darker_london | All Grown up! (Peter, Lydia) (Reply)

Peter had thought that everyone else in the house was asleep by the time he returned to his research. He moved down to the living room and he started to read the book in his lap with the baby monitor on the table beside him. It was an incredible thing that he did not jump and try to defend himself when a pair of arms slipped around him from behind, considering all the terrible things Peter had been though. The arms wound around his neck loosely. He felt a face bury itself in his hair and he smiled warmly instead of inquiring madly as to who it was. He just knew. "Lydia." Peter set the book down and he placed his hands over her arms and he breathed out heavily, with something akin to relief.

"I couldn't sleep." Lydia said, and she pulled back so she could kiss his cheek. Then she crossed in front of him to collapse in the chair at his side. "My brain's going a million miles an hour."

"Ah, I know that very predicament far too well." Peter gave her a worried look. "What are you thinking about, Lydia?"

"Everything." Lydia looked over at him and she leaned her back against the sofa, looking far too exhausted to keep sitting straight up. "Is this what it's always like for you?"

"Pretty much." Peter sighed and then he blew a puff of air from his mouth, causing his hair to lift in front. Lydia giggled and Peter instantly grinned at her. He loved hearing his children laugh. It was the best sound in the world.

"I miss Anna." Lydia admitted, though her affection for her sister was not something she kept under wraps. Anna had been her sibling before any of the others had come along. And yes, Lydia had matured beyond the young stage Anna was still in, but Anna would not be in that stage forever either. And they still did a lot of things together and now Anna was sick and gone and Lydia thought it sucked, frankly.

"I do too." Peter held back a great deal of emotion that could have come with that statement, but he knew Lydia knew. He just didn't feel the need to break down in front of his teenage daughter. "I miss her so much. I hope they find a way to make her better soon. Being without her...it hurts."

"Yeah. And...it's not so nice...without Aly either. I mean, for you..."

Peter looked up at his daughter and he held his hand out to her. Her smaller one fell easily into his and he squeezed it gently. "Lydia, it's alright if you miss her."

"But she was so mean to you!" Lydia blurted out, looking quite imperious. "And I'm mad!"

"I know." Peter nodded gently. "I'm not entirely pleased myself, but I love Aly. And I miss her too. You're right, it's not easy without her. I'm so used to having her by my side, telling me what to do. It's a good thing Liz is always willing to boss me around in a pinch." Peter chuckled and so did Lydia.

"It's a good thing you don't actually need as much bossing as you think you do." Lydia grinned at him. "And I miss Aly. And she's being a gobshite. But I miss her."

Peter covered his mouth demurely at the word, but it couldn't be helped. His children were destined to have filthy mouths. It didn't help that Lydia's mother had sworn about as often as she breathed either, and Peter's vocabulary was not always kosher. "I can't say I don't disagree with anything there."

"What's wrong with her head?!" Lydia sighed. "She's supposed to be smart."

"She's hurting." Peter said simply. "Everyone loses their way in pain. She's just...losing it a lot. And I would be there for her through every second if I could. But I have all of you. And you have to come first."

Lydia sighed again and then she did something she hadn't done in quite a long time. She rose out of her chair and she crawled into Peter's lap, curling up against him. Peter was surprised, but he didn't show it. He just wrapped his arms around her and he rested his chin on her head. "Your heart beat is so loud..." Lydia said in wonder.

Peter smiled and he ran his fingers through her feather-soft hair. "It's a strong one, I expect."

"I know you're sad, but Dad? I'm really glad you're all unkillable again. 'Cause if you weren't here now, just...nothing would be okay."

"Oh, Honey..." Peter kissed the top of Lydia's head and he held her tighter. "Then I'm glad too."

"And I get you with me forever again. And I need that."

"I think I do as well." Peter admitted softly. "We've been kindred souls a long time, you and I..."

"Almost fourteen years!" Lydia chirped and she was amused to hear the sound of disbelief that escaped Peter's lips.

"Fourteen. My goodness. Can you age backwards for a little while, please. Just give me a few more years of party dresses and pink."

Lydia snorted. "I grew out of those a while back."

"I knooooow! I'm lamenting." Peter grinned despite his words. "To be honest, I'm rather inherently fond of the young woman you are, even if I can't call you Little Girl anymore. I love that I can talk to you like this. I love that you'll listen. I love you."

"I love you too, Dad! And you still can call me Little Girl." Lydia smiled, snaking her arms around him too. "I'm shorter than you are! See, little!"

"Ah, logic." Peter lapsed into silence and so did Lydia. They sat there for a goodly amount of time, just embracing. Comfort had been hard to come by, especially lately, but they could always find it in each other.

"Aly will come back." Lydia finally spoke up. Her voice was soft and reverent. "Aly will come back and Thomas will show up, and Anna will be just fine. Things always seem shitty and then they turn out...mostly okay."

"They do." Peter agreed. And then he stomach let out a plaintive whine and Lydia gave a theatrical shriek and she pulled away rapidly.

"There's a monster in your belly, Dad!" She exclaimed, laughing.

"Ach, there is too." Peter winced a little. He hadn't noticed his own hunger. He often didn't. And then when it did make itself known, it was entirely uncomfortable.

"You need to eat." Lydia admonished him.

"Agreed. Would you like to share a patented Daddy Midnight Snack?" Peter winked at her and Lydia lit up.

"Okay!"

"It's pretty much just ice cream. With extra ice cream. But then you have to try to sleep, alright? You can't zombie your way through your classes. It's...tacky..."

Lydia laughed and she jumped up, grabbing his hand. "You're on!"