Over the Years

Part Sixteen

Disclaimer: This isn't mine

PETER

Claire and I have lived in Las Vegas for six months. Everything is going great. Micah and Niki come over once a week, and I love my job. Claire got a job that she seems to enjoy. Everything is just going great…

Until right now that is.

"We cant go to New York!" Claire exclaimed, glaring at me.

"Claire, I have never spent a Christmas away from my family!" I snapped back. "I don't want to start now."

"Peter, they practically disowned you!" Claire yelled. "They don't want us there as much as I don't want to go!"

I just stared at her. "Claire, they might be…angry, but Nathan is still my broth-"

"God, Peter! This is just like you!" Claire yelled. "Its like when you were going to explode! You believed Nathan would help you, then you heard the truth in his mind."

"You forget that Nathan did help me." I snapped.

"Yeah, because of me!" She snapped back.

I was really angry. Why couldn't she see that I needed to see my family, even if it was for only one more time? "I cant be here." I snapped, walking toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Claire snapped.

"Out." I snapped once again, I slammed the door on the way out and walked down the stairs, then stood outside. Where could I go now?

LATER

Niki was standing in the kitchen while I retraced my fight with Claire. "And then I left." I concluded.

She looked at me thoughtfully. "Peter, I understand why you want to see your family, but cant you understand why Claire doesn't?"

"Of course I understand!" I hissed, "But we could at least talk about it! Instead, all I get is screamed at!"

Niki sighed once again, then handed me a steaming cup of coffee. "This is going to be a long night." She muttered. I glanced at her.

"I shouldn't be here bothering you with this." I said, "I'll go."

I stood to leave, but Niki pushed me back into my chair. "Peter, you don't have anywhere to go. And if you go home, it will just end up in another fight." She shook her head. "You can stay here."

I smiled at her gratefully. Finally, someone who gets it.

"But-" She continued, "you really should think this threw a little more. I mean, Nathan isn't exactly going to be happy about the fact you're screwing his daughter. He isn't going to treat you like his little brother."

"I know that." I said, slightly uncomfortable. "I just think it's important to at least try to be civil." I sighed, then ran a hand threw my hair. "Its going to be a long night."

Niki smirked, then stood and walked to a cabinet. She came back a minute later with a bottle of whiskey. "No it wont."