Chapter 10:

Nina had suggested trying to undo the affects the memory loss in the same way it had occurred. Olivia knew there was no shot of her kissing Peter again, not for awhile with the way things were going. Besides she seriously doubted kissing him would suddenly spur back three years of his life he'd forgotten. This wasn't some fairytale where she would kiss her prince charming and everything would return to the way it was supposed to be.

She had sat quietly in his room while he slept, practicing her mediation techniques. The same ones that helped her cross over. Nothing happened. Nothing appeared to work. Peter woke up and still had no recollection of the last three years. Her trying was exhausting her, not to mention frustrating.

The doctors continued running tests but there was no apparent damage, no obvious trauma or reason for the memory loss or seizure. He hadn't encountered any additional episodes and later that morning released him into Olivia's care. The doctor had advised she or someone keep an eye on him should the seizures return to immediately call 911. Olivia nodded, thanked the doctor and waited for Peter to sign himself out.

She knew Walter was back at the house already and briefly wondered if he would be capable of calling for help in an emergency. She hoped he would be able to think clearly enough to dial 911 but she wasn't incredibly confident. At the same time, she wasn't sure staying over their house – especially with Peter's memory the way it was, or rather lack of memory, didn't seem such a hot idea either.

"You ready?" She asked knocking on the door and poking her head in. Peter was already dressed and sitting at the edge of the bed.

"Can I get out of here now?" He was clearly impatient and she couldn't blame him. She hated hospitals just as much.

"Yeah, I'll take you home." Olivia nodded, "we should call the nurse, get you a wheel chair—"

Peter didn't wait a second, standing up as he cut her words off, "I'll be fine." He grimaced slightly as he stood but ignored any sensations he was in fact feeling. Olivia's hand came up to his arm to steady him.

"I'm sure you will be," she gave him a piercing look but he ignored it. Together they walked down the hallway and into the elevator. She watched as he leaned back against it once inside, letting out a heavy sigh. "I can't imagine what it's like," she couldn't take her eyes off him. He was still Peter Bishop but he was - different.

"I could say the same for you," he retorted rather abruptly. The elevator doors opened and he stepped out, following Olivia to the car. His eyes darted around, making sure no one was following them.

"You really are paranoid Big Eddy and his men are coming after you," she smiled weakly, "your debts have been taken care of. You can relax but I should warn you that if you try and run, the FBI will come after you."

"Why am I so important?" He asked watching as Olivia led him to the car and opened the passenger door for him.

"That's classified information. A story for another day," she told him watching as he climbed into the car. She shut the door behind him and walked around to the other side.

"Where are you taking me?" He knew she told him she was taking him home but he wasn't sure what that meant. Where did he live? Did they live together? He knew from her words the day before they were engaged. He still couldn't believe it. "Are you pregnant?" Peter blurted out. It was the only logical explanation of why he might have actually agreed to marry her. Not that she wasn't pretty but she was an FBI agent and it was marriage! A lifelong commitment – something he would never be ready for.

"I'm taking you home and what?" She gave him an incredulous look as she started the car. "No I'm not." She glanced down wondering what in the hell reason he had for asking her that! She certainly didn't look pregnant and she was certain she wasn't. She sighed heavily knowing that he hadn't remembered the miscarriage either – maybe this was a blessing for him after all.

Peter glanced out the window, watching as Olivia drove them through Boston. "So do I live with anyone?" He didn't know a more polite way to ask. He was attempting to be civil. It had been made fairly clear that he was a consultant with the FBI so whatever they had on him, must have been good enough that he stuck around for three years.

"Walter lives with you, your father." Olivia nodded. She glanced at Peter. It was so weird to see him like this and for him not to remember anything about her.

"You don't—live with me?" He felt stupid for asking but he really wanted to know what it would be like at home. He had little patience to just wait and see.

"No," Olivia smiled weakly, "I have my own place across town. I used to stay over some nights but well –" her words trailed off unsure what to say.

"You won't be now that I don't remember who you are." Peter was blunt. He nodded his head. "For what it's worth, you do make suits look sexy." He was pretty sure he saw her cheeks flush and she stared at the road, doing her best to ignore him and concentrate on the drive.

Finally pulling up to the house, Olivia turned the car off and walked around to help Peter out. By the time she got to the passenger door he'd already opened it and was stepping out by himself. "Let me give you a hand," she offered.

Peter gave her a look, "it's really not necessary. I feel fine. Just confused. I can walk on my own, thank you." He was a little abrupt and saw the look on her face. He would have apologized, if he'd thought he'd done anything wrong. Instead he stared up at the house before following Olivia to the front porch steps. "So this is where I live?"

"It is," Olivia nodded opening the door and leading Peter inside.

His eyes glanced over the furniture and the surroundings, taking every detail in. He was expecting something familiar but it hadn't happened yet. None of it was making any sense. He still wondered if this wasn't some elaborate trick but he'd seen four different versions of the newspaper from different cities and the date, the year, it was all 2011. He even went as far to ask every nurse and doctor that came into the room but he was half-convinced they could be in on such an elaborate scheme. In the end, he just succumbed to the idea that he'd lost three years of his life for no reason other than it must have sucked.

"So, anything?" Olivia asked gently as she closed the door behind him.

"Nothing." Peter shook his head, "I don't recognize it." He walked around, taking a tour but nothing seemed familiar.

Olivia let Peter tour the house and the upstairs while she walked over to Walter in the kitchen. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm fine dear," Walter smiled weakly, "Peter is alive. I couldn't ask for more."

She sighed, "it doesn't bother you that he doesn't remember us —the last three years?"

Walter shook his head smiling sadly, his voice a whisper so that only Olivia could hear, "he doesn't remember the pain I caused. He doesn't remember he's not from here. Maybe that's better, dear." He was trying to make sense of this nonsense. Rationalize what happened while accepting there was nothing that could be done to change it.

Olivia quickly disagreed, "so you're going to make him endure that all over again? That's not right, Walter."

"Who's to say what's right and what isn't? Maybe he should leave Fringe Division. Let him be happy while he still can."

She gnawed on her bottom lip, "and so that's not with me?" She thought Walter approved of their relationship. He'd always been so ecstatic about the news that they were seeing each other.

Walter closed his eyes momentarily, thinking hard about what he was trying to say. At times it was difficult to find the right words and voice them accordingly. He opened his eyes as he answered. "True love isn't always easy."

Olivia sighed giving him a look before shaking her head. She wasn't going to give up on Peter or let him leave. He was too important to Fringe Division and to her.

She heard his footsteps as he headed down the stairs. "Listen," she told Peter watching as he approached the kitchen, "the doctor suggested you be under supervision for a few days to make sure the seizures don't return. You need someone here that can call for help and someone should also keep an eye on Walter."

Peter stared at her, "you're staying over." It wasn't so much a question as answering her sentence, knowing what was coming. He'd surmised as much at the hospital, listening to the doctors.

"I need to head home, grab some clothes and shower. Can I trust that you won't leave?" Olivia stared at Peter.

Peter was testing her, "what happens if I do?" He wanted to know why he was so important, why they even cared about him. No one in his life had ever really cared.

Olivia could see his mind ticking away at the possibilities of leaving, of places he could go. She didn't want to threaten him but felt little choice at keeping the upper hand, at keeping control. She showed him her handcuffs, "if you don't promise to stay in this house, I'll be forced to use these."

Peter took a step closer, his eyes staring deep into hers as his breath mingled, smelling her intoxicating scent. It was no wonder he had bedded her. The engagement part he still hadn't quite understood. Maybe the sex was just that good? He glanced her over, "go ahead and cuff me," Peter smirked his lips close enough to kiss her but refraining just long enough to drag out the sexual tension.

She rolled her eyes slapping one cuff on his wrist. She tightened it and watched him wince in pain as she forced his hand behind his back. She didn't need to say a word, her expression was enough to shoot daggers at Peter.

"Okay! Okay! I'll stay here." He gave in. "Now get these off me."

"No, I don't think I will." Olivia shook her head pulling him towards her, hearing him yelp in pain. She stared deep into his eyes, not letting go. "I'm half tempted to force you to come with me but then I keep thinking what a massive pain in the ass you will be."

"Hey you wanted to marry me!" He retorted. "Now are you going to let me out of these cuffs or do I have to break my way out?"

She glared at him, knowing full well he would try and uncuff himself and possibly succeed. "Here," she rolled her eyes, undoing the cuffs and watching as his wrist had a red mark from where they'd been. She frowned realizing she hadn't really intended on hurting him, just scaring him into staying around. She remembered what it was like after he'd ran off when he'd been angry just over a year ago and then again a few months ago when he'd been confused. She hated losing him, no matter the circumstances and couldn't help but worry that when she came back, he'd be gone.

Peter opened his mouth to make a witty comment but quickly shut it. Seeing the look on her face he felt his wrists no longer throbbing and gave her a weak smile, "thanks."

"Sure." She glanced at Walter. "Both of you – I expect you to be here when I get back." She told them before heading out the front door and on her way back to her apartment.

Peter stared at Walter, wondering what reason would have been good enough to let this man out of the mental institution. It was on his list of things to ask Olivia when she returned from her apartment with her clothes. The second question was where she planned on sleeping.