(Part 2 – The Blueverse)
Chapter 13 – Back to Where You Never Were.

Noyo County, WA - May, 2010

If Donald had calculated correctly, following her arrival, Etta still had two hours in hand before her father would return to The Northwest Passage motel. Her priority was to find a place to keep her duffel and backpack secure, her mission depended on it.

She decided to put one of Walternate's credit card and ID packages to test. The transaction went through without a hitch, and within ten minutes of walking into the reception, she was handed a key to her room.

Once inside Etta stowed her luggage in the closet. She drank two glasses of cold water, then allowed herself the luxury of refreshing herself with a quick shower. Then she set off to find Peter's room. She was in luck, the corridor began off another wing, creating a T, and what she found in the space made her smile. A vending machine had been set at the junction and would make for perfect cover, it would also allow for surveillance at a discreet distance and still afforded her a decent vantage point of her father's room. Giving the drinks dispenser a quick once over she discovered that it had a credit card slot, so she slipped hers in and was soon rewarded by an ice cold can dropping out for her refreshment.

She sat down on the floor next to the drinks machine, and for the first time since she stepped off the aircraft early that morning she tried to relax. She rested her back against the wall and settled into her wait. She slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out a high energy protein bar supplied by her grandfather, 'You must keep your strength up,' he'd told her. She popped the tab on her drink and sipped the sugary liquid slowly.

It was funny to think that she had been in Boston just a few hours before, when technically that was twenty five years in the future, in another timeline and alternate universe. She chuckled to herself thinking about it, munching through her energy bar. She allowed her mind to wander for a while, thinking about nothing, still, thinking about everything.

Etta was brought back from her inner thoughts when she noticed a man of about five feet ten, with short, light brown hair, casually walking towards the door of her father's room. He stopped outside and began discretely picking the lock.

'Newton' she thought to herself. Astrid and Donald had warned her that he would be waiting for Peter in the room. She clenched her jaw and reached inside her jacket, as Newton successfully disengaged the lock and disappeared inside.

She decided against engaging him, for now. But the thought of a fight brought a sudden memory to her mind.

Eddie.

He had always been there to watch her back since they joined the Resistance, and even earlier then that, while growing up. They worked as a well-oiled machine and were one hell of a team. In that moment, she would have given anything to have him there by her side again. Etta felt a tear roll down her cheek. She closed her eyes and wiped her face with the back of her hand, then took a deep breath and focused once more, on the mission that lay ahead.

About twenty minutes passed before Etta noticed movement to her left. A tall man walking towards her. Seeing such a familiar figure triggered within her memories, that only moments before, she would not have believed could still be so strong. With them, came a deep sense of longing.

Her father was right there.

Peter was in deep thought and didn't notice her presence as he made his slow, almost aimless, approach. He was younger than she remembered him, but there was a slump to his shoulders, and his winter blue eyes - the same ones she remembered looking at her with tenderness and love - here carried a deep sadness in their depths. It made her heart clench seeing him like this. She had an overwhelming urge to run towards him and jump into his arms, 'Everything is going to be okay daddy,' she wanted so much to say to him.

Etta took another deep breath to keep her emotions at bay. She heaved herself up, feeling the weight of her task, and bracing herself for it as she walked towards him. "Peter Bishop?" she asked bringing him out of his thoughts.

He was startled by her presence. Peter stopped and stared at Etta for a few seconds with a confused look. "Who are you? What do you want?" His eyes narrowed into a suspicious squint. "Did Broyles send you?"

Etta raised her hands in a sign of surrender, she didn't want her father to think she was a threat. "No, Broyles didn't send me. I just need to talk to you, it's very important that you listen to what I have to say. I came a long way just to do this, many people risked their lives so I could be here."

The answer Etta supplied only seemed to deepen his confusion. "Risked their lives? What are you talking about? And you still haven't told me who you are."

"No I haven't," she paused and exhaled before continuing, "My name is Henrietta, Henrietta Bishop. But you can call me Etta."

Peter continued to stare at the young woman, the cogs in his brain working at full speed trying to process what she had just said. "Are you from the Other Side? A relative of mine?" he asked.

"No, I'm not from the Alternate Universe, however, I am a relative of yours."

Peter frowned. The girl apparently had knowledge about his home universe, although stating she wasn't from there. "So who are you? A cousin? From where?"

Etta took a few cautious steps towards him, "I promise that I will explain everything to you, but we don't have much time right now."

Peter continued to stare at Etta, her cryptic answer only left him more confused and wary of the young woman. "What do you mean with 'we don't have much time'?"

Etta looked over her shoulder then back at Peter. "There's someone waiting for you in your room, a man called Newton."

Peter flinched at the sound of Newton's name. The young woman in front of him maintained a serious expression.

"How do I know you're not one of them?" Peter asked.

Etta stared back at him then reached for one of her pockets. She took out a pocket knife making Peter flinch once again. "Relax, I'm not going to hurt you," Etta said not wanting to scare Peter off. She opened the knife and made a small cut on one of her fingers. Then she showed it to Peter. "See, I don't bleed mercury, I'm not a shapeshifter." She closed the knife putting it back in her pocket.

Peter examined the small wound then he looked back at Etta with a nod. "Okay, fair enough. But why should I trust you?"

"Because I'm here to prevent you from making a huge mistake. And I assure you that Newton is inside your room waiting for you, I watched him break in. But like I told you we don't have much time, your father is about to arrive."

"What? Walter is here?" Peter looked around searching for the old scientist. The look on his face showed he was not happy with the idea of running into Walter.

"Not that Walter. The one from the Alternate Universe, your biological father," Etta explained.

"What?" Peter's eyes widened at her response.

Etta grabbed Peter's arm, taking him by surprise, and pulled him around the corner into the adjoining corridor. Before he could say anything in protest she shushed him. Then she raised and opened hand in front of him urging him to stay still. She took a quick peek around the corner then turned back to Peter. "Watch," she said directing him with her head in the direction of his room.

Peter decided to indulge the young woman. Although nothing that she had said made any sense, she didn't seem to be an immediate threat. There was something in her that was familiar. Besides if she was right, Newton was in his room. And if his biological father was really about to step in through his room's front door, that was something worth watching.

"I don't see anyone," Peter said turning to Etta after waiting almost a minute. The situation was becoming surreal, adding to fact that he was already very tired from the day's events. Having to indulge some lunatic young woman was starting to annoy him and it was the last thing he needed after spending the last few days helping the police catch a serial killer. "Listen I'm not sure what you're trying to achieve here, but I'm tired and I want to lay down. I'm going to my room."

Etta grabbed his arm. "Wait, please just a few more seconds."

"Please, take your..."

"There!" Etta interrupted him, pointing to a man approaching the entrance of his room.

Peter watched astonished. A perfect carbon copy of Walter wearing a suit walked to the door of his room. The man's posture was of someone very sure of himself, almost arrogant. Nothing like the Walter Peter knew. Newton opened the door and the man walked inside.

"That's..." Peter muttered almost as a whisper.

"...your father, the Secretary of Defence, Walter Bishop," Etta completed.

Peter stared at the young woman. The confusion on his face was clear. "Who the hell are you?"

Etta looked back at her father and decided that it was time to tell him the truth, no matter the consequences. She had to make him believe her. "I know that what I'm going to tell you is going to sound... unbelievable, to say the least. Even crazy. But if you give me a chance I can prove that what I'm about to say is true."

Peter chuckled "Sweetheart, 'crazy' left the station a long time ago, we're way beyond that point now. So please, go ahead."

Etta nodded and gave Peter a light smile, then she went for it. "I come from the future," she paused watching his eyes tick rapidly with a slight side to side movement as he looked into hers, she also noticed his mouth twitch slightly on one side, "and I'm your daughter."

Etta kept looking at her father waiting for a reaction. The smirk had dropped away without a trace. He stared at her, his face blank, not saying a word.

Agonisingly slowly his face reanimated, blinking, then lips parted taking an age to formulate words while his mind worked through the shock. "My daughter?" Peter finally asked. Etta gave a small nod. "From the future?" he asked again. Etta bit her lower lip and nodded once more.

Peter gave Etta a condescending smirk. "Well kiddo, I'm sure you won't mind if I go to my room, because I really need to talk with your grandfather."

Etta gave Peter a confused look. "What?"

"Good-bye my 'daughter,'" he said passing by her, striding towards his room.

"No, wait!" Etta grabbed Peter's arm roughly, stopping him in place. "You can't go in there, please. He wants you to go with him to the other side…"

"Sounds like a plan to me," Peter interrupted, his heated words dripping in sarcasm.

Etta shook her head frustrated, she pressed on speaking a little louder to stress her words. "And if you do, something will happen that you will regret for the rest of your life."

"Let go of my arm. Now!"

"Please, your father is not a good man, he wants you to go with him because he needs you so he can destroy this universe. He doesn't care about anything else."

"Young lady, I don't care who you think you are, where or 'when' you came from but you need to release me," Peter glowered at her. "Right now," he said slowly in a grave tone.

His expression was unfamiliarly aggressive, something absolutely unknown to Etta. She looked at her father taken aback by his reaction. Her hand released his arm at it's own volition.

As soon as he was free, Peter turned towards his room.

Etta was in a turmoil of emotions, but she refused to give up. "Einai kalytero anthropo apo ton patera toy," she almost shouted after him.

Peter stopped in his tracks and whirled back to her.

"Your mother used to say that to you; 'Be a better man than your father'. Olivia Dunham said the exact same thing when she woke up from her coma, almost a year ago."

Unbidden tears pooled in Etta's eyes, and her voice grew tight with emotion. "You used to say that to me when I was a child."

Peter took a step towards Etta and levelled his index finger on her face. "I have no idea how you manage to gather so much information about me. You've done a hell of a job, congratulations. But do not think for a minute that you know me." He lowered his hand closing it in a fist. "I'm starting to lose my patience with you, so I suggest that you leave now."

He turned his back on her again, intending once again to make for his room. Etta took out a piece of paper from her jacket pocket and cut him off, standing in front of him. She unfolded the paper putting it right in front of his face, held up in a trembling hand. "A drawing much like this one is going to be delivered to Olivia Dunham by an Observer in a few days."

Peter had no choice but to look at the drawing. He took a few seconds staring at it. Etta continued, "Like I said before, your biological father's motives in taking you back aren't as innocent as you may like to think. He wants to use you to power the machine depicted in this drawing. It is capable of destroying worlds. His goal is to destroy this universe."

Peter took the drawing from Etta's hand, looking intently at it.

"What do you think Olivia will do after she sees this? - And I assure you she will see this. Once she realizes what your biological father intends to do with you?"
Peter kept looking at drawing in silence. Etta pressed on.

"She will crossover to the other side intending to bring you back. Not only because she wants to prevent the destruction of this universe, it's also because she cares about you, very much, and the idea of you in that machine..."

Peter looked back at her. Etta could see the storm of emotions going through her father's face. She knew she had hit a nerve and continued.

"She will manage to get to you and she'll convince you to come back. And you will, but on the way back, she'll be caught up in a firefight and she will be captured without anyone noticing. It will be the Olivia Dunham from the other Universe that will come back with you as an infiltrated agent. The Olivia from this universe will stay behind as a prisoner. They will torture her, keep her in a small, dark cell for weeks, brainwash her and experiment on her. And during the weeks she is on the other side the other Olivia will be here, pretending to be her and no one will notice. Not even you." Etta allowed a slight pause in her narrative, allowing the words to take effect. Then she gently touched her father's arm and gave him a yearning smile. "But the Olivia from this side, your Olivia, does not give up. Eventually she will manage to escape, by herself. Peter, what happens to her on the other side will take a tremendous toll on you both."

Etta paused again, letting her words sink in him. Peter stared at the drawing, silent and immersed in his own thoughts. Then she went in for the knockout punch. "I know that you must be disappointed at her for keeping the truth from you, but do you really resent her so much that you don't care what happens to her?"

Peter looked back at Etta, a flash of anger igniting in his eyes, but which was soon extinguished by a rush of shame. A look of deep sadness then settled over his features.

"I do not resent her," he said quietly. He paused for a few seconds looking back at the drawing. "You said you can prove what you are saying?"

"Yes, just test my DNA, compare it against yours. It will prove beyond a doubt that I am your daughter. I promise you that if the test comes back negative, which I assure you it will not, I'll leave you alone and you will never see me again."

He nodded, still not saying a word. Etta knew he would be conflicted on how to proceed.

"I know this is too much to process and how crazy it seems, especially after what you have been through the last few weeks. But consider this, if there's a chance that I am right, you have the opportunity to prevent something horrible happening to Olivia. I know how much you care about her. I know very well what she means to you and I assure you that you mean a great deal to her too."

Peter shifted his eyes from Etta. He looked lost and distraught. Etta gave him a bright smile. "I know this because she's my mother." Peter looked back at her, swallowing hard, taken aback from what he had heard. Etta kept smiling. "I'm the living proof of how much you mean to each other."

A/N And here it is, the first chapter of part two, finally! Hope everyone enjoyed it.
Crystalline Green was again the awesome editor/advisor she usually is.
It wouldn't be the same without you mate!
Another thanks goes to the amazing Elialys.
She writes Peter/Olivia/Etta like no one else in this fandom and she was kind enough to give me an opinion about this chapter before I published it.
Thanks girl, you rock! Oh, and we are all waiting for the next chapter of 'Shivered Bones' :)