"I am so glad we are finally done for the day," Peter confessed to Olivia as they got in her car, just finishing up a case. It was Christmas Eve, but that didn't mean outrageous fringe events came to a halt.
"Agreed. I can't wait to go home and relax," Olivia responded. Go home and relax. Alone. In front of her Christmas tree. Alone. With a mug of eggnog. Alone. She really wasn't in the Christmas spirit, but she didn't want to sound too gloomy. If she did, then Peter would get concerned and start asking her questions until he got the truth out of her. He always got the truth out of her.
"Me neither. Doing anything fun tonight?" Peter questioned.
Olivia thought for a second, not wanting to sound pathetically lonesome but not wanting to lie to him either. "Umm... I'm not sure what I'm doing yet," She responded ambiguously. "Are you doing anything fun?"
"Well if baking cookies with Walter and watching 'It's a Wonderful Life' sounds like fun, then yes," he laughed.
Looking over at Olivia in the driver's seat, Peter saw a sad smile spread across her pretty face that broke his heart. He knew she would be spending tonight and Christmas alone like she'd been doing for the last few years. He pretended he didn't know, but he did. He'd worn that same exact look every year after his mother had died and before he'd gotten Walter out of St. Claire's. Being alone for the holidays was one of the worst feelings in the world. Last year he'd invited her to spend Christmas with him and Walter, but she'd declined. He hoped this year she would accept his offer since they knew each other better.
"You're welcome to join us, if you want. We'd love to have you," Peter assured. He adored spending time with Olivia, no matter what the circumstance. However, he barely ever got to spend time with her outside of work, much to his displeasure. Olivia was a very introverted and private person, but he just wished he could get to know her better. After two years of spending nearly everyday together, he already felt like he knew her better than most people— but that wasn't enough. He wanted to know absolutely everything about her. She was the most incredible woman he'd ever met.
Peter was pretty sure everyone except Olivia knew that he'd fallen hopelessly in love with her. If she was any other girl he would've taken initiative months ago—but Olivia wasn't just any ordinary girl to him. She was special, and he didn't want to overstep his boundaries with her. He knew she was wary to open her heart to anyone after John and her other failed relationships, so he never really took full action on his affection.
He subtly let her know he cared for her, but not enough to make her feel uncomfortable or anxious. It wasn't even necessarily flirting—just little ways to show he was there for her. A touch of her hand, a quick caress of her face, a warm smile, or maybe a hug that lasted a little longer and was a little tighter than one he'd give someone else. She seemed to like it, too, almost like she craved a gentle, caring touch. And he was definitely willing to give it, especially to her. As much as he wanted her to be his, he wanted even more for her to simply be happy. If she didn't want to be more than just his friend, then he could live with that, as long as he knew she was happy.
"Thank you, Peter, but I think I'm just going to stay in tonight. I'm pretty tired," Olivia replied. In all actuality she was tired, so she hadn't necessarily lied to him—she'd just left out a little bit of the truth. There was a reason she didn't spend much time with Peter outside of work. She had always been exceedingly attracted to him, and she just didn't want to fall for a guy that couldn't stay in one place. Her heart had been broken too many times before, and she didn't think she'd be able to handle it again.
"Okay. Well if you change your mind you know where to find us," Peter answered disappointedly as they pulled up to Harvard.
"Walter, are you sure this will work?" Astrid questioned as she hung mistletoe in the doorway of the lab.
"Of course I'm sure, Astro. Hurry, they will be here any second," Walter anxiously responded. Him and Astrid were bound and determined to get Olivia and Peter to kiss. Every single day they'd watch them sneak secret gazes at each other with full-blown love in their eyes, and never do anything about it. Walter had insisted that one kiss would be the magic flame that'd spark their suppressed feelings. Astrid just went along with what he'd said like she usually did. Walter might be crazy at times, but he was right more often than not.
Only a few seconds after Astrid had finished hanging the mistletoe, she and Walter heard Peter and Olivia making their way down the hallway. As they walked in the door, fully engrossed in their conversation, Walter yelled for them to stop. Peter automatically put his body in front of Olivia's to keep her out of potential danger.
"Walter, what is it? What's going on?" Peter inquired fearfully. Knowing his father, there was no telling what kind of crazy experiment he'd possibly set up.
"Look up, son," Walter grinned.
Peter and Olivia both looked up apprehensively to find themselves under the mistletoe. Relieved, Peter took a deep breath and stepped back to Olivia's side.
"Cute, Walter. A mistletoe. Now if I take another step am I going to blow up or is it safe for Olivia and I to come down there?"
"Now Peter, I'm sure you and Agent Dunham are both aware of the tradition of mistletoes. Or shall I explain it?" Walter queried, standing up and walking towards his chalkboard.
"No, Walter, we are both aware of what's supposed to happen under the mistletoe. But you are out of your mind if you think I'm going to kiss Olivia," Peter admonished. Although there was nothing he'd rather do than kiss her, he knew that would be crossing the line.
"Well son, if you don't kiss her then you will be blessed with my divine rendition of 'Row, Row, Row Your Boat' every night for the next month." Walter smiled and switched his attention to Olivia. "You wouldn't want Peter to have to go through that, now would you Agent Dunham?"
"Walter come on, you know Olivia and I are just friends," Peter sighed in annoyance.
"Then what's the big deal? A quick peck on the lips never hurt anybody. Correct, Asterix?"
Astrid nodded, a look of mischief in her big brown eyes.
Olivia stood next to Peter in complete silence not knowing what to say or do. Half of her wanted Peter to kiss her, and the other half wanted to take off running. This was exactly why she tried to keep her distance from him outside of the job.
"Fine, Walter. I guess I'm going to have to endure your lovely voice for the next four weeks," Peter lamented as he started to make his way down to the lab. Before he made it to the stairs, he felt a small hand on his arm.
Olivia was aware Peter was refusing to kiss her because he knew how guarded she was when it came to too much affection. Yet, she really didn't want him to have to undergo Walter's singing for an entire month. That's what she told herself was the reason why she was going to let him kiss her, anyway.
"Peter, it's okay. It's just a kiss," She acknowledged.
Peter was completely in shock. He couldn't believe that Olivia was going to allow him to kiss her. "Olivia, are you sure?"
"Yes. It's for the greater good, right? Besides, you won't be a very effective partner if you aren't sleeping because of Walter's singing."
Whatever her reasoning, he really didn't care. He just wanted to feel those beautiful full lips against his. "Alright, then. I'll make it quick and painless, I promise."
With that, Peter tilted her chin up with his finger and bent down to gently touch his lips to hers. The second their mouths met, Peter had to use all of his willpower not to grab the back of her neck and pull her in for a deeper kiss. Her lips were so soft and delectable—he'd never felt or tasted anything so marvelous. Regretfully, Peter knew he had to keep his promise to her and began to pull away. But before his lips could leave hers, he felt Olivia kiss him back. Hard. Her mouth was urgent against his, begging him for more. Peter couldn't resist. Both of his hands moved to her cheeks as he pulled her mouth firmly against his.
Olivia's head was spinning out of control. Peter's lips had put her under some sort of enchantment that made her blind to everything else in the room except him. He tasted so wonderfully sweet, his mouth on hers so burning yet so tender. Before she knew it her arms were locked around his neck, her tongue teasing the crease of his lips begging for deeper access. Peter readily submitted and passionately enveloped her mouth in his.
Astrid couldn't believe the scene that was unfolding in front of her. Her mouth hung open in astonishment. She looked over at Walter to see his reaction, and saw he was smiling with pride, like he'd had some sort of premonition this was going to happen. She wouldn't have been surprised though; nothing was impossible in Walter's lab.
Olivia was completely lost in Peter's kiss when her vibrating cell phone pulled her to reality. She drew her lips from his abruptly, at last realizing what they had just done. Peter gazed at her in confusion—his eyes full of such admiration and affection for her that it almost made her cry. It was only when she felt wetness on her cheeks that she realized she actually was crying. She was so perplexed about what had just happened between her and Peter that she honestly didn't know what to do. Yes, it was now obvious to everyone, including herself, that she had feelings for him, but should she pursue them? What if she did and he left her? Yet, what if she did and they ended up having a beautiful life together? God, why had she kissed him when deep down she knew this would happen? She just needed to get home where she could be alone and get her head on straight. Without another word, Olivia turned and walked out of the lab, leaving Peter completely breathless and taken aback.
Peter stood speechless in the doorway of the lab for a few long seconds, incredulously taking in everything that had just occurred. Until he'd felt her pressing mouth on his, he'd never known that she had feelings for him. He'd tasted her affection for him on her lips. Now, because of Walter, he probably wouldn't ever get to see if that affection would someday turn into something more. Olivia had been scared off by the intense and unexpected emotions surging through their bodies as they kissed. He knew her tenuous heart wasn't ready to feel something that powerful. This was exactly why Peter had wanted to ease into this with her. Now she'd probably be uncomfortable around him, and he would have to earn her trust all over again. Languidly, he turned his head towards his father. Walter was still sitting there with an amused look on his face. Didn't he just see Olivia run out of the lab in tears? Peter had never wanted to strangle him so badly in his life.
"You just ruined everything I had, and potentially everything I could've had, with Olivia, Walter," Peter accused. "It took me 2 years to gain her trust, and now we are back to the start. She's probably driving home in the ice and snow crying, too. This is all your fault!"
"Go to her, son. See if she's alright," Walter countered calmly.
"Dammit Walter, I'm the last person she'd want to see right now."
"I choose to believe the exact opposite of that."
Peter knew that he would end up at Olivia's no matter what just to see if she was okay. He didn't care if she slammed the door in his face, just so long as he knew she was at home and safe.
"Alright then, Ghandi. Since you seem to know exactly what you're talking about, what should I say to her?"
"You need to prove to her that you're not going anywhere," Walter stated matter-of-factly.
"What are you talking about?"
"That's for you to decide, son. Now, Asteroid here is going to give me a ride home. I probably won't be seeing you tonight, so have a nice Christmas Eve."
Peter now suspected his father was tripping. "Okay then, Walter. Whatever you say."
Pleased with himself, Walter walked out of the lab with Astrid. As soon as they were out of Peter's earshot, Astrid asked: "Walter, are you sure you know what you're doing? Olivia was really upset."
"Have some faith in me, Astrid. I know exactly what I'm doing," Walter guaranteed. Astrid trusted him the second he called her by her actual name.
You need to prove to her that you're not going anywhere. What in the hell did Walter mean by that? And since when had his father become the next Aristotle? Peter suspected he was on some new kind of brain-enhancing drug or something. Whatever the reason for his newfound philosophical abilities, it didn't matter. What did matter was Olivia, and Peter knew he had to go see if she was alright.
When he got to his car, he found it covered with snow. This really wasn't his night. He brushed off the icy white crystals the best he could with his sleeve and got inside the vehicle. Since it was only about 40 degrees, he decided to let the car run for a few minutes.
Peter began getting restless worrying about Olivia and decided to rummage inside of the glove box to pass the time. He discovered a surplus of napkins, straws, ketchup packets, and pens. Then his hand touched something that felt like a small leather notepad. Pulling it out, he discovered it was an Iraqi passport. Inside was a picture of himself with a fake name. He had tons of these lying around the lab and at home just in case he ever needed to flee the scene if trouble struck.
Suddenly, it was like somebody had slapped him harshly in the face. This was exactly what Walter had been talking about. Peter had always been on the move—in fact, this was the longest he'd stayed in one place since he was a child. Olivia was aware of this, too. Peter lastly realized that it wasn't just her fragile heart that was keeping her from opening up to a relationship with him: it was also that she wasn't sure if he would get up and leave one day without so much as a 'goodbye.' Why hadn't he realized this sooner? She had run out of the lab because she was scared that if she allowed herself to have feelings for him, he might leave her and break her heart. Hurriedly stepping out of the car to head back into the lab, Peter knew exactly what he had to do.
