YOU &^%$ (Aly, Bria and Peter)

[ghost-within.livejournal.com]

Aly hadn't felt so utterly content in a very long time. The reasons for which should be readily apparent. She was giddy now, waiting for her afternoon visit with her husband she had reunited with just yesterday. In order to make the time go faster, she decided to go spend some time in the common room, and that was where she found Bria.

Like magnets, Bria and Aly came together, and Aly started talking at once. "Bria! I didn't see you yesterday, but the most wonderful thing happened. Peter came to visit and we worked everything out." To Aly's surprise, her best friend did not look entirely thrilled about that. "What's wrong?"

Bria's bright expression upon seeing Aly had dissolved quickly, replaced with something even more intense than a frown. "Why would you go back to him?" She asked, arching one perfectly-curved eyebrow.

"What?" Aly sat on one of the sofas then, and she looked up at her friend in confusion. "What do you mean? Why wouldn't I?"

"He treated you like shite!" Bria said, loud enough that the entire common room turned to look at them for a moment before turning back to their own activities. Bria took a seat beside Aly and she lowered her voice, though it was still harsh and intense. "He took your kids away from you, Aly!"

"No." Aly shook her head firmly. "Bria, I thought that at the time, but I was out of my head. You know I had a relapse of my eating disorder...it altered my perception. I saw things as anyone's fault but mine. I was acting completely irresponsibly, and Peter was only doing what he had to do. I know how much it would have hurt him. He did the right thing."

"No he didn't. And if you were so sick, how could he just leave you alone?" Bria shook her head, dark hair falling across her face.

"He had to choose...me or the kids. He chose the kids, which is exactly what he should have done. Besides, I wasn't alone, I was with you." Aly smiled shyly. "I'm happy about this, Bria. It's a good thing."

"How can it be a good thing?!" Bria asked, incredulous and...something else. Frantic? "How can you go back to him, Aly? He caused you to get sick!"

"No." Aly said, still firm. Still strong. "Peter wouldn't do that. It was all self-inflicted because I'm terribly insecure. It wasn't Peter's fault, Bria-"

"He thinks you're fat!" Bria blurted out, looking quite malicious. "Why else would he treat you like he did!?"

"He does not think that," Aly hissed at Bria, crossing her arms across her stomach. "Don't say things like that."

"He must have! He treated you terribly and I hate to see you just going back to him without a care in the world. He will hurt you again, Aly! He doesn't love you, he just wants you back with him because you're deluded enough to think none of it is his fault! Can't you see that? You excuse him for everything and let him get away with mental abuse!"

Aly couldn't believe what she was hearing. It was very clear that Bria didn't know Peter at all if she thought he was capable of any of the things she was saying. "Peter doesn't think like that, Bria. I don't even think he realises that some people do because it's so far from something that would cross his mind."

"He wants you back now because you're thin." Bria crossed her arms across her chest as well. "And the second you get fat again, he'll drop you again and I'll say I told you s-" Bria was silenced by Aly, slapping her across the face. Bria had been sublte and underhanded up until that point, but then she had come out and said she thought Aly was fat. Aly knew, somewhere deep down, that she was not fat and never had been...that thinking she was fat was because of a mental disorder she had suffered from since she was very young. But Bria saying it...insulting her was not okay. Aly had put up with that enough from Brian, let alone her high school swim coach. She would not allow herself to be insulted again.

Before the fight could escalate, strong hands grabbed Aly's arms, and she was pulled to her room by the nurses, spouting Spanish phrases of hate in Bria's direction. Peter, who had been on his way to visit Aly, looked quite shocked as his wife was pulled, struggling and screeching, right on past him.

"Er..." Peter peeked into Aly's room and he glanced at the nurses who had their hands on his wife. "Is something wrong?"

"Bria called me fat!" Aly blurted out before the nurses could explain that she'd been violent to another patient.

"She what!?" Peter's mouth fell open, and he looked like he was about to go find Bria and slap her himself.

"Sir, you'll need to come back later-"

"I'm alright." Aly said, pulling her arms free of the grips that held them. "I'm calm." She took a deep breath and then she glanced at the nurses. "Please let my husband stay?" They nodded and rushed away, as if they were glad to be done with her. "Apparently they've never seen a Spanish hissy fit before."

"Did I hear you call her a Pig-fucking whore?" Peter asked, one eyebrow arched.

"Pig fucking daughter of a whore, actually. But hey, you're learning!" Aly smiled at him, and then she looked nervous again. "Peter...she said you...you only wanted to be with me because I'm thinner-"

"Bullshit." Peter interrupted, just as quickly as he could. "Complete and utter fucking bullshit. Aly...why would she say those things to you?" Peter didn't like Bria, but he hadn't realised she was so spiteful.

"Maybe...she feels replaced? I don't know."

"Did you get her good?" Peter asked, resting his hands on Aly's hips.

Aly chuckled and she looked up at Peter, her eyes twinkling. "You know you shouldn't encourage me! Mama does that enough herself!"

"I don't think I can feel bad about you slapping anyone who spouted such utter filth at you." Peter shook his head and then he leaned down to she could nuzzle her cheek. "You're beautiful. I wish I could take you away from here."

"Soon." Aly soothed him, because she was alright with being here now that she knew she needed to get better. "Very soon. And then I get to start my community service. Fuck, Peter, why did I have to have the kind of breakdown where I think stealing is cool?"

Peter pulled back and he shrugged. "At least you didn't pull a Michael Jackson. Though I'll be watching for signs you're going to cut your cute little nose off." Peter kissed it quickly and Aly giggled.

"I'll keep it in mind and behave myself." She let herself relax, because Bria didn't matter anymore. Peter was with her.