darker_london | Like a Rose Needs the Rain (Peter, Aly) Rating: PG (Reply)

Peter had been on autopilot since returning home the previous day. It was starting to worry Aly more than a little bit, but she understood that Peter was worried about Deirdre. Not only that, he was worried about her and leaving her and the fact that if he left for Brazil and Deirdre decided to give in to her demon side belatedly and he wasn't here...needless to say, she got that there was a lot on his mind. And he was said. Sad for the girl, Melissa, that had lost her life. He hadn't known her well at all, but she was sweet and kind and Aly knew Peter well enough to know that he grieved for any innocent that lost their life. Still, when he walked into the room like a zombie and handed her a mug of tea, she decided she had to say something. "Uhm...Peter, love?"

Peter looked startled to hear someone speaking to him. He glanced at Aly with wide eyes. "Yeah?"

"You gave me tea...?" Aly gave him a funny look.

Peter raised his eyebrows. "Uh huh. Is it the wrong kind?" He pointed at the mug. "That's very good tea."

Aly's face crinkled in to a smile. "I'm sure it is, Darling but...I didn't ask you for tea..."

"Did you not? Oh. Maybe I got it for myself and forgot..." Peter looked down at his hands. Stupid hands not knowing where his brain was. At the moment, his brain didn't know where his brain was.

Aly placed the mug on her nightstand and she gave Peter a cute frowny face. "Oh, Peter." She held her arms out to him. "Come here?"

Peter crawled up on the bed gratefully and in to his wife's arms. "Stupid brain went on vacation without me."

Aly pushed his hair back and kissed Peter's forehead. "Maybe you'll find it sunbathing in Brazil? Probably not...sunbathing..." Aly took a breath and then she wrinkled her nose. "Oh, Peter, were you smoking?" he did that sometimes to calm himself. Aly hated it.

"No..." Peter traced the pattern of the bedspread with his finger. "It was Petey. The mutt. He secondhand smoked me."

Aly gave Peter a fond look. "That's a lie, Darling."

"Yeah. I'm a bad liar. Next time I won't tell you it was the dog smoking." Peter gave her a guilty look.

"That'd be a good start. Or you could flush your cigarettes away."

"Liz made me eat one." Peter looked up at her. "She's scary." He said with wide eyes.

Aly laughed and kissed his nose. "I do love your sister."

"My mouth tasted like ick for a day." Peter sighed. "Aly, I'm sorry about what I said at Deirdre's house. That was terrible of me. I shouldn't have said you shouldn't have been there. I'm a bad man."

Aly brushed his cheek with her fingers. "You're the best man, Peter. It's okay."

"No. It's your family too. Your friends. And even if the doctor says you should be resting, I have no right to tell you where you should and shouldn't be. That's not fair of me and it's not my choice. I just worry and...I don't think before I speak. It's your body. You should choose what you do with it." Peter kissed her stomach and placed his hands gently on her belly.

Aly placed her hands over Peter's. "Thank you, Darling." She wasn't angry at Peter, but she certainly wasn't going to tell him he didn't need to say what he'd said. "I'll try to be more careful too. All this...it just reminds me..." Aly bit her lip. "I don't want to leave you alone. I'll be more careful, I promise."

"I love you. And I love this little guy in here." Peter kissed her belly again and he was rewarded by feeling a flutter of movement beneath his lips. Peter grinned. "He loves me too!"

Aly chuckled. "Of course he does." Aly reached out and she took Peter's hand softly. "Will you rest, Honey? Take a nap with me? I think you need one. We can...no...you can go see Deirdre again later?"

Peter looked up at her and he nodded. "Okay. Sleep is good. I could sleep." Peter curled up beside her. Aly put one hand around him and she smiled as his breathing slowed and became even, telling her he was asleep. Then, with her free hand, she reach out and drank Peter's tea. He was right. It was very good.