Sharesies (Peter, Aly)

[father-peter.livejournal.com]

When Peter entered his bedroom on Monday morning, he did so to find a very guilty looking Aly gazing back at him with a frown on her face. "Feeling better?" He asked, not necessarily wanting to add to her discomfort, though he did feel she owed him something of an apology.

"No." Aly groaned and she hid her face in her hands. "Peter..."

"Yes?" Peter turned to face her, but he kept his distance. "Was there something you wanted to say?"

Aly sighed and she rubbed her eyes tiredly. "I...said some things..."

"I'm aware." Peter's voice was calm, but he didn't feel that way inside. His wife had called him boring and then insinuated that he didn't have enough time for her. He knew he spent a lot of his time helping others, but he was always careful to set aside time for his family. Always. Sidestepping the issue for the moment, Peter focused on Aly. "You spent all yesterday recovering and you're missing classes today..."

"Apparently I'm not as young as I thought I was..." Aly looked away, her eyes focusing on the pattern of the bedspread because it wouldn't judge her. "I just wanted to get out and be silly. I never got the chance to be silly..."

"I know that." Peter nodded easily. "Aly, if you want to go out, go out. I'll watch the kids. And if I'm not here, you know your parents are greedy baby-stealers. Isabella loves to watch them too. And Angie of course. But honey, you...you have to be careful." Peter didn't want to sound like the overbearing husband. He had absolutely no desire to tell Aly what to do, and he didn't believe for one second that that was his place or his right. But Aly had been poisoned several years ago and the damaging effects on her body had been permanent. If she stayed out all night, she was likely to tire herself out for the rest of the week, or make herself ill. Anything could happen. Aly's system was unpredictable. Having a child had caused her to have a heart attack because her entire body had been weakened by the poison. She had to be careful.

"I know. I know, Peter." Aly finally looked up to Peter with pleading eyes. "I am so sorry. So sorry. Peter, you're not boring..."

"Is that a fact?" Peter looked down at his hands and the tips of his ears turned red.

"It is. Honey...I don't know why I said that."

"You were drunk." Peter explained, though he didn't say it without a certain amount of disapproval. Sure, she wasn't the alcoholic and she could drink if she wanted. But drinking to excess was probably not the smartest thing either, considering her health.

"I...was. Peter, I'm so sorry. I really...I don't believe any of what I said."

"It had to come from somewhere." Peter moved over to the wall, farther away from her, and he leaned against it, his arms crossed. "If you want to do something with me, all you have to do is ask, Aly. I would do anything for you. We can go dancing if that's what you want. We can travel the world. We can do anything." They were, the both of them, lucky to still be alive. Peter himself had had cancer twice and it was the kind that recurred. It was in remission now, but it would likely rare it's ugly head again in a few years and both himself and Aly were aware of that fact. Peter might only have a few years left and there was no telling how long Aly would live with the damage that had been done to her. Peter wanted her to be happy. He didn't want her to miss out on anything, especially not him.

"Peter, I know that. It's just that it's...sometimes it's hard to schedule around...you know...saving people from themselves and saving London from being destroyed and everything else you happen to get up to..."

Peter took a deep breath and he let it out slowly. His stomach turned somersaults as he opened his mouth to speak. He didn't want to say the next few words, but he needed to. He could see that as plain as day. "Aly, you say the word and I'll leave everything but you and the kids behind. I mean it." His expression was kind but determined and anyone would know he wasn't just saying that to say it. Peter didn't do things like that. "You all are the most important things to me. I would step away from everything else in an instant if you asked me to."

Aly shook her head, but it was with regret. "I can't do that, Peter. 'Everything else' needs you."

"So do you."

"It's true." Aly licked her lips and then she smiled. "I said when I married you that I would share you with the world-"

"You are allowed to change your mind, Aly." Peter said firmly. "I would never resent that."

"I'm keeping my word, regardless." Aly laced her fingers together and she sighed, staring out the window for a brief moment before looking back to her husband. "I'll be more vocal if I need some Peter time. And I promise not to get slobbering drunk again."

Peter smiled, and this time his expression was warm. He took a few steps forward, and he uncrossed his arms. "Did you at least have fun on Saturday night?"

"I had a blast." Aly grinned, eyes shining. "Bria is...quite a firecracker. I think I should introduce her to Isabella too, because Izzy will keep up with her better than I can. But, Peter...it was wonderful. I danced and I felt young again. I didn't have to worry about the kids or demons or angels...it was perfect. And these guys kept staring at me."

"Well, that is because you happen to be quite incredibly sexy, Alyona." Peter smiled and he continued to close the distance between them until he was sitting on the edge of the bed.

"It was nice. To have attention like that. I felt beautiful."

"You are beautiful." Peter reached up and he caressed Aly's cheek with his fingers. "I could oogle you if you think it'd help."

Aly snorted, "I don't think it's possible for you to oogle me any more than you already do, you horndog."

"I'm just puttin' it out there." Peter grinned and then he leaned forward to kiss her gently. "You promise I'm not boring."

Aly smiled against his lips. "Absolutely not, Peter."

"I can prove it." Peter wiggled his eyebrows.

"Please do." Aly grinned again and she kissed him, deeply this time, and Peter was glad that all between them was once again put to right.