darker_london | Respect (Peter, Klaus) (Reply)

"Can we talk?" Klaus was hovering in Peter's doorway while Peter bounced Lauren in his arms in an attempt to quiet her down. She had spent the entire night crying again and now it was clear the tiny girl was exhausted, but refusing to sleep. Lauren was not as easy to care for as baby Thomas was.

"I'm a bit tied up right now..." Peter licked his lips and he did his best to be civil. Klaus had spoken to Tasha about getting on with Peter and it meant something to Tasha to believe that Klaus and Peter could work out their issues. "I can meet you downstairs as soon as I get her to sleep?"

Klaus nodded, and he gave Peter a weak smile. "I'll be in your living room."

"Alright, Father." Peter turned back to Lauren who was fussing in his arms and he started to sing to her softly, rocking her gently against him. And Klaus retreated, but he did so slowly. Peter had tried everything. He had changed Lauren and fed her, he had given her a bath, but finally it was just pure exhaustion that did the trick and Lauren was asleep, though it had taken a half an hour of singing and pacing and bouncing.

Peter finally emerged in the living room, looking exhausted. "Sorry. She has trouble sleeping sometimes. Do you mind if he talk in the kitchen?" Peter pointed the way, already heading towards it. "I'm starved."

"Sure, if you'd like." Klaus rose and he followed his son. Peter set the baby monitor on the kitchen bench and he set about making a sandwich. He waited for Klaus to start the conversation, though it took a few minutes before Klaus realised that was Peter's intention. Finally, he cleared his throat and he smiled nervously. "I spoke to Tasha a few days ago. We talked about you quite a bit."

Peter nodded, sucking a bit of wayward mustard from his thumb. "She told me." Peter turned back to his sandwich. "Did you find the topic of me entertaining?"

"Hardly." Klaus said gruffly, leaning against Peter's kitchen bench. "Peter, I had no idea of the things you went through-"

"Yes, that's generally the case when parents kill themselves while their children are still young. They miss things." Peter slapped his sandwich together with slightly more force than was entirely necessary and then he turned to face Klaus before taking a large bite of it.

"Ah...well yes-"

"Sorry." Peter said with his mouth full. He chewed for a moment, swallowed, and then added, "I might be a touch bitter."

"No. No one could blame you for that."

"Could you?" Peter asked, managing to keep his voice level.

"No." Klaus shook his head and he clearly meant it. "No, Peter."

Peter took a deep breath and he raised his eyes to meet his father's. "I don't want to discuss the past with you. I don't feel like rehashing past pain just so you'll respect me-"

"Peter...I already respect you."

Peter was struck dumb, but he managed to regain his composure with enough time to clear his throat and narrow his eyes. "You do?"

"I do. The things you'd done for your family and friends...that was the man I always hoped you'd be. And you did it without me."

Peter nodded, quietly. "I did it with Liz."

"Elizabeth is another matter." Klaus shook his head. "I'm talking to you."

"Alright." Peter grabbed his sandwich and then he smiled. He had already heard everything he needed to hear. Anything else was just frosting on the cake. "Alright, Dad. Let's talk."