After spending an afteroon with his cousin, and having seen his Uncle Wolfgang that morning, Peter felt the urge to read some of his mother's letters again. He hadn't done so in a long time, as they had been quite wonderfully distracting while he was laid up with a brain tumour, but since then he'd been a bit pre-occupied with the threat of imploding London.

The last the happiness )
After spending an afteroon with his cousin, and having seen his Uncle Wolfgang that morning, Peter felt the urge to read some of his mother's letters again. He hadn't done so in a long time, as they had been quite wonderfully distracting while he was laid up with a brain tumour, but since then he'd been a bit pre-occupied with the threat of imploding London.

The last the happiness )
By Friday, Peter was feeling a little better. Well enough to let Deirdre and Tasha serve him breakfast in bed, which he managed to keep down. And once he was finished with that, he reached out for the now familiar box of 'Dear Virginia' letters his mother had sent to her best friend back before she had married Peter's father. They were fascinating to read, and Peter was looking forward to another installment of them.

Pre-wedding Jitters )
By Friday, Peter was feeling a little better. Well enough to let Deirdre and Tasha serve him breakfast in bed, which he managed to keep down. And once he was finished with that, he reached out for the now familiar box of 'Dear Virginia' letters his mother had sent to her best friend back before she had married Peter's father. They were fascinating to read, and Peter was looking forward to another installment of them.

Pre-wedding Jitters )
With Aly away taking care of David, Peter was left to care for Christina and sundry. They were staying in what was technically Thomas and Mary's new room, though Peter knew Thomas and Mary would never be upset that Christina was using the room to seek refuge from her shattered marriage. Peter felt terribly guilty even though he hadn't done anything, because David was his best friend outside of Thomas, and he hadn't known. David had been self-destructing and cheating on his wife, apparently for a long time, and Peter had been completely oblivious. And it had started before the tumour. Peter had no excuse. Christina didn't look like she blamed any of it on him, thankfully. Peter probably would have crumbled, had she said anything like 'how did you not know about this!?'

Unravelling the past )
With Aly away taking care of David, Peter was left to care for Christina and sundry. They were staying in what was technically Thomas and Mary's new room, though Peter knew Thomas and Mary would never be upset that Christina was using the room to seek refuge from her shattered marriage. Peter felt terribly guilty even though he hadn't done anything, because David was his best friend outside of Thomas, and he hadn't known. David had been self-destructing and cheating on his wife, apparently for a long time, and Peter had been completely oblivious. And it had started before the tumour. Peter had no excuse. Christina didn't look like she blamed any of it on him, thankfully. Peter probably would have crumbled, had she said anything like 'how did you not know about this!?'

Unravelling the past )
After a night where the Mara search had been fruitless, a demonic superhero had stopped a bus accident but soul-sucked Nancy and then thousands of people had lost their lives near London, it's just made sense to want the words of your mother to comfort you. Peter could have called Lavannah and asked to speak to Louise that way, but it sounded like Lavannah had enough to deal with right now. He didn't want to bother her. And, thanks to Aunty Virginia, he now had letters she had written over two decades ago. Words that were utterly Louise, without any of the tragedy that had changed her so much.

Words of love )
After a night where the Mara search had been fruitless, a demonic superhero had stopped a bus accident but soul-sucked Nancy and then thousands of people had lost their lives near London, it's just made sense to want the words of your mother to comfort you. Peter could have called Lavannah and asked to speak to Louise that way, but it sounded like Lavannah had enough to deal with right now. He didn't want to bother her. And, thanks to Aunty Virginia, he now had letters she had written over two decades ago. Words that were utterly Louise, without any of the tragedy that had changed her so much.

Words of love )
An eleven-year-old Peter was standing in front of his drunken father as the man went on and on about how he was a disappointment to the family. Peter had been the recipient of a rather nasty-looking black eye and Klaus Kempf was of the opinion that Peter should have given the boy who had caused it a black eye in return. Peter wasn't like that. He wasn't a fighter. So he stood in front of his father, his head bowed in shame, waiting for his father to tire of his tirade.

Always )
An eleven-year-old Peter was standing in front of his drunken father as the man went on and on about how he was a disappointment to the family. Peter had been the recipient of a rather nasty-looking black eye and Klaus Kempf was of the opinion that Peter should have given the boy who had caused it a black eye in return. Peter wasn't like that. He wasn't a fighter. So he stood in front of his father, his head bowed in shame, waiting for his father to tire of his tirade.

Always )
December 24th, 1981

It may have been Christmas, but all was not merry in the Kemp household. Despite the immaculate decorations provided by the help, and the happily twinkling lights, blinking inanely away without a care in the world, the Kemp Manor House seemed to be the very antithesis of 'merry'.

The Grinch )
December 24th, 1981

It may have been Christmas, but all was not merry in the Kemp household. Despite the immaculate decorations provided by the help, and the happily twinkling lights, blinking inanely away without a care in the world, the Kemp Manor House seemed to be the very antithesis of 'merry'.

The Grinch )
Peter was dreaming. He was dreaming about nuns, which was one of those repressed fears that always eventually comes out courtesy of dreams, nightmares, or Deirdre telling everyone your secrets.

The Dreams of a Seer )
Peter was dreaming. He was dreaming about nuns, which was one of those repressed fears that always eventually comes out courtesy of dreams, nightmares, or Deirdre telling everyone your secrets.

The Dreams of a Seer )
The burned out hulk of what had once been Digital Anachronism Studios came in to view, looking like a grotesque skeleton amidst the backdrop of the cold London night. Lavannah looked up at it as they approached, gripping Rosa's hand tightly. They weren't even inside yet, but already Lavannah could hear the souls trapped inside, begging for their freedom. Someone to help them. Screaming and crying in frozen anguish. They hadn't known their fate because the tragedy that was the Vanity Faire video shoot had caught everyone by surprise. It was a horrible shock to the system to suddenly be dead. Some of the trapped souls didn't even understand that they were yet. But Lavannah was coming for them.

This place is clear )
The burned out hulk of what had once been Digital Anachronism Studios came in to view, looking like a grotesque skeleton amidst the backdrop of the cold London night. Lavannah looked up at it as they approached, gripping Rosa's hand tightly. They weren't even inside yet, but already Lavannah could hear the souls trapped inside, begging for their freedom. Someone to help them. Screaming and crying in frozen anguish. They hadn't known their fate because the tragedy that was the Vanity Faire video shoot had caught everyone by surprise. It was a horrible shock to the system to suddenly be dead. Some of the trapped souls didn't even understand that they were yet. But Lavannah was coming for them.

This place is clear )
There was something about autumn that made Lavannah feel alive. Maybe it was because around her the world was getting ready to sleep for the winter and she had no such need. Or because she'd been rescued in the autumn. It was almost a year ago now when David and Peter had come to her in the hospital. They'd learned how to listen when no one else could. More importantly, they'd learned how to speak to her when she had no ears to hear. And they'd given her Louise. Her filter. Her constant companion. Without the spirit of Louise always with her, Lavannah would be doomed to hearing the constant voices of the dead. It never stopped. They never stopped.

Medium )
There was something about autumn that made Lavannah feel alive. Maybe it was because around her the world was getting ready to sleep for the winter and she had no such need. Or because she'd been rescued in the autumn. It was almost a year ago now when David and Peter had come to her in the hospital. They'd learned how to listen when no one else could. More importantly, they'd learned how to speak to her when she had no ears to hear. And they'd given her Louise. Her filter. Her constant companion. Without the spirit of Louise always with her, Lavannah would be doomed to hearing the constant voices of the dead. It never stopped. They never stopped.

Medium )
Even as it was happening, Peter's funeral seemed so beyond surreal. The chapel at the hospital was full fit to burst with people who had come to mourn the loss of Peter Kemp. Stuart was officiating and despite his years in the clergy, he found that it was impossible to come up with the right words to say. So instead he borrowed Peter's words, opting to read passages from Peter's journals about the importance of love and family, artfully leaving out all mentions of angels or demons or anything else supernatural. People were allowed to say a few words, and those that were able to got up and shared memories or feelings or thoughts. Deirdre went on for nearly 20 minutes because that's what Deirdre did. No one minded. They were focused on Peter, resting in front of them like he was asleep. He was dressed in the suit he'd been married in to cover up his scars, and his hands were folded lightly across his chest. His first journal rested beneath them. It seemed only fitting that he be interred with it.

After the service, everyone relocated to the mausoleum that Aly had purchased. It was a large stone building with ornate iron work and a large chandelier hanging from the ceiling. And it was theirs now, it belonged to the family. Aly had placed some vases in the corners that had belonged to Louise. Flowers were placed in them, and Peter rested in the middle so people could see him one last time before he was lifted up and slid into his place in the top row. It was very informal, because that's how Peter would have liked it. Aly was hanging back, not yet ready to say goodbye. She let other people see him first. She knew how very important her husband was to...well...everyone. Instead of crowding, she leaned against the outside of the mausoleum, holding baby Thomas who was strangely still, and she cried softly as she stared up at the cloudy sky.
Even as it was happening, Peter's funeral seemed so beyond surreal. The chapel at the hospital was full fit to burst with people who had come to mourn the loss of Peter Kemp. Stuart was officiating and despite his years in the clergy, he found that it was impossible to come up with the right words to say. So instead he borrowed Peter's words, opting to read passages from Peter's journals about the importance of love and family, artfully leaving out all mentions of angels or demons or anything else supernatural. People were allowed to say a few words, and those that were able to got up and shared memories or feelings or thoughts. Deirdre went on for nearly 20 minutes because that's what Deirdre did. No one minded. They were focused on Peter, resting in front of them like he was asleep. He was dressed in the suit he'd been married in to cover up his scars, and his hands were folded lightly across his chest. His first journal rested beneath them. It seemed only fitting that he be interred with it.

After the service, everyone relocated to the mausoleum that Aly had purchased. It was a large stone building with ornate iron work and a large chandelier hanging from the ceiling. And it was theirs now, it belonged to the family. Aly had placed some vases in the corners that had belonged to Louise. Flowers were placed in them, and Peter rested in the middle so people could see him one last time before he was lifted up and slid into his place in the top row. It was very informal, because that's how Peter would have liked it. Aly was hanging back, not yet ready to say goodbye. She let other people see him first. She knew how very important her husband was to...well...everyone. Instead of crowding, she leaned against the outside of the mausoleum, holding baby Thomas who was strangely still, and she cried softly as she stared up at the cloudy sky.

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Darker London

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