Hi all. This is the Sequel to "Identity Crisis." After I freaked you out with that story I thought I'd treat you to some Halloween Fringe fluff.
I own nothing to do with Fringe, Bad Robot, etc. Mistakes are mine.
IF you have any suggestions for games for the guests to play, drop me a note.
Thanks to Sam Spade for Astrid's costume idea.
Yes, Charlie Francis is alive and well and throwing a party for his FBI friends. Hope you enjoy...
Charlie Francis's Halloween Bash-Chapter 1
"So how do we want to do this, Peter?" Olivia Dunham looked over at Peter Bishop as he tried to concentrate on navigating her black SUV down the very dark and narrow driveway that led up to Charlie's house without getting it scratched up by all the brush on the sides of the dirt path.
Peter Bishop turned his head for a second and gave his lover a smirk.
"Remember, they don't know we're together yet. We didn't say anything to anyone."
"C'mon Livia. Some of them know. Astrid and Walter know. Probably Charlie too-he's not blind. And Broyles." He thought for a second. "Probably Nina Sharp too. My gut says she's been hanging out with Broyles lately."
"Really? Nina with Broyles. Hmm. Interesting..." Olivia sat in contemplation, picking at her skirt."
"Anyway, to answer your question, I think we should just have fun. And if anyone picks up on how happy we are," he looked over at her "then good for them."
"OK then." Olivia's thought process was interrupted when the giant Victorian house came into view.
The house was lit up like a Christmas tree out in the middle of nowhere in Westford, Mass. With no neighbors for miles on either side the Francises could get away with it. Scattered on the lawn were various expected Halloween decorations including a graveyard with homemade tombstones to their right. Peter made a mental note to check out the epitaphs on those before they left. Knowing Charlie there would be some funny stuff there.
Apparently they were fashionably late if the numerous vehicles out front were any indication. There were a good dozen and Olivia recognized a few including Junior Agent Astrid Farnsworth's car. Olivia smiled to herself wondering what costume Astrid had chosen for the night.
Peter parked the SUV and they both exited, being very careful to get their machine guns out unscathed.
Peter walked around to Olivia and gave her a passionate kiss with one hand around her neck while supporting his machine gun with the other. "Don't know when I'll get to do that again tonight, Sweetheart. You look good enough to eat, by the way." he whispered in her ear and then pulled back to give her a giant grin.
"Hold that thought," she said smiling at him.
Little did they know they were being watched through one of the windows by Astrid, who laughed loudly as she replaced the curtain. "Hey Walter, Peter and Olivia finally showed up!" she yelled to Walter Bishop who carefully made his way across the room to join her next to the window.
"Splendid that they got out of bed to come join us!" Walter shouted sloshing his drink in one hand while he pulled back the curtain with his other. The few party guests around them laughed and went back to their conversations.
Peter and Olivia climbed the steps to the huge porch, admiring the cobwebs and fake spiders with which someone had lovingly decorated the railings. Peter reached out and grabbed the giant metal ring in the middle of the door and banged it loudly against the wood.
After a beat the door opened revealing their host and hostess for the evening. Peter and Olivia were quite impressed with their period costumes. Charlie looked debonair as Sam Spade and his wife Sonia looked equally impressive as femme fatale Brigid O'Shaughnessy, both of them characters from the classic movie "The Maltese Falcon."
"Welcome to our humble home, Bishop, and Dunham." Charlie Francis paused studying them.
"Or should I say Clyde Barrow and Miss Bonnie Parker." He smiled and leaned toward Olivia's ear.
"These poor men here tonight, Liv. Bishop's a lucky, lucky bastard," he whispered in her ear.
Olivia gave a girlish giggle, and Peter wondered what Charlie had said to her. I'll get it out of her later, he told himself.
"Come in!" Sonia cheered. "You'd better get a drink. Most of us are a little ahead of you, and we're going to start the games in just a few minutes." She and Charlie moved to the side and ushered them in.
"Where's the bar?" Peter asked Charlie.
"Right this way, Mr. Barrow." Charlie followed Peter into the parlor on the left. He leaned toward Peter's ear making sure he could hear him. "I know you two have hooked up, Bishop. Just a friendly reminder. You hurt her, and I. Will. Kill. You. Remember that."
Peter laughed at Charlie's words and turned to look at him. "No worries, Charlie." He gave Charlie a smile and turned to Olivia, unfazed by Charlie's words. "What can I get you?"
They stood at the makeshift bar. "How about I start with a beer?" Olivia asked.
Peter studied her. "You want to win some games, don't you, Dunham?"
"Is that a challenge, Clyde?" She gave him a stern look.
"Maybe it is," he said handing her a bottle of Sam Adams Octoberfest. He brought his own to his lips and took a giant gulp keeping his eyes on hers.
Olivia broke eye contact with Peter and looked around her. She was impressed with the variety of costumes her fellow agents had donned for the party. She noticed there were very few duplicates, and wondered if people had phoned each other and coordinated things somehow.
"Here you two are!" Walter Bishop yelled from the entryway. Olivia looked up to see Walter almost hidden in some circle-shaped costume.
Walter's shout had attracted Peter's attention. He stared at his father. "What are you supposed to be, Walter?"
"I'm a coffee cake, of course! My favorite food! Isn't it grand? I made it myself. With a little help from Astrix."
As if on cue, Astrid made her way over to them dressed as WonderWoman. "Here you are, Walter. Hi Olivia and Peter. You two look great as Bonnie and Clyde," she said as she gave them a once-over. "You look convincingly real."
"Thanks, so do you, Astrid. You look great!" Peter answered her. He gave Olivia a cursory glance. "We might knock off a bank on the ride home."
"Sure, why not?" Olivia replied, and the four of them laughed.
Charlie suddenly appeared at their side. "I forgot to take your keys, Bishop,er, Clyde. Hand them over."
Peter stared for a second and handed his beer over to Astrid. He dug in his pocket for Olivia's keys and put them in Charlie's open hand. "As your delegated host I will remain sober tonight and assess who can drive when they leave. Those who cannot will be our guests tonight at Charlie's B&B."
"OK, I have no problem with that." Peter answered, sneaking a feral grin toward Olivia.
Charlie stuck the keys in his pocket. "OK, it's game time. Stay right there." Charlie made his way to the hallway. His wife Sonia at his side. "Boys and girls, it's time for fun and games! Please make your way to the playroom in the back. Quickly now so we can get started."
Walter set his Shirley Temple that Astrid had obtained for him on the bar. "Games! How fun! Astrid, will you be my partner if I need one?" He looked excitedly at Astrid.
"Sure, Walter," Astrid replied, wondering to herself what kinds of games Charlie Francis thought were fun.
"Shall we, Bonnie? Let's leave our guns here, Sweetheart." Peter took Olivia's gun and set it and his own leaning against the bar. "After you," he gestured for her to walk in front of him. And Olivia did with an extra swish of her hips.
Walter watched as Olivia made her way into the next room. He leaned toward Peter. "She looks ravishing tonight, Peter. Make sure you use protection, son." And with that he scampered away grabbing Astrid's arm in the process.
Peter just stared at his father. Yup, they DO know, he thought to himself. How did they know?!
He walked into the next room to catch up with Olivia Dunham, eager to see what games their host thought were worthy of the FBI in costume.
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