25.

"For the last time, no way."

Olivia sighed, mustering up her last ounce of patience. "I don't recall asking your opinion on the subject, Peter. You are being wheeled out of here, and that's that. Now, stop fussing."

Astrid grinned as she held the wheelchair stationary to let a defeated Peter be seated. "Come on, you big baby. Sooner you get this over with, the sooner you get home. To my pie. Or should I say, pies."

"You made pie?" Peter said, his eyes lighting up as he settled in.

Olivia snorted. "Remember this moment the next time Peter says, 'I am nothing like my father,' okay, Astrid?"

"Duly noted," Astrid said mock-sternly. "You comfy?"

"Yeah, just peachy. Let's get outta here. Oh, but we need to - "

"No need," Peter Zero said from the doorway as he and Nina entered the room. "Mountain came to Mohammed. We just wanted to say goodbye."

Peter took the hand Peter Zero proffered and shook it warmly. "I don't know what to say to you." He stood from the chair and drew Peter Zero into a hug. "Thank you."

"Thank you," Peter Zero replied, patting Peter's back, then drawing away. "The degradation of my systems has stopped, and in most cases, is reversing itself. So, for now, I'm okay."

"So," Astrid interjected, "What's next for you? Do you have everything you need?"

"Yes, I'm fine, thanks, Astrid. I'll be okay." He looked at Nina. "We'll be okay."

"I'm so sorry about the investigation," Astrid added. "Nina, I know you had nothing to do with the development of the Peter Project. I'll do whatever I can to get this straightened out."

Nina patted Astrid's arm. "I know you will, dear, and I'm more grateful than you'll ever know for that." Nina took Peter's hand. "You do know how sorry I am for any part I may have played in this, Peter. I never meant to hurt you. Ever."

"I know you didn't. Right, Liv?" He looked to Olivia.

Sighing, Olivia nodded. "Of course. I hope things work out, Nina. I really do."

"As do I," Nina smiled. "Come along, Peter, let's get out of their hair." She looked to the young man easing himself back into the wheelchair. " Be well, Peter." She laughed. "That is so confusing."

Peter joined in her laughter. "Ain't it just. You, too," he replied. He nodded knowingly and smiled at Peter Zero, who returned the gesture.

As the door closed behind them, Olivia turned to Peter. "I'll be right back," she said, and dashed outside, catching up to Peter Zero and Nina. "Hey," she said breathlessly.

"What's up?" Peter Zero asked.

Olivia placed a palm on Peter Zero's cheek. "The answer is yes."

"Sorry?" Peter Zero said, confused. Nina's eyebrows rose as well.

"That question you asked me in the waiting room. The answer is yes. You most certainly do have a soul. And it's one of the kindest ones I've ever known." Olivia kissed him on the cheek and ran back to Peter's room without another word.

"Hm," was all Peter Zero could say as he touched his fingers to his cheek.

"Hm, indeed," Nina smiled. "Let's go, Romeo."

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Peter put his feet up on the coffee table as he balanced his pie plate on his lap. "Astrid has a second career coming to her, the way she can bake."

"She is a marvelous baker, isn't she?" Walter chirped happily. "Would you like another slice, Olivia?"

"No, thanks, not right now," Olivia answered, nudging Peter's feet over so hers could join his on the table. "I'm stuffed."

Peter leaned his head back against the sofa cushion and yawned. "As always, you've outdone yourself, Astrid."

Astrid smiled as she entered the room, stuffing her phone in her pocket. "Thanks very much. Oh, my dad is delighted to hear you're better, and sends his regards to everybody."

"That's lovely. Your father's a good man, Aswan. She told me he held you in prayer at his services, Peter," Walter mentioned as he picked up empty pie plates to take them to the kitchen.

"Yeah, I know. Imagine that," Peter said softly, shaking his head.

"What do you mean?" Olivia asked.

"I know things are very different than they were just a few years ago, but sometimes I just can't believe the guy I was has become a guy people would actually pray for. To live, at least." He chuckled ruefully.

"Well, get used to it," Olivia said, kissing him soundly.

"Yes, ma'am," he replied happily.

"I'm just going to put these dishes in the kitchen. For a few minutes. In the other room. With Astrid," Walter announced, taking Astrid's hand and tugging her away.

"I think we've established the location of the kitchen, Walter, thanks," Peter laughed as Walter practically bounced into the kitchen, leaving them alone. "Okay. My father is weird. But that was strange, even for him."

Olivia patted his shoulder. "He has his moments." Sitting up and facing Peter, she put on her sternest face. "We need to talk, Bishop."

Peter immediately straightened up. "Okay," he said tentatively. "Liv, is something wrong?"

"Well, depends on your viewpoint," she said cryptically. "Remember that talk we had after your first treatment?"

"Uh… you mean, when you freaked out after I mentioned getting married?" Peter asked suspiciously.

"That's the one. Does the offer still stand?"

"Of course, it always will. You know that. Olivia, what's going on? Are you saying what I think you're saying?" Peter's eyes lit up like Christmas trees.

Maintaining her stern façade, Olivia said, "Well, yes, considering you haven't left me much choice."

"Oh, my God, Liv! That's amazing! That's… wait a minute. What do you mean, I haven't left you much choice?"

"What do you think? Hey, I'm a nice girl, buster. I'm not going to let some guy knock me up and then not expect him to marry me." She folded her arms indignantly, but couldn't quite fight the smile that was starting to curve her lips upward.

"I have a shotgun in the attic," Walter called in helpfully from the kitchen.

Peter blinked owlishly at her for a moment. "You… you mean you're… I mean, we… you… "

"That's what I really love about you, Peter. Your eloquence," Olivia commented. "Yes. I… we… are going to have a baby."

Peter reached trembling hands to Olivia's face. Caressing her cheeks, he said, "We're gonna have a baby. Our little tribe of Bishops."

"Dunham-Bishops, thank you very much," Olivia grinned.

"Wow," Peter whispered, tears filling his eyes. One fell down his cheek as he drew Olivia to him for a kiss. "Wow," he said again against her lips.

"Look at you," Olivia giggled. "I'm the one with the hormones, and you're the one who's crying." She wiped the tear from his cheek. "But yeah. Wow."

Peter suddenly bounded up from the couch. "I.. I mean.. wait there, just a sec." He ran to the opposite corner of the room and began rummaging through some desk drawers. "I know it's here. I put it here… or maybe…" He opened another drawer. "Aha!" he exclaimed. Seeing Walter peeking around the kitchen doorway, Peter waved the small box in his hand at him with a wink. Walter smiled tearfully and gave Peter a thumbs up.

Peter ran back to Olivia on the couch, and dropped to one knee. "Oh, Peter, you're not… come on, get up," she insisted, blushing.

"Nuh-uh," he said, opening the box before her. "Olivia Dunham, mother of our child, savior of my soul, love of my life… marry me?"

Olivia looked down at the delicate ring in the box. The small, heart-shaped green stone glittered in its setting, cradled by two diamond-encrusted hands and topped with a similarly set crown. "Oh, Peter."

"It was my mom's engagement ring. Walter gave it to me not long after I came back. Guess he figured I'd have good use of it." Olivia still stared at the ring silently. "It's a claddagh, an Irish wedding ring. The heart symbolizes love, the hands friendship, and the crown loyalty." Olivia was still silent. "Olivia, please say something?"

"I never dreamed," Olivia said quietly. "I didn't dare. It was… impossible. But, here we are. So, like Alice, I'm going to believe in impossible things. So, yes. I'll marry you."

"Whew!" Astrid exclaimed from the living room doorway, earning a laugh from Walter.

Peter gently placed the emerald ring on her finger. "Outstanding."

Walter and Astrid finally came in as Peter and Olivia kissed. "This calls for a celebration!" He held a bottle of champagne aloft. "Peter, Olivia, you are each allowed one glass in honor of the occasion. And one glass only. Which leaves the rest for us!"

Peter wrapped his arms around Olivia and smiled. "Go right ahead. I have everything I need right here. A whole new beginning."

Olivia brushed her thumbs across his cheeks. "A whole new beginning."

-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Nina Sharp put the key in the ignition and started the engine, looking over at the young man in the passenger seat. "Any ideas?"

"I've always wanted to see Graceland," Peter Zero mumbled as he looked at the map of the United States on his smart phone.

"Graceland? Really? That's not exactly what I had in mind. We need to go somewhere, Peter."

"Albert," he corrected her. "I'm Albert King now. Peter said that Albert King was a great American blues musician. They called him the Velvet Bulldozer."

"Velvet Bulldozer," Nina repeated. "Somehow, that just doesn't quite work for me… Albert." She chuckled softly.

"Well, I'm terribly sorry, Ms. Blunt," he laughed back.

"I must admit, Peter does have a wicked sense of humor," she said. "All right, then, Graceland first, and somewhere to live later. Just look at us, will you? A fugitive from a federal investigation and her adopted son, the fugitive from a rogue genetic experiment, out for a little afternoon drive."

Peter Zero – Albert King – merely shrugged. "Nobody's perfect," he said mildly as Nina pulled out of the parking space, headed for Graceland.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

The. End. I can't believe it! From January to August... whew, as Astrid just said! I can't thank all of you enough for joining me on this journey. My apologies to anyone who's left a review that I've neglected to reply to - please know that I carry your kind words with me in my heart. Thank you to everyone involved with the creation of the REAL Fringe - Joel Wyman, Jeff Pinkner, Fox, Warner Brothers TV, and, without question, the mighty John Noble, Josh Jackson, Anna Torv, Jasika Nicole, Lance Reddick, and Blair Brown. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to play in your sandbox... and not suing me! And last, but MOST importantly, a big hug and thank you to my beta, buddy, bouncer-offer, and all-around, flat-out friend, DixieGirl256. You rock the house, lady.

Cheers, all.