Chpt.2: Then.

It had been the same bookshop where she had purchased his bible, actually. She had spotted him reading a periodical over the top of a star bucks cup, oblivious that the world around him moved. Astrid had rolled her eyes; trust it to her one off-day to run into Walter.

Immediately she shrank back into her aisle, looking around for Peter, hoping he would arrive to collect his father and depart. She grew concerned as she could not find him. She looked around the corner at Walter, as he turned the page, reading on.

Walter couldn't be out on his own, that was violating his parole. Astrid grew further confused and worried., and Walter flipped the magazine shut, placing it back onto the display. He took a drink of his coffee, and shifted the one item he had selected to the crook of his arm. It appeared to be a children's book.

Astrid never once thought to reach for her cell phone and simply call Peter to confirm his father's disappearance, and only found herself cautiously following Walter to the checkout counter, where he purchased the book, tightened his scarf, disposed of his Styrofoam cup, and left the store.

Astrid found it slightly bizarre to watch him shuffle through the regular foot traffic on the sidewalk like a normal person. How people seemed to take no heed of him, while, to her, Walter stood out like a sore thumb. He only held the book to his chest and watched the light, crossing the street. Astrid continued to follow.

All the way to the bus stop, and onto the bus. She sat in the back of the bus, where she could peak over the seat at him from time to time. Walter stood, one hand on the bar and the other parting the pages of his purchase as he read over it calmly. He was turning the page with his thumb when the bus stopped again, and Astrid's view was interrupted by a flurry of passengers boarding. She sat back to wait, and looked back up in search of Walter as the vehicle set into motion once more.

He was gone. Astrid cursed, twisting to look out the window.

"Hello, miss," he said cheerfully from the seat beside her, and Astrid jumped.

"Walter!" she stammered, flushing, "Hi!"

"Hi." his smile was unfaltering; he knew. Just how long he had known, she was unsure.

"Where's Peter?" Astrid asked, refusing to acknowledge the cause of his smugness.

"Back at the hotel. I snuck out a bit, actually. You caught me," he waved the book, indicating his motive.

"You shouldn't be out by yourself," Astrid said seriously.

"I know."

Sometimes, his absence of concern bothered her. Astrid shook it off, "It's dangerous, seriously. Peter is there to protect you, you know."

"Can you protect me, then?" Walter asked.

Astrid laughed, "From what?"

"I was thinking of the pigeons in the park. They're awfully territorial, you know, and quite fierce, when agitated. I'm feeble, they could beat me up." he very casually placed his arm across the back of her seat.

The grass was yellow with frost, and the city had long shut off the center fountain, lest the plumbing freeze and split, causing a very expensive job for public works. Fallen leaves stuck to the cement with the damp, disturbed only by their footsteps as their heels scuffed the walkway. They paused at a foot cart for a cup of coffee, and Astrid breathed in the steam, curling her fingers to warm her knuckles under the cardboard cover.

"Your hands are cold?" Walter questioned.

"I forgot my gloves at home."

"Do you want mine?"

"Nah. I'm fine; I'll just put them in my pockets, see?" she slipped her fingers into the zippered slits at her sides.

"That won't help. I'll have to hold them," Walter said quietly.

"What?"

He muttered something into his coffee.

A dog and his walker passed them, the first sign of life they had seen, apart form the pigeons. Walter only stared at the fact that the dog wore bootees, pondering the point. Astrid had laughed, shaking her head and deciding to leave him wondering.

"My knees hurt," Walter said at last as he stopped, lowering himself onto a park bench with a sigh.

Astrid sat beside him, looking up at the fading sunlight, "It's getting late anyways, Walter. We should get you back to the hotel, Peter's bound to be looking all over for you, at this point."

"Oh, wouldn't that be nice?" Walter said, and chuckled, "I think he's wishing I'd get lost, really."

"Aren't you, though?" Astrid smiled in return, "He's gonna kill me, when he finds out I didn't turn you in."

"I'm a person, not a coat ticket," Walter grumbled, and Astrid laughed. Walter looked up at her for a few moments, and looked back down at his knees with a quick sigh.

"What's up?" Astrid questioned.

Walter shook his head, "No, no, no." he banged his balled fists on his knees lightly, "Nope."

"What? You're freaking me out. I mean, not that you don't anyways. Should I call Peter?"

"Perhaps. Because I'm about to do something very, very stupid," He swallowed, his face gathering in determination. He glared up at her, and she recoiled slightly, alarmed.

Astrid exclaimed as Walter leaned over to her, pressing a quick kiss to her upper lip. He sat back, folding his hands together and glaring down at his knees.

"Walter-?!" Astrid managed.

"You can run, now. Off you go." he waved her away dismissively.

"Why would I run?" Astrid grinned, "That was so cute."

"Go away."

"You missed."

"I said go away!" he snapped, his ears turning red.

"Did you think I'd be freaked out? Why would I be freaked out?" Astrid pressed, grinning widely.

Walter stood, gathering his book and jamming his hands into his pockets as he stormed away. Astrid followed after him, as he glared strait ahead, fuming, "You can't plan something like this, Walter. Did you think you could?"

"Listen, you-!" he turned on his heel, raising a finger in warning.

"Are you mad at me?"

He swallowed back his rage, looking hopelessly disturbed, "…No."

"Then you're mad at you?"

"Yes. I've made a fool of myself, thanks very much. I'd really rather not stay around to-"

"Okay. Well, that's easy to fix. Kiss me again."

Walter stared, dumbfounded. Astrid tugged on the loose end of his scarf, and he blinked slowly. Astrid shut her eyes as he leaned over her again, encircling her shoulders as he pressed his lips to hers firmly. There was a few moments of quiet, and he broke away, exhaling softly. She opened her eyes to look up at him, then smile, "You have lipstick on your chin," she said softly, tracing it away with her fingertip.

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