Chapter 7 – It Always Rain's on Love in a Cemetery
Peter wasn't sure how long he sat with Olivia, at first he had just sat next to her, about 30cm apart and then she had slowly moved closer. Eventually she had entangled her fingers in his and looked at him in the eye. He was so happy be in this position but could not act on his true feelings because he could still see 15 year old Olivia staring back at him. And so he just sighed and turned away. Olivia did the same but instead she put her head on his shoulder and watched the water flow below them.
Silence was killing them, although neither knew what to say. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her and have her run on him again and yet he needed to say something, "Livi…" he started but could no finish.
Something changed in Olivia's position. It had shifted and he looked at her. Her eyes seemed to darken as if suddenly coming to a certain realisation and she began to cry. It was as if she hadn't ever cried around someone before. She hid her face from Peter so he could not see her eyes as though she was embarrassed to have him look at her.
Peter took the opportunity to put his arm around her and pull she into his side. She fit well there and he never wanted to let her go. There wasn't much he could do so he just held her, hoping that somehow she would turn back into his Olivia.
Her sobs started to quieten and she began to speak, "You have been looking for me?" without waiting for a reply she continued, "I'm sorry you had to do all this for me. I hate having people look out for me…" Yes I know Peter thought. "…I wish I could take it back." Olivia was quiet for a bit. "I love you Peter"
Her words were soft, almost unheard unless you were sitting right next to her. Peter smiled at her and allowed her to smile back. Then again her eyes changed. They became lighter, the beautiful eyes that he had fallen in love with from day one. His Olivia's eyes.
"Livi? Is that you?" His question seemed to linger in the air as if she was contemplating her answer. She couldn't bring herself to give one and so she just nodded. Peter felt over joyed that she had returned to him. He just wanted to take her home and make sure she was taken care of properly and that's what he was going to do.
Pulling himself away from the railing he raised his hand for her and she took it following his movements for getting off the railing. Hand in hand they walked to the car silently neither one daring to look at the other. They did not know what to expect if they did look at each other.
Peter drove slowly as Olivia stared out the window and sighed. "Did you go to the cemetery Livi?" His question was expected and Olivia moved her head to look down at her hands. Her long, now dirty, blond hair covering her face, she shook her head.
"I didn't have the heart…" Her reply was simple and so was his
"You may not have had the heart but now you have two. Lets go and see your father." A small smile played on her lips but her eyes gave her away. She wanted to cry again, but this time, she wanted to cry into his arms forever.
Peter took one last turn up the dirt road and into the cemetery car park. He allowed Olivia to walk 2 paces in front of his, in a gesture that was trying to say that he wasn't trying to push her. But she stopped and waited for him to catch up. Taking his hand in hers she forced him to walk by her side up to the headstone.
Olivia stoped short again and knelt down to the side of the headstone. "I'm sorry daddy." Her voice broke as she kissed the top if the stone and then out of everything she could have done she looked up at Peter and smiled her huge trademark smile and threw her arms around his neck. Peter was shocked for a moment and then allowed his arms to wrap around her back, pulling her even closer so close that her feet weren't even touching the grass anymore.
The heavens opened up and it began to rain. Olivia laughed as Peter tried to pull her out of the rain but she just pulled on his hand forcing him to stand in front of her. She leaned in and whispered in his ear, "My daddy always said, it always rains on love in a cemetery."
Taking his face in her hand Olivia did the one thing that her body wanted, she kissed Peter. Forceful and passionate, they stood in the rain and kissed for what seemed like eternity. She was happy.
It took Olivia and Peter almost 24 hours to get back to the lab in Boston because of the rain but everyone was happy to see them. Olivia was herself, Walter was apologetic, Astrid was thankful and Peter, well Peter couldn't put into words how he felt. He was in love with someone who loved him back and he was never going to let her go.
He took the opportunity to sit down at the piano and started to play. Music filled the air in the lab and no except Olivia knew the significance of the song. She slowly began to sing along with the music:
It's nine o'clock on a Saturday
The regular crowd shuffles in
There's an old man sitting next to me
Makin' love to his tonic and gin
He says, "Son, can you play me a memory
I'm not really sure how it goes
But it's sad and it's sweet and I knew it complete
When I wore a younger man's clothes."
Sing us a song, you're the piano man
Sing us a song tonight
Well, we're all in the mood for a melody
And you've got us all feelin' all right
Olivia couldn't take her eyes of Peter, she knew she had found love and she was never going to let him go. She was herself again and she was never going to look back.
The End
Hopefully you all enjoyed the story. And it all makes sense. Let me know what you thought.
Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed.
Ash
