More Warning Signs! (Aly, Family, then Katia, Peter and Thomas)

[ghost-within.livejournal.com]

The Spanish side of Aly's family hadn't come to London for Peter's funeral because it had all happened so fast. After his miraculous recovery though, they had all made plans to come and visit. And party, of course. They had no idea, when they had made the plans, that they would have another death in the family. One that wouldn't be recovered from. No one had expected Brian to go. No one even liked Brian. But a funeral was just another excuse to gather and be together as one. So that was what they did.

Aly had arrived at her parent's house at 7 in the morning, carrying a sleepy Thomas with her. Her cousin Isabella and her Aunt Rosalia were the first of the Spanish cohort to arrive, and soon the door was almost constantly opening and closing with a stream of family members. Thomas was being passed between one relation and the next as they exclaimed over him in Spanish and he cooed back at them, mimicking the sounds they made. People stood around chatting, some comforting a hysterical Jacinta who kept crying that she'd traded her son-in-law for her son, while Edward leaning in the corner and muttered 'thank god for that' not-so-under-his-breath.

It wasn't as sombre an occasion as it could have been. They'd lost someone who had been lost to them for years. The relief of having Peter back far outweighed the bad here, even for Jacinta. She just had a knack for dramatics.

Eventually, Aly moved to a chair and she collapsed in to it, Thomas held tightly in her lap as he played gleefully in her curly hair. Cousin Isabella saw her and she made a beeline for Aly, sitting next to her and holding her finger out for Thomas to grasp. "Hey, Alyona. How are you?"

"Oh...surviving."

"I was so upset when I heard about Peter. What...happened?"

Aly shook her head. "I don't even think Peter knows." She said truthfully. "He's just...okay now. That's what matters."

"Will he be around sometime today?" Isabella asked, poking Thomas softly in his tummy so he squealed.

"Not today. Maybe tomorrow. He'll need a wheelchair to get around because he's very tired still. He's spending a lot of time in bed."

Isabella gave Aly a sweet smile. "Tell me about your kids!"

That made Aly grin. She liked nothing more. And the two of them chatted for a quarter of an hour before Aly's mobile rang. She recognised Katia's number on the read out, and answered it quickly. "Hello!?"

"Aly, it's Katia. Look...Peter's uhm...relapsing..."

In record speed, Aly had handed the baby to Isabella, and stood so she could pace back and forth. "What?! How?"

"Well, he keeps...dying." There really was no other way to put it. "And then he's fine again a few minutes later. The last one seemed like it happened after a partial seizure though...and he just stopped breathing. He's okay now..."

Aly swore in Spanish. "Okay, I'm coming!"

When Aly arrived home, she entered the bedroom to see Peter smiling sheepishly at her. "I didn't mean to take you away from your family!"

"You are my family. Stop...having death relapses!" Aly hissed frantically.

Peter looked suitably scolded. "I'm sorry!"

"Are you feeling okay?"

"I always feel fine...I didn't even get warning until that seizure thing. Abby said this might happen, Aly. Just everything working itself out. Things are still healing...messages are getting sent all over....just don't bury me, okay? I'll be fine. I have to be fine."

Aly didn't look convinced. "I don't like it."

"I don't either. Nor do I want you worrying so...we'll ring Abby after work." He reached his hand out to her. "I'll be okay, Honey. I...I saw Dietrich."

Aly blinked. "Oh."

"I didn't kill him."

"No?"

"No. I threw my pen though. Hit him here." Peter poked himself in the forehead, which he regretted since it sort of hurt. "Was funny."

"Peter, I-"

"It's okay." Peter said, shaking his head. "We talked for a while. He's not a bad guy. Just sort of...dopey."

Aly laughed a mirthless laugh. "I suppose."

Peter arched one eyebrow. "You uhm...didn't like him more than me, right? I mean...you know...intimacy-wise?"

Despite the question, Aly smiled at Peter because he was so adorable when he couldn't say the word 'sex'. At least that hadn't changed. "No. GOD no. Peter...you're ...everything a woman could ever want. Loving and tender, or wild and adventurous. It's never just the same boring thing over and over. And you let me be scary, which I totally love."

"You are scary..." Peter said with a cute little blush, rising to his cheeks.

"And you are a machine. Just not...currently." Aly reached out to pat his tiny, concave stomach. "And if you need me to remind you how amazing you are again, just ask." Aly leaned forward and she kissed his forehead as Thomas entered the room carrying tea.

"Heeeyyyyy! That's what I like to see!" Thomas said beaming. "Smoochies!" Thomas grinned at them as Peter and Aly looked back at him with arched brows. "Oh right...not a peep show for Peeping Thomas. Got it. I brought you tea, Peter."

Peter wrinkled his face up. "I don't like tea." Despite it being his favourite before the tumour.

Thomas's eyes widened and he was so shocked, he dropped the mug. Maybe things were more dire than they seemed.