Olivia lounged back on the old scavenged couch as Astrid handed her the latest ration of reconstituted beef textured soy protein.
Wrinkling her nose, Olivia took a bite and closed her eyes as she slowly swallowed.
One of the thousands of ways that this future sucks.
"It's sad, but I miss the MRE's we used to get in the Marines for training in the field. At least those often came with M&Ms, and sometimes a cappuccino. Though I'm pretty sure Walter would proclaim their strawberry dairy shakes an abomination. Though maybe in the time we're living in, he may consider it a delicacy…"
She smiled after she had taken a long draw of water to wash down the unappetizing "food."
"Michael has no problem with this TVP substance, though."
Astrid grinned and made a reference to an old 80's commercial, "Mikey will eat anything."
Olivia paused before taking another bite.
"There is so much that we took for granted; such simple things…"
Astrid nodded, "I'd give just about anything in order to be able to bake a proper pie again. I think if I made a real apple pie, then I could command Walter and Peter to do just about anything with just a waft of it to their nostrils" A tiny laugh from her broke a streak of a weeks-long laughter-hiatus.
The blonde woman laughed along with her friend. Both of them needed this. This sense of normalcy and dealing with all of the changes they've had to endure. In the quest to complete Walter's plan—and in the wake of Etta's death and Peter's delving into Observer-territory—life had been one relentless, unyielding drive. They were forgetting how to be human—the little things that made a life.
"To Hell with the boys, Olivia chuckled. "You'd have me eating out of your palm, too."
"My father loved my pies. In fact, he was the one who taught me how to bake… God, I miss him Olivia…"
"The world is a lonely place, for all of us. But we have each other."
"Oh, I know, Olivia. You, Peter and Walter are my home and family now. But… well… this is not the life I had envisioned, ya know? Sure, we did some crazy things and I signed up for all of it. But I had my dad. I could date. Here… there's no way. And I am a woman with needs… It's hard being like a nun…"
Astrid closed her eyes and slightly trembled. It was true. She rarely talked about her situation. They were in a fight for survival. She had seen one of the most enduring relationships crumble away; that same family reunited, only to be ripped into shreds. The little girl—who knew her as an aunt—who she loved to accompany to amusement parks –who compared fluffy cotton candy to "Ant strid's" hair—was taken. But she grew up to rescue them all, only to be murdered in cold blood.
It was Hell.
What was her loss and loneliness compared to the grand scheme of things?
Olivia set her plate down on the beat-up makeshift table in front of them. "Do you…" She blushed a little and her eyes fell to the floor for a moment, before looking back at the young woman beside her. "I want you to really consider what I am about to suggest. I mean it with no reservations."
Astrid smiled softly at Olivia and wondered what could so obviously embarrass her.
Olivia took Astrid's hand softly in hers and looked her straight in the eyes, a soft crooked smile setting Astrid at ease.
"Peter and I have been doing very well lately, given the circumstances. I truly have my husband back… We had discussed what has happened to you from all of this. I mean… we know your father is gone, and being a fugitive means that unless we are able to defeat the Observers, you may end up living a lonely life…"
"What I'm trying to say…and please don't be weirded out by what I am about to suggest… But… Would you, if given the opportunity, and if he agrees, want to sleep with Peter? No strings attached?"
Astrid's eyebrows raised and a slight, breathy gasp escaped from her mouth.
Am I hearing this right?
"Have you asked Peter?"
"Not directly. I have been feeling him out though when talking with him. He agrees that he hates to see you alone."
"Olivia… I… don't want things to be altered between us. "
"Before all of this happened, there was no way in Hades that I'd ever suggest for my husband to sleep with another woman. But this is different. The world has changed and I feel terrible keeping the one man that is possibly available to you all to myself. And it's not a pity-fuck."