For a second all that mattered was the two of them. The angst and the upset of the last few days melted away the instant their lips touched. After the day they'd had, they finally had an outlet to convey all of their pent up hurt and upset.

But then Peter's head realised what he was doing and he pulled away from Olivia, his eyes ablaze with fear like he had been caught taking the last biscuit out of the jar.

'W… What did… did you do that for?'

'Do what?'

'You… k… kissed me'

'Yes, and you kissed me back. I told you I could prove you meant what you said on Tuesday. You do want to be with me and I want to be with you'

'Olivia…'

'Peter, I don't understand why you are making this hard for yourself. The fact you just kissed me back means that you still like me, despite you trying to push me away. Well it won't work'

'Olivia, please, I can't do this now'

'I know there is something you aren't telling me. Why can't you let yourself be happy?'

'The fact that you've asked me that means you'll never understand. I'm sorry but I can't do this.'

Peter pushed past Olivia and ran out towards the main road. Olivia did nothing but watched him go and let the tears fall down her cheeks. What was so bad that Peter was running from and why wouldn't he tell her what it was? Olivia was now more determined than ever to figure out what was going on.

She wiped the tears off her face and steeled herself, before entering the pub. Fin and Simon were talking at the bar, but stopped when they saw Olivia come in. Fin went straight over to her.

'How did it go?'

'Honestly, I don't know.'

'What happened?'

'I need to talk to Simon, and then I'll fill you in I promise'

Simon heard his name and came straight over, looking over Olivia's shoulder for Peter.

'he's gone'

'What happened?'

'he was kicking the wall when I found him. I asked him why he wouldn't talk to me and he said there were things I didn't understand, that he couldn't tell me. I asked him why and he asked me not to make him.'

'And?'

'I kissed him Fin… and for just a second, he kissed me back. But then he pulled away and ran off.'

'he kissed you back?'

'Yes… I know he likes me, what I don't know is what he is hiding from me'

'Olivia, I…'

'Is anyone going to tell me what I'm missing?'

'I wish I could, but it isn't my place to tell you. It's Peter's issue and past, he has to be the one to tell you when he is ready'

'I'm not sure he will ever be'

'I don't know, it took him two years to tell me. I had no idea anything was wrong until he broke down. But that's all I can say Olivia. He will come to you when he is ready, I know he will. You just have to be patient and give him time.'

'You really think he will come to me? I hate to see him upset Simon'

'Me too. I'm gonna go and check on him, make sure he's okay. I'll catch up with you soon I hope. It was lovely to meet you both- I just wish it was under better circumstances Olivia'

'When you see him, can you please try and get him to call me? I'll be waiting for his call. I cannot and will not let this go- he's too important and we're both in too deep to turn and walk away from what… this… us I mean.'

Simon threw his arms around Olivia and dropped the piece of folded up paper into his pocket in that instance. He winked at Fin who blushed and ducked his head. Then he was gone.

Peter was collapsed in a ball in his hallway. He hadn't moved since he'd got back to his apartment an hour ago. Why had he kissed Olivia back? That was really going to reinforce in his mind that the two of them were going somewhere.

Every bit of Peter ached to be with Olivia- he knew why he had kissed her back. He had been unable to help himself in that moment- it had just felt right. But he knew that this was probably too good to be true. It had been the same with Paul and look at how that had ended.

Paul and Olivia coinciding together inside his brain was too much for Peter to handle. The tears began to come thick and fast, and he put his hands up to his ears to try and stop the thoughts. It wasn't somewhere he wanted to go back to- he knew he couldn't do it again.

'Peter…?'

Peter jumped and opened his eyes and there were Olivia's eyes, peering at him through his letter box.

'Olivia… what are you doing here?'

'Simon gave me your address. You don't expect me to leave it like that do you?'

'Olivia, please, go home. I can't do this, its too much'

'Peter, please let me in.'

'No'

'Why not?'

'Because… Olivia you need to stop this. We're not going to do this over and over again. It's not fair'

'Tell me one thing. That kiss didn't mean anything- that you don't want to be with me and then I will go and never darken your doorway again. But you can't and I know you can't. You know why? Because I felt you connect with me on a different level when I kissed you earlier'

'Okay, so I liked it. What difference does it make?'

'Peter, I know you're hurting…'

'What did Simon tell you?'

'Nothing! he told me it wasn't his place and that you would come to me when you wanted to. I'm here to tell you it doesn't matter. I don't care about your past. I want you, however long I have to wait for you to tell me'

'You mean that?'

'I promise. Please, let me in?'

Peter made the decision then to try and be the man who Olivia deserved, the man who he wanted to be for Olivia. Yes he had been hurt and been through a lot, but when he was ready Olivia would be there to listen and hopefully support him.

Nodding, Peter crawled over to the front door and opened it. Olivia slipped inside and shut the door behind her, before dropping to the floor beside Peter.

'I'm sorry…'

'No talking. I'm here, that's all that matters.'

Olivia opened her arms and Peter fell into them. He needed the comfort, right now more than ever.

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