, just on the other side of the door, reaching for his jacket. He jumped a little and turned to look at Liz with wide eyes. "H...hello. I was just coming to see you." He said, looking sheepish, as he damn well should.

"Well I saved you the bother." Liz shrugged her jacket off and she hung it on the coat rack before pushing Peter backwards into the living room. Peter squeaked, but he went with it because...well...what choice did he have in the matter?

"Liz! I'm sorry!" Peter said, before she had a chance to tell him why she was angry. Peter knew. Peter had posted an entry on his journal in an attempt to seek advice on the fact that Liz was going on a date with Dietrich and Peter knew things about Dietrich which he couldn't tell anyone and he wanted to save his sister pain...but he hadn't meant to cause such a fuss with Zoe. Sometimes he forgot she wasn't the girl she used to be. "I didn't mean to...I'm so sorry!"

Liz sighed and she collapsed down into a chair, her head in her hands. "Peter, why in the world does everyone need to talk about my private life?!"

"I...Devon posted it and I flipped out and...I'm sorry Liz. I should have come to you first."

"Yes you bloody well should have." Liz said, looking up at him. "I guess...I know I didn't always give you reason to trust in my level-headedness when it came to the men in my life. But I am not seventeen anymore."

"No I know, that's not-"

"And you should have known it would upset Zoe."

"Yes." Peter finally took a seat too, opposite Liz, and he looked so utterly sorry that she softened instantly. Peter was her little brother. She'd raised him since he was fourteen. And she knew he was just worried about her. "I should have known, Liz. I did a stupid thing. I'm not perfect. But...look. There's things about Dietrich that I...I can't tell you. But I know them. And they...bother me." Namely, the fact that Dietrich had slept with nearly every woman in Melk while he'd been married.

"I'm just going out with Dietrich as a friend, Peter. Nothing more." Liz sighed and she leaned back against the chair, dejectedly. "I think he's charming, but I like to know someone better first before I start dating them. I'm sorry Devon and Dietrich didn't understand that. And I'll clarify that with him. Why can't you tell me about Dietrich, Peter." She knew they'd been friends in Melk and they'd known each other for years.

"He told me them in confession." Peter mumbled and he looked up at Liz with a frown. "He's a good guy. Look, if you're going to be friends with him...then I'm glad for that. There's hardly a person I know who's more loyal than Dietrich." Mostly because he was sort of like a big, dumb dog... "I know he never would have slept with Aly if he knew I was alive at the time. There's no doubt in my mind about that..."

"Oh." Liz turned white then, because dear god, she'd forgotten about Aly and Dietrich. "Oh, Peter...god I'm so sorry!"

"No!" Peter actually stood up and he held his hands up in a sort of surrender. "No, Liz, that's not why I don't like this!" He didn't like it because Emma had cheated on Liz, and she'd forgiven her. And if it happened again, and Liz lost the self-worth she was only just gaining back after Emma dumped her, Peter was going to go ballistic. He loved Liz more than almost anybody. And he couldn't warn her and it was absolutely horrible. "It's not...it has nothing to do with me. It's you. I'm worried about you and if Deitrich hurts you, I'll...eviscerate him!"

Liz raised her eyebrows, but the corners of her lips quirked up slightly in a small smile. "Well, with you looking out for me, I have nothing to fear. Peter, I want a friend. I want a friend who has nothing to do with this...world I'm stuck in. Someone who doesn't talk about angels and demons or that their boyfriend is a werewolf or their husband is a dead man or...whatever. It all makes me so tired. I love you and I love what you do. But since finding out about all of this, my life has changed. It drove Emma away...it's made Zoe...different. Hope and Fiona were preyed on...I just want a break. I know Dietrich is a goof. That's what I want! I want to be around a goof and to have a nice relaxing time with absolutely no doom and gloom attached. If it develops into something, then I'll go with the flow. But I will be careful, Peter. I promise."

Peter breathed in slowly and then he nodded. "Yeah. You're right." It was her life and her choice. He couldn't protect her from everything, nor was that really his job. "I'm sorry. Liz. I'm so sorry." Peter rose from his seat on the sofa, and he moved over to her so he could hug her tightly. "I hate that you're alone."

Liz let out a rueful laugh and she hugged Peter back. "Well thank goodness I'm good at keeping myself occupied, right?"

"Making lists?" Peter enquired, because Liz was so very fond of lists.

"Absolutely."

"And was today, Beating the Crap out of Peter Day on your lists?"

"It was!" Liz gave her little brother's forehead a kiss. "Just tell people I did it, I don't really feel like it right now."

"I think I can be okay with that." Peter grinned. "You should come over more. I like it when you're here."

Liz nodded and she gave Peter's hand a squeeze. "I'll do that then."

"And Liz...?"

"Yes, Peter?"

"Dietrich really is a nice man. But you can tell him that eviscerate thing. Will you tell him that eviscerate thing?"

Liz laughed and she ruffled Peter's hair. "Sure, Peter. I'll tell him.