Trail Home

Spoilers: All Season and Moonlit Promises

Disclaimer: I don't own Fringe, sadly only seasons 1-3

Olivia sat at the lab table Peter had once often occupied, she finally understood why he did because she could see the office clearly and also the lab. A view that had given Peter the ability to look out for her and Walter at the same time. Files laid across it, she listened to Walter make ice cream since they didn't have an ongoing case. Her thumb continuously rubbing her ring finger, reminding her of the absence of what once laid there. She'd searched her entire room, her bed...everywhere but the ring was gone and it pained her to think that something Peter had taken time to make was gone, lost forever. What more was that he had made it especially for her, the one thing that could have never been taken by her alternate...it had just been hers.

"Olivia," she looked up to see Walter, "are you alright dear? Since your dream you've been...lost more than usual."

She nodded, "I'm okay Walter...I just lost Peter's ring and it hurts that it's gone. I'll be okay, is the ice cream done or do I need to run out and get something for it?"

Olivia did her best to indulge Walter where she could because since Peter had disappeared from their lives she'd been the only person to keep him sane. She's practically taken on the role of guardian and daughter, Peter had willed her custody of Walter if anything happened...along with half of his Massive Dynamic inheritance. The other half was to be liquidated and placed away for one Ella Jae Dunham, he'd left her enough to get through college with ease. Funny enough, Olivia had insisted he just be listed as MIA instead of Missing and Presumed Dead, she didn't want anything financial touched just yet...not till she was sure.

Walter eyed her, "you never took that ring off, where could it have gone?"

"When I woke up from my dream, it was gone but I had it on when I went to bed." She shook her head, "I even looked at the physical place where I had been in my dream but it wasn't there."

Walter pulled up a chair and sat down, "I want you to tell me your dream specifically...leave nothing out."

It took an hour but she explained every detail of the dream, "I've had more...Peter's always there and we're always talking. Then he's gone abruptly, after a while I got used to it but now...it's just painful."

"The pain...is it emotional pain or physical pain?"

Olivia looked down, her fingers twirling her pen. "Like being stabbed in the heart repeatedly, my head does hurt afterwards."

"I have a theory but..."

"I'll take anything right now Walter."

He nodded and looked at her, "as you are aware, you and Peter met as children." Olivia nodded, she knew the story, "I always wondered if a connection was formed...because it seemed like one did. I suspect one did and your physical relationship amplified it. I believe your connection to Peter, although neither of you are aware, is connecting you in your dreams. Perhaps, the feeling of pain upon him leaving was enough for you to cross at that one moment before being pulled back. Unfortunately, your ring got left behind...I suspect, wherever he is, Peter has it."

"And if he has it...he'll know it's the one he made for me."

Walter smiled, "and realize that the dreams aren't just dreams. My dear wherever Peter is, you've just given him a way home. Next time you fall asleep, the best thing you can do is try to remember this and tell him."

"You want me to pull him back?"

"No...you aren't prepared for that." Walter touched her cheek, "but we will find a way to bring Peter back. It must, however, be done safely and through steps and planning. He wouldn't want you risking your life for him."

She smiled, the first real smile since she'd lost the man she loved. "I'll try Walter, no promises."

A/N: Let me know what you think of this short mini-series of oneshots. Please, please review so I know if I should continue.