The Universal Price
Spoilers: All Seasons
Disclaimer: I own nothing...unfortunately!
He was thrilled, without a doubt thrilled but the lingering of the past was in his mind when she said those words. A smile filled his face as soon as he processed the words, he couldn't seem not to smile at the idea of sharing a small little girl or boy with the love of his life. Despite the happiness he'd always have the reality of having wiped his son from existence, having ripped away the chance of a life for a little boy and denied him the opportunity to be loved. Part of him wondered if he was destined to hurt his future child just as much, that he'd away screw up as a parent. Even with that worry, he was thrilled at the words Olivia put forth but he just didn't know what secrets she kept as well and what she worried over.
10 Weeks: Home from Hospital
Peter looked at Olivia as she set the bag down on their bed and sighed as she sat down. Smiling, she pulled him towards her with a hand on his wrist and he sat down beside her. "Are you happy to home...world saved?"
"Without a doubt," Peter chuckled and looked at her, "how many times have we been the heroes to save the universes and after it's all said and done we're called again. I think this is the end, no more madmen...just normal now."
Olivia gave him a look that Peter couldn't place, it was a mix of surprise, relief and scared. "There will always be another battle...it never ends."
"Honey," he touched her arm and pulled her close. "Whatever happens, I'll always be there for you and our child, I promise." Peter kissed her head and didn't see her close her eyes as a tear slipped.
Olivia didn't want to tell him that she knew once he had lost her and it tore him apart. She didn't want to tell him that one day he could have lost her enough to contemplate death, leaving their child alone. She was even more afraid of his reaction when she told him the biggest secret she held and what she'd done to save the world again.
Nine Hours Earlier
Olivia watched as Peter confronted Bell and Walter stood nearby, a hand on her arm made her turn and she found September. As quickly as she was on the boat she was in the middle of a house, he walked away and she followed.
"Wait, September where are we? We have to go back..."
He stopped and turned to her, "the correct question is when. I have seen the future and there is much at stake, you will never have left them...only you know this journey. You must prepare for what is ahead because only you will be able to stop those who would harm us all. I could not stop it before and that is the time we will see so you know how to stop it from occurring again."
She followed him into a living room and stopped, it was a normal family room in a normal house. It was beautiful and hoped it was her own, she could see herself in it. Laughter soon joined the room and Olivia watched as a young girl hopped down the stairs in a pink leotard.
"Look at me Daddy, I'm a ballerina." Peter appeared with the girl's coat and a bag, he chuckled.
"You certainly are, coat and shoes...we'll get you to class and come home and prepare for Mommy's baby shower."
The little girl with blue eyes and blond locks bounced with happiness and a smile, "Daddy...things feel funny."
Peter bent down and helped her put her coat on, "funny how?"
"Like when Grandpa does an experiment and things go funky, like I know something will go funky."
Sirens went off and Peter stood up, "the emergency sirens..."
The doors to their house were flung open and Olivia watched as Observers flooded in, grabbing Peter and the girl as well as dragging herself out of the kitchen. One stopped and looked at them, "take them to Windmark."
Olivia stared at September, "what's going on?"
"What I failed to properly prepare you for...we must move ahead shortly." He took her arm and they walked down the hall, suddenly in a white room with a bed at the end. Peter, herself and the girl all were being held and Observers were looking at them. September looked at her, "the head is Windmark...leader of a faction that resists peaceful observation in favor of dominating the past. He has never been successful...till that moment."
"What do you want?" Peter yelled, "we've always cooperated with you people...saved your men when they are dying. Now you drag my family into this..."
Windmark made a motion and they hit Peter in the back, he fell to his knees. "Silence, that's much better. Unlike my peaceful brothers...my people see you as nothing more than destructive beings. Unable to manage yourselves, we will manage it for you."
"You'll never succeed!" Olivia watched her future self throw the comment out.
The Observer nodded, "not as long as you're alive...that can be solved. You and your...offspring are a threat, we know what you are capable of and will not allow it to stay among us. You'll be placed in stasis and unfortunately as a human...it will kill you but it's peaceful so you won't expect it." He looked up, "her and the child..."
"My daughter is innocent, read her...read her and know she can't do anything to harm you. She isn't like me, she's unable to do anything."
He stared at the girl, still wearing her pink leotard and coat. She looked at him afraid and clutching her father's arm. "Leave the child...place Agent Dunham in the chamber."
Peter rose up and yelled, "no!"
Olivia watched her future self lookat Windmark, "give me a minute please...to say goodbye."
He made a motion and they let her go, she moved to Peter and the girl. Bending down, the woman hugged the child to her and whispered before pulling back. "Mommy..."
"Henrietta...I love you baby girl, never forget that. You are so much more than you think you are. Protect Daddy and make sure he takes care of you...the right way okay?"
The little girl cried and nodded as her mother rose up and pulled Peter close. He shook his head, "Olivia...you can't accept this. I can't loose you...I can't loose him," he placed a hand on her slightly swollen stomach. "I've lost one son already...I can't loose another child, I can't loose you."
"We agreed, we named Etta after her Henry...so he'd always stay alive in her." She smiled at him, "I love you and you won't loose me...I'll always be alive in our miracle." She kissed him and backed up to the Observers.
Olivia watched as they made her lay down and a chamber sealed above her future self, effectively closing her in and sealing her away. September looked at her, "you do not die, they do not allow him to think you lived but you do. Your son kept you alive because he is unique as is the girl you carry," he looked down at her then up. "But that does not stop Peter from attempting to end his life due to the belief you are gone."
"What do I do...to change this?"
"The girl is what they seek...she holds a power she is unaware of but Windmark saw. She must not live, she cannot come to life. You must sacrifice her...you must not allow her to live."
"But she's my daughter." Olivia let her hand slide to her belly, "I can't..."
"You must...if you do not want the world to suffer. There is a possible option, take the boy that was lost and give up the girl." Olivia knew that the world, the universe had so many children that would be lost if it suffered. The idea of giving up her daughter killed her but she'd get her son instead...Henry but would Peter understand?
As quickly as she was there, she was on the boat again and Peter was still treatening Bell. Before she could react, she heard Walter ask forgiveness and seconds later felt a sting and darkness.
Only when she woke did she find Peter tearful over her, Walter took and it only took a moment to realize she'd survived death again...this time a bullet. Her only thought was the unborn child inside her, her son...the one she had while her daughter died. Olivia felt irony in the fact that it wasn't she who died to save the universe but her unborn daughter.
The question was...would Peter forgive her when she told him?
A/N: So I decided to go on the hestitance Olivia had about telling Peter she was pregnant and made it a little AU since obviously the Observers won't come due to Etta being 'sacrificed' but guess who we get back...Baby Henry where he ultimately belongs.
