darker_london | The best present (Peter, Johan, Aly)

Peter was aware of a dull aching in his head. It was there, pouding away, even when he was asleep. And when he woke up, the pain rose quite acutely, but it was nothing he couldn't handle. He groaned and blinked his eyes against the light in the room and then he said, rather blankly, "buh? 'm I dead?" The light did kinda look like the 'Heaven' so often depicted in films and literature.

Johan closed his book and he leaned forward with a smile. "Ah, young Kemp. Joining us, are you? You're not dead. Which should be readily obvious, as I am sure your idea of paradise is not waking up in a hospital room with me."

Peter chuckled at that, and he turned his head to smile at his cousin. "Don't be too sure. You're famous, you'll up my street cred beyond the pearly gates."

"My music does seem to be most popular amoungst the recently deceased." Johan slid his chair forward and he took Peter's hand in his. "You gave us quite a scare there, Peter. I'd appreciate you not doing it again."

"What happened?" Peter asked, though as soon as the words left his lips, he remembered the kitchen. Being terrified. Falling. Pain. "Oh...god...I was...how am I possibly alive?!"

"Magic." Johan said, holding his piano-playing fingers up and wiggling them in the air. "No, not really. It wasn't the cancer that was causing the problems. That's pretty well taken care of, Old Chap. It was those horrific visions you suffer. Apparently you shouldn't have those right after having brain surgery. It causes bleeding. They were able to fix it...after a fashion. You'll be just fine now. But if you have another vision and the bleeding starts again...I wouldn't count on a miracle twice."

"No, I...understood." Peter could hardly believe it. It hadn't been the cancer. It was slightly remarkable is what it was. He could tell he was thinking more clearly already, even though the hospital drugs and his headache and the groggyness from sleeping for a long time. It was normal fuzzyness, not something blocking his cognitive processes. In fact, he could think the words 'cognitive processes'. It filled him with a simple feeling of whimsy. "I'm not dying!" He exclaimed happily.

"As a matter of fact, you are not." Johan confirmed with a smile, as he handed Peter a glass of water. It seemed like a good idea... "Now I'll go get that lovely wife of yours. And Peter...it's her birthday. You be sure to wish her a happy one when she comes in, alright?"

"Yes!" Peter grinned, slightly dopey from relief.

Peter was alone for about fifteen minutes, and then a nurse came in to make sure everything was functioning the way it should. She adjusted the levels of his medication according to Dr Wentworth's specifications and then she bustled out again the moment Aly arrived in the doorframe. Aly's eyes suddenly filled with tears. "Happy birthday." Peter said then, and at that, Aly couldn't even say anything, she was rushing across the room to climb into bed with him. "Ooof! Oi, woman, you're rumpling my covers!"

"Shut up." Aly said happily and then she leaned in to kiss him. "Oh, Darling, I love you. How's your head, is it okay?"

"Mmm. Kinda poundy. You know what makes it better? Kissing makes it better."

Aly laughed through her tears to see Peter acting so utterly Peterlike. It was an immense relief. She kissed Peter again, deeply, despite the fact that he had been lying there for days without freshening up. Then, when she pulled away, she handed him a mint.

"Subtle Aly is not subtle..." Peter said, though he took the mint gratefully, as the entire idea that he couldn't brush his teeth was unsavory to him. Peter was a neatfreak to his very core. "I'm sorry I can't take you out for our anniversary."

"Oh, Peter. I don't care. I'll have something ordered in and we can eat a candlelit...okay no. A flashlight-lit dinner here. Whatever you want."

"Paella?" Peter asked hopefully and his stomach gave an appreciative grumble. "That's two votes. That counts as two."

Aly chuckled and she leaned forward to kiss Peter again. "Alright, Crazy Man. Paella it is. You're going to be okay, I'd get you anything you wanted." Aly took his hand in hers and she smiled brightly. "I got your presents, by the way."

"My...oh!" Peter flushed red then. He had forgotten. He had been ill, so he had bought Aly's birthday and anniversary presents early and arranged for them to be delivered. And oh god, if he had died, how horrifying would that have been! But he hadn't. And he wasn't going to. "Did you like them!?"

"I can't move for flowers. But I love them. You do know my knack for sparklies, don't you?"

"Wear then tonight!" Peter smiled warmly. "I want to see them on! Mmm. I should sleep."

"You just woke up."

"Yeah. Sleepy." Peter leaned his head against her arm and he kissed her wrist. "I love you, my Alyona."

"I love you too. You're the best present I could have gotten."

Peter felt he rather agreed. Getting a reprieve from death was a pretty damn good anniversary present, all things considered!