darker_london | They just belong together (Aly, Peter)

"You took a picture of John Petrucchi's shoes, didn't you?" Aly asked softly, and she was answered by silence on the other end of the line. Aly laughed and she smiled, even though her husband couldn't see it as he was quite far away in New York City and she was in London without him. "I knew it."

"But they're John's." Peter stressed, as if taking a picture of someone's shoes was completely understandable when they were the great guitarist of Dream Theater.

"Have you ever taken a picture of Spectre's shoes?" Aly asked, shifting a little in the bed so she was more comfortable.

"...do I have to answer that?" Peter inquired, his voice small.

"Oh, Peter." Aly chuckled because Peter was so cute when he was being a fanboy. For all the serious, and trying things Peter did just to make people's lives better, the fact that he was still able to be quite silly was incredibly charming. "You have it bad."

"Adrian's shoes are shiny!" Peter protested and then he sighed. "And I don't want to go to Romania."

The topic had changed so quickly from mirth to Peter's vision, that Aly might have had trouble keeping up, were she not used to this by now. "Peter, Darling, I know you don't want to. But if you can help someone-"

"Yeah. I'm coming home tomorrow though. No Romania until I know what I'm up against. At least it won't be Dracula!"

"Very true." Aly smiled again and she was silent for a moment, listening to the baby monitor beside her, from which issued forth the quiet sounds of her baby son and daughter, sleeping soundly. "Though I think you'd be more than a match for him. Or at least you'd be equal, neither of you ever seems to die."

"Hey, that's a good thing in at least one of our cases!" Peter laughed and he looked over to the telly, which was playing the local news on mute. "I miss you, Beautiful."

"I miss you too, My Peter. I can't wait to see you at the airport! I made David and Mama and Dad promise to watch the kids so I could come get you all by myself! You did have a good time though, right? Besides the throng of terribly interested Americans and having a vision in Central Park..."

"I did." Peter sounded utterly relaxed. "I had a wonderful time. Dream Theater so gets me! And I've seen some amazing things. There was an angel in the park! And it was nice seeing Deirdre. She clung to me and made me read her a bedtime story. Thankfully, she was not naked at the time. And neither were her girls." Normally that wouldn't have been necessary to say, but Deirdre was inherently fond of being naked and it wouldn't be beyond her to make Peter read to her while she was. Just because she was Deirdre...

"Poor thing. Trapped by clothes. I'm so glad you had a good time! I was hoping it would be an amazing experience for you."

"It really was. Thank you. I got you a present! Several, actually... You know I can't help myself..."

Aly laughed lightly. "You got me something else from Tiffany and Co, didn't you?!" She practically squealed. Her wedding ring was a Tiffany ring. And she loved it.

"I'm not telling! But there may be a blue velvet box amoung the many."

Aly squealed again. "Eeeeeiiii Peter, what is it!"

"You'll find out tomorrow! I'm going to make you fish it out of my trouser pocket because I'm a dirty old man."

Aly laughed, the expression on her face entirely fond. "Well, old man, your trophy wife is quite keen to reward your excellent gift sense. I might even brush against you a little bit on purpose."

"Oh boy, swell!" Peter chuckled then and he leaned up to grab the remote so he could switch off the telly. "You should probably be getting to sleep, Night Owl."

"Do you mean you're sleepy?" Aly asked, amused.

"Yes, but sounding like I'm concerned for you is such a convenient cover!"

"Ah, but I am on to you. I know you too well."

Peter smiled then, and he let his eyes fall closed, feeling utterly content in that moment. Aly always made him feel that way. "Yes, my Alyona. You really do. I love it. And you."

Aly grinned, her nose wrinkling up. "I love you too! Sleep well, my tired little cherub."

"Don't call me cherub 'round Thomas. He hates 'em!" Peter mumbled.

"As you wish, Mr Kemp. Good night!"

"Ditto, Mrs Kemp. See you tomorrow." And the fact that that was true was the most wonderful feeling in the world. Seeing Dream Theater was certainly a highlight of his life. But Aly and his children were the highlights. They were what made his life so extraordinary. And to know he was leaving a unique experience to head right back to what he considered to be a dream come true...that was extraordinary, indeed.