Chapter two! I'll try make it happier. Hope you enjoy. Please read and review!
"What?"
His question was rhetorical, and yet he spat liquid venom as he spoke. His tone terrified me, and for the first time in a long time, I was truly afraid of him. He was staring at me – I could tell despite the fact I was staring at the floor. When I didn't answer him, I saw from the corner of my eye him look to Astrid.
"You knew?" he asked bitterly. "You knew, and you didn't say anything?"
"It wasn't my secret to tell, Peter" she retorted coolly. He glared at her slightly, but said nothing. He turned his attention back to me.
"Why didn't you tell me?" He pleaded, and I looked up to see the remorse in his eyes. He felt like I didn't trust him; that I didn't care. At this I started to cry again, and he put his head in his hands before running his fingers through his hair exasperatedly.
"I didn't want you to do anything stupid" I choked, desperate for him not to jump to conclusions. "There was nothing that could be done, no way I could-"
"-I could have caught the sick bastard, Liv. I would have killed him for what he'd done to you"
"Exactly" Both Astrid and I stated together. I felt her hand on my shoulder and looked at her gratefully.
"I just didn't want to make a fuss" I whispered into the tense silence. He scoffed, and broke the unspoken distance boundary we'd set up before, kneeling in front of me and putting his hand on my other shoulder. I broke down. The tears multiplied and before I knew it I was crying into his shoulder, drenching him with my distress. He held me until I stilled, having spilled out my depression and fear.
When I felt better, I raised my head, and he caught my eyes with his. We didn't need to speak, it was all there, my forgiveness and self hatred, fear, hurt, devastation and his anger, worry and relief. He tentatively placed a kiss on my forehead, and I felt him relax slightly when I didn't back away. I needed the comfort, even if I wasn't ready for what it might mean.
"What the hell am I going to do?" I asked my companions quietly.
"You already know that Olivia" Peter said simply. I looked at him, confused, so he continued. "You wouldn't have told me if you were going to have an abortion."
I paused for a second, wondering whether he was right, and if he was, what it might mean. I was terrified, and not ready for motherhood, but what choice did I have? This could be one of my only chances of having a child, with such a dangerous life. But then was it fair on the baby?
"I'll help you, you know" he began, unsure where to start I suppose. "Anything you need. If you need me to come to appointments, or help with money or looking after the baby or looking after you, anything, we're here"
"Me too" Astrid agreed. I felt bad, I'd almost forgotten she was here.
I offered a weak smile in thanks. Peter was right, no matter how badly timed this was, I couldn't have an abortion. I couldn't go through with it. This was just how things were meant to be. Astrid got up to leave, sensing it was safe to leave us alone together. She said goodbye with a smile and reminded me that if I needed her I was on the other end of the phone. I wondered if she was going to stay with Walter.
As she left a spot free on the couch, Peter took it, and pulled me into him so that my head rested on his chest and his arm limply hung over my shoulder, his fingers skimming my waist. He wanted to say something, I could tell from his erratic breathing and quickening heart rate. I wished he'd just get on with it. It took him a few minutes to gather the courage.
"Will you tell me about it?" He murmured. "About what happened to you?"
I looked up at him curiously. Whatever I had been expecting him to ask, that had not been it.
"What do you want to know?" I asked with a gulp, the painful memories already brimming to the surface.
"Whatever you're comfortable telling me"
So I told him, about how we'd been working a case and I'd gone alone to investigate a suspect's house, how I hadn't found anything there, so I'd checked in the alleyway outside, and how someone had surprised me by grabbing me from behind, uttering cruel words. I spoke about how he'd knocked my gun from me as I'd reached for it, how I'd been too slow, and how he'd pushed me against the wall. I trailed off then, leaving the rest to his imagination.
He gulped and looked away, I wondered if those were tears of anger I saw brewing in his eyes.
"Hey" I said comfortingly, putting a hand on his cheek. "You weren't to know"
"I know" he muttered. "I'm just sorry you didn't feel you could tell me, and I'm sorry that even after everything that happened I've still been a bad friend."
"You haven't" I reassured him with a smile, which he returned gladly, giving me a quick squeeze. Hopefully, having him and Astrid would make the next 7 months bearable.
