Uncomfortableness (Aly, Peter) Rating: PG

[father-peter.livejournal.com]

No one from Victoria Lane had gone shopping for several days, and it was little wonder why. It became apparent just how dire the situation was, however, when they finally ran out of milk and Peter was left tealess. Tealess would not do. Peter had decided that grocery shopping..or at the very least, milk shopping...was an essential quest at that point. Deirdre was reluctant to let him go alone, but he had his car and everyone else was busy or unavailable. So Peter went alone anyway.

Of course, the second he stepped out of his car, his mobile rang. Panicked that something had happened during the course of his 15 minute drive, Peter answered quickly. "Hello! Is everything okay?"

"Peter? This is Aly." Aly who? Peter thought, though she took care of him having to ask that embarrassing question by adding, "I'm sorry to bother you...David gave me your number. I hope it's all right that I called?"

Aly. David's sister. Caleb's mother. Beautiful. Wore a wedding ring. "It's fine, Aly. Sorry about the way I answered, I was...nevermind. Did you need something? Is David okay?"

"He's fine. Uhm...I have a favour to ask you, though I'll understand if you say no. It's just...a small thing. I'm at work now. I work at the British Museum."

"I can head over there now if you need me to?"

"O-only if that's alright?"

"It's fine, Aly. I'll be there soon." Peter got right back into his car and he drove to the museum in less time than it would normally take, as there was less traffic today. Peter wondered idly if it was because people were leaving or people were dying. Oh how cheerful.

When Peter entered the museum, he asked for Aly and then he realised he didn't know her last name. Luckily, they didn't ask, they just pointed in the direction of the gift shop. Peter walked in and he made his way over to her. "Hello, Aly."

"Oh, Peter. Hello! Thank you so much for coming. I'm on gift shop duty today because the girl that usually does it has decided to move and I was the only one that was free who actually had a personality. Oh sorry. I sound bitter. It's...it's because...okay behind you-DON'T LOOK-behind you is this guy, Kevin. We went on a few dates and it was okay but then he got incredibly male and I wasn't so keen. And since I put him in his place, he won't stop hanging around, even though I've asked him several times to go away." Peter was surprised to hear that she was dating since she was in fact STILL wearing a wedding ring. Perhaps it was just a ring that happened to fit on that finger...

"Did he hurt you?" Peter asked, his face clouding.

"Oh no! No, he's annoying but harmless. Which...is actually why I called you and not David. I complained to David about it and he got very strange. It sounded like he was going to come down here and 'straighten him out' which isn't like David at all. I'm not worried that Kevin will hurt me, he's hanging around so I'll accept his apology but I don't like him like that. Besides, forcing someone to accept an apology isn't going to be a good foundation for a relationship."

"You want me to go talk to him?"

Aly bit her lip. "To be honest, I hadn't really thought that far ahead." She said, laughing. Peter grinned. She was certainly charming, even though she was quite odd. He was odd too. "He's just distracting when I'm trying to work is all. It's not so bad in here, but when I'm doing my job and I'm explaining the artefacts, it gets difficult with someone following you around. My little Kevin-shaped Shadow. But he pays the fee everyday, so my boss won't do anything."

"That's-illegal..." Peter said.

"I know, but the museum could use the money."

While they talked, neither of them noticed that Kevin had been slowly approaching them the entire time. Finally, he walked right up to them, forcing himself in between them. "Excuse me." He said to Peter, adn then he turned to Aly. "Alyona, are you dating this guy?" Aly stuttered.

"Yes!" Peter said loudly. "Yes she is dating me. And it's a new thing, so if you don't mind-"

"I wasn't asking you, mate." Kevin said to him. "Aly? Is he telling the truth?"

"'Fraid so, Kevin. Sorry." Aly responded.

Kevin frowned. "You know, you could have told me!"

"Somehow, I don't think you would have listened."

Kevin mumbled. "Yeah. Well...I guess I'll go." He glared at Peter and slumped away.

"Please don't tell me it was that easy!" Aly said, laughing.

"I think it was that easy." Peter said with a wink. "Still, if he shows up again, you can ring me. I'll come and 'save' you by means of conversation."

Aly snorted. "Indeed. Though I have to say it was the best conversation I've had all day."

"Well! Sometime I'll have to astound you with my 'talking about events that have recently occured' skills. I'm phenomenal."

Aly smiled. "I'm sure you are, Peter. I just might have to take you up on that offer."

Suddenly Peter realised that Aly just might be flirting with him, and with that realisation went any chance of him actually saying another coherent word. So he said "Uuuhhh?"

Suddenly Aly realised that Peter might have thought she was flirting with him, and she realised she just might have been too, and with that went any chance of her feeling comfortable around him. "Erm..so. Anyway...work."

"Right. Work. Is what you do. So I shall go. And you can do that....working...thing."

"Yes. I will do the working thing. Which is to say...work."

"Oh heh heh. Yes." Peter cleared his throat. "Okay. Well, I-er-I hope that--uhm...bye!" Peter said, and he patted her arm awkwardly and headed for the door, walking faster than normal towards the store, and milk, and tea, and escapism.

Aly smiled after him. Despite the awkward way that he had left, she'd enjoyed his presence, and the fact that he'd shown up for something as trivial as making Kevin leave her alone. It wasn't something she'd forget quickly.