It had been about a month since the couple had learned of Aleisa's pregnancy. Her bump was just beginning to show but not enough that it was easily noticeable. Even at this early stage, Peter was becoming over protective and it was driving her up the wall. After working all day Aleisa walked into their house to find Peter was home before her and had dinner on the stove.
"Aleisa is that you?" his voice called from the kitchen where she could smell her favorite stew brewing. It was one of the few dishes that didn't send her into a state of nausea these days.
"Of course it is. Who else were you expecting." She joked, walking into the room. Peter chuckled and turned to find his wife smiling at him from the doorway.
"Everything ok at work?" she asked him lightly.
"Yea, we just finished earlier than expected so I got home early. How about you?" he asked her cautiously.
"It was fine." she told him easily, not wanting to get into the interrogation that Peter had been making this conversation out to be. He would always ask her every detail to make sure she wasn't doing anything that could possibly harm the baby. She knew he meant well but it was getting ridiculous. As they set the table and sat down Peter kept watching her out of the corner of his eye. Having enough she sighed and looked over at him curiously.
"What is it? I know you want to ask me something so just spit it out please." She told him pointedly. Peter set down his spoon and looked over at her seriously.
"Did you take any breaks like I suggested? I don't think it's good for you to be on your feet so much during the day." He told her gently.
"Peter I'm only a few months in. I'm barely pregnant, I'm not crippled nor am I to the point where I look like a blimp." She told him sternly. Peter sighed heavily.
"I know that but I don't want anything to happen. What if you go and do something reckless to harm the baby?" he insisted. This struck a nerve in Aleisa and she glared at him.
"Are you implying that I'm not a good mother? That I would be so reckless as to let anything go wrong with this baby?!" Aleisa spat at him, dwelling on her anger rather than the hurt. Peter quickly backtracked.
"I'm not saying you're not going to be a good mother. I just know you tend to be a bit impulsive." He trying to pacify her.
"So you don't trust me and my judgement." She pointed out. Peter groaned.
"That's not what I said." He countered tiredly.
"But that's what you meant. Peter I'm not a child I can handle myself perfectly fine, you don't need to hover over me." She heatedly informed him.
"Ok fine, that is what I meant. I just don't want you to do anything stupid to put our baby in danger." He told her irritably. Aleisa stiffened and glared at him once more before abruptly heading upstairs, leaving the rest of her dinner on the table. Peter ran his hands through his hair as he heard the door slam. Deciding that she probably needed a few minutes to cool off be began clearing the table and washing the dishes. Once done, he figured that it was more than enough time and made his way upstairs towards their room. However when he went to open the door it was locked. Rolling his eyes he knocked gently on the door.
"Aleisa, open the door please." He asked, leaning his head on the wood. All that could be heard was a quiet sniffle. Peter knocked again.
"Hon, I'm sorry ok? I'm just trying to do what's best for both of you. Can I come in and we can talk about it?" he pleaded, his heart hurting at the thought of making her cry.
"No." she muttered from the other side.
"Baby I need to get in there sometime. I need to sleep." He pointed out, hoping to win her over.
"You seem to sleep just fine on the couch." She countered. Peter sighed. It seemed that her mind was already made up.
"Ok, I'll leave you alone then." He murmured quietly before making his way slowly down the stairs. It was going to be a long night for him.
...
The next morning Peter awoke to a quiet house. He frowned in confusion at the missing sounds of coffee and dishes that usually accompanied his mornings. With a groan he slowly sat up, running a hand down his face tiredly. Padding around the house he peeked into the kitchen, finding nothing and no one in there. Checking by the door he sighed, noticing that her coat was missing and he knew she didn't have work today. He groaned in frustration at himself for the most part. How could he insinuate that she was a bad mother? They had been waiting years for something like this to happen and Peter knew Aleisa well enough that she would never do something stupid to put her child in danger. Not wanting to stay in a quiet house much longer he went upstairs to get dressed before heading out.
John Thompson frowned as his doorbell rang this early in the morning. He trudged over and slowly opened up the door, his eyebrows shooting up at who was standing on his doorstep.
"Aleisa? What are you doing here this early?" he asked worriedly. His daughter was staring sadly up at him, her arms wrapped securely around herself despite the coat that was keeping her warm.
"I just need to talk." She murmured quietly, without another word he quickly ushered her inside and set to work in making sure she had breakfast.
...
Mrs. Pevensie stared across the table at her son who was sulking quietly as he scooped in another bite of oatmeal. The mother instantly knew something was amiss when her oldest child showed up at her doorstep looking like he just rolled out of bed. Which she later learned he had. Seemingly done with his meal Peter sighed and rested his head in one of his hands, staring down at the table.
"What's wrong?" she eventually asked, curiosity getting the better of her. Peter glanced up at her before pouting once more.
"Aleisa and I had a fight." He mumbled dejectedly. Helen couldn't hold back the small grin that was coming across her face.
"Is that it?" she asked him with a tremor as she watched in amusement. Peter frowned at her.
"Are you laughing at me?" he asked her incredulously. She quickly held her hand over her mouth.
"Oh dear, I'm sorry. But this kind of thing is a part of marriage. I take it this was your first big one right?" she asked knowingly. Peter flushed in embarrassment and nodded.
...
"So what was this fight about anyway?" Mr. Thompson calmly asked his daughter as they sat on the couch together. Aleisa sighed and ran a hand through her dark hair.
"Ever since we found out we were expecting Peter has been unbearable." She grumbled in exasperation. John chuckled quietly.
"How so?" he inquired patiently.
"He keeps hovering like I'm going to break at any moment. Always interrogating me about how much breaks I've had, whether I get enough to eat and such." She explained. Her father nodded silently.
...
"Honey that's not all that uncommon for new fathers." Helen soothed her son.
"So you don't think I'm being unreasonable?" he asked hopefully.
"No you are being a bit excessive." She countered with a grin. Peter sighed in defeat. Seeing his despair she reached out and grabbed his hand comfortingly.
"Dear I know you worry about her and that's fine but you need to back off a bit. She cares for that baby just as much if not more than you do. Do you honestly think she is being careless about all of this?" she asked him seriously. Peter pursed his lips.
"No, and I know she cares. I'm just scared about losing something before we even have it." He explained. It was mostly the truth. With their troubles back in Narnia Peter was terrified that they would lose this child. They had wanted one for so long that now they had the chance he was going to do everything in his power to protect him or her.
"Then tell her that. You can care but just pull back a little and don't smother her. That girl is as stubborn as you are." His mother joked, bringing a grin to his face.
...
"I don't blame him completely baby girl. He's just being a protective father and you can't fault him for that." John explained to his daughter.
"I know but I just don't want to be smothered." She groaned with a chuckle.
"Your mother felt the same way when I was in Peter's position. I hovered over her just like Peter is with you and you turned out just fine." he joked, but was being genuine. Aleisa giggled, imagining her father doing just that.
"Why don't you just talk it out with him. I'm sure he's worried about you and feels similar to how you do. I promise it'll be ok." He assured Aleisa with a smile. Biting her lip she nodded before heading to the door.
...
As Peter unlocked the door of his house he looked up to spot Aleisa on the couch in the living room. As he walked in the door she quickly stood up and smiled at him sheepishly. Wordlessly Peter walked over and took her hands in his before bringing her into a hug. Aleisa smiled contentedly, missing his presence in the bed last night.
"I'm sorry." He muttered into her hair as he held her tightly.
"I'm sorry too." She told him, pulling away just enough to look up. They both chuckled at how ridiculous they had been, and how their parents actually got a kick at how they handled it.
"How about we talk it over?" Peter suggested sheepishly. Aleisa grinned but leaned up to press her lips to his. Peter hummed in surprise but didn't pull away.
"Can we put that off for a little bit? I missed you last night and I would like some time with my husband first." She told him with a grin. Peter rose a brow and chuckled. He gently placed a hand over her small bump, running his thumb along it affectionately; bringing a bright smile to her face.
"I think I would like that." He whispered, leaning down to kiss her once more.