Peace (Aly, Peter, Deirdre, Jacinta, Edward, Caleb)

[ghost-within.livejournal.com]

Aly was terribly nervous. She was going home, for better or for worse, to see if she could managed to keep up this 'I'm all better' thing when not surrounded by clinical staff who would simply lock her in her room if she misbehaved. She was fairly sure Peter would do no such thing, and he had other people to be paying attention to anyway. Though she did take some solace in knowing that he was bound to be watching her closely now, no matter how many other people he did have to focus on. And Peter probably wasn't the only one.

Aly's parents, Edward and Jacinta, were milling about, helping Aly pack. Which meant more that Jacinta was milling about and Edward was sitting in a chair in the corner, staying out of the way. "Oh, Alyona, I do love this shirt on you." Jacinta said as she packed Aly's suitcase. "But, Darling, you look so much better in it when you're healthy..."

"J." Edward looked up at his wife, his expression admonishing her without words.

"Thanks, Daddy." Aly smiled at her father and then she took the shirt from her mother's hands. "I know, Mama. I know. And I'll keep getting healthy, alright."

"Oh, my baby!" Jacinta took Aly's face in both her hands and she kissed her daughter dramatically.

Peter appeared in the doorway, having signed all the relevant forms relating to Aly's release. "Ah, the gang's all here." He said, smiling at Jacinta and Edward. "Hello there." Jacinta moved to Peter, and she took his face in her hands too, kissing him quite dramatically as well.

"Oh, Peter! Thank God for you!"

"You're crushing him." Edward stood and he clapped Peter on the back while he was still in the throes of Jacinta's mad embrace. Aly stood back and looked at them all, her face schooled into a look of amusement.

"I'm not crushing him, I'm appreciating him!" Jacinta protested, and she gave Peter a huge smile.

"Oh yes. And it's nice to be appreciated." Peter leaned in and he planted a kiss on Jacinta's cheek. She beamed at him and Peter winked at his wife. "Ready to go home, Soldier?"

"Oh...I don't know." Aly said, suddenly nervous. "Any chance I can stay here and you all move in with me."

Edward snorted. "You want your family to live in the boobyhatch?!"

"Some of us aren't that far off." Peter wiggled his eyebrows and then, thankful Jacintia had finally let him go, he reached out for Aly's hand. "It's going to be alright, Love. I promise."

Aly smiled and she clutched his hand, quite tightly. "I believe you." She whispered, though beliving him and being brave were two different things. Just because it would end up okay didn't mean it would start out that way either...

The drive home seemed both too short and too long. Aly had missed being outside and now it was spring and London was coming alive again. It was beautiful and that, at least, made her smile. As they pulled up to the house she hadn't seen in quite some time, Aly took in a quick and panicked breath. "They're not going to be happy to see me..." She whispered, but loud enough for Peter to hear.

"Honey...that's bollocks." Peter informed her, his voice gentle. "They're thrilled. They've been talking about it non-stop for days. It's going to be fine, like I said." Peter parked the car, and then he helped her out of it, leaving her luggage until later. Jacinta and Edward pulled up behind them and the foursome entered the house as a group.

"You're home!" Deirdre called, as soon as they breached the threshold. She had offered to babysit, and Peter was hardly in a position to say no. Not everyone would offer to babysit for five children, including two very small ones.

"I am." Aly smiled and then Deirdre gave her one of her trademark 'choking hugs' which Aly returned with amusement.

"It's good to see you too, Darling." Aly patted Deirdre on the back and then she was nearly knocked over by a frantic Caleb who couldn't wait to hug his mother.

"I missed you!" Caleb said frantically into Aly's stomach. "I love you, Mama."

"Oh, Caleb." Aly knelt down so she could hug him better, and the minute she wrapped her arms around him, she knew Peter's words were true. Everything was going to be okay. Caleb was in her arms, and the rest of her children were waiting with smiles on their faces (and Thomas laughing happily) to take their turn to welcome her back.

After hours of tearful and happy reunion, Aly was able to retreat to her bedroom while her parents watched the youngest children and Deirdre prepared their dinner. Peter entered the bedroom carrying her suitcases a few moments after she had taken a seat on the bed. "Big day." Peter commented, a bit needlessly, though Aly was glad he had spoken first.

"Yes." Aly slid her hand over the bedspread, letting her fingers splay out across the bright patterns below them. "Very much so. It felt so good to have them in my arms again."

Peter smiled and he set her suitcase on the bed, immediately starting to put her things away in the closet. "It does, doesn't it? It was nice seeing you with them. They've missed you a lot, Aly." Aly sighed and she buried her face in her hands. Peter paused, watching her, a pair of jeans in his hands. "Aly?"

"I'm just...I don't remember how to do this. It's been a long time."

Peter placed the jeans back in Aly's suitcase and he sat by her side. "Aly, I know it's been a long time. But no one is going to rush you into anything. We've been going on for a while without you here, and it's going to take everyone a while to adjust back to the way things were before." He took her hands into his and he kissed them both, one after the other. "We will get through it."

"Oh, Peter. This has been so..." Aly let out a heavy sigh and then she leaned against him. "I think the most reassuring thing? Is that I get to fall asleep in your arms tonight."

"That...that's pretty much where I am too." Peter embraced her and he kissed her hair and they rested there, safe in each others arms. They would have to face everything again soon. But for now, there was just quiet and peace, and they were grateful.