So, following through with Emil's advice, Peter talks to his parents on the way back to the police station after Tino's physical therapy.

Tino, of course, is very worried, and he asks Peter so many questions that Berwald has to gently remind him to relax, as asking so many questions likely does more harm than good.

And the next day, they load into the car again to go to the doctor.

Peter fidgets nervously the whole time, having never been to a doctor for any reason besides a checkup before, and even those started only since he was adopted. Tino tries his best to comfort him, rubbing his back soothingly, but Tino's hand trembles as well, so it isn't necessarily the most effective.

When the doctor arrived, Peter describes his symptoms and past attacks, going into as much detail as he can. A nurse draws blood, and the family is told to wait while the blood is tested.

When the door shuts firmly behind the nurse and the doctor, Peter lets out a sigh.

"How are you feeling, Peter? You aren't faint it anything, are you?" Tino asks, frowning slightly.

Peter shakes his head. "No, I'm okay. Just overwhelmed..."

"It'll be better soon, okay?" Berwald promises, "and we'll be by your side the whole time."

Peter smiles, but his lips feel dry and cracked as they bend. He licks them nervously, before moving his finger to his mouth to nibble on one of his nails.

The wait is long, upwards of an hour, but finally the doctor comes back with the results.

"Well, Peter, based on the blood test and the symptoms you have described to me, it does seem to me that you have panic disorder. It's exactly what it sounds like, it's a disorder that is associated with having panic attacks, which are basically identical to the attacks you have."

"What can we do...? He doesn't just have to suffer through them, does he? Is there anything that can help?" Tino asks, worry seeping through his words.

"There is a medication that should help lessen the severity and hopefully make them occur less often."

"Whatever will help."

As the doctor discusses the details with Tino and Berwald, Peter sits on the cushioned, yet paper covered, table and thinks.

It doesn't really surprise him, really. He isn't shocked by the outcome. After Emil had brought it up, he explained more about the different kinds of anxiety and panic disorders, and it makes it easier to accept the news. Honestly, he's just glad to have some sort of name for what goes on, some official word. At least then he knows what is happening even if he doesn't know when it will happen.

On the way back to the police station, Peter is pretty quiet. Tino is alert immediately, but Peter reassures him that he's fine.

When Peter is back in their temporary room, he collapses on the bed and let's out a sigh. The day has worn him out already, he isn't so sure why. After once again reassuring Tino and Berwald that he is alright, he closes a fist around the fabric of the pillow and lets sleep take over.

Peter finds himself curled up in a tight ball. Instantly, fear strikes him, as we wonders if he is back in that little room with the dusty bed, with his mother standing over him.

Darkness swims in his vision, and he can tell that his eyes are squeezed shut. He almost doesn't want to open them, for fear of finding his mother in front of him once again.

He fights the urge to stay still, and he forces his eyes open as wide as they will go. Bright white light floods over him, forcing him to shut them once more. When he deems it safe, he blinks his eyes open again.

He isn't in the little room. The floor beneath him isn't rough wood, it's soft grass. He isn't next to a bed, there is nothing on either side of him. The world isn't dark, the sun is out, warming his skin and bones.

Peter pulls himself up into a sitting position. He glances around, bleary-eyed, trying to think where he could possibly be. He hasn't ever been to a place quite like this one.

He is in a field. The grass is long and lush, colored an incredible green. Peter finds himself running his fingers through the slightly windswept stalks.

Peter looks up to the sky. Puffy white clouds that look like clumps of cotton candy hang delicately in the air, companions to the sun.

Peter pulls himself up off the grass and looks around. There seems to be nothing at first, but when Peter blinks, he takes a step back in surprise.

He is no longer alone. The people he loves... They're standing in front of him.

At a tree about six feet away, they are waiting for him.

Ella, Emil, Tino, and Berwald.

Peter feels a loose smile slip on to his face. He runs closer.

Ella is the first to approach him. Her hair is back in its usual curly ponytail, and it bounces as she moves to hug Peter. The world feels so surreal, but he can feel the hug. He is conscious of everything, from the soft material of her shirt to the way he can feel her breathing as she clings to him.

As she pulls away, she smiles at him, her eyes seeming as warm as the sun.

Emil is next, and he barely gives Peter a chance to look at him closely before he scoops him up into a hug, much in the way a big brother would. Peter finds himself okay with the sudden contact, an odd feeling for him, but one he wants to get used to all the same.

Peter is put down, and Emil grins at him, ruffling his hair lightly.

Tino and Berwald are last. They are smiling already, and Peter is pulled against Tino almost immediately. Tino holds an arm around Peter, rocking back and forth slowly. Peter can hear him humming a song that sounds like a lullaby.

Berwald leans down and kisses Peter's forehead, and Peter can feel the smile on his lips.

The five of them settle down, wordlessly, on the grass underneath the tree. They are alone in the field, with nothing but the long grass stretching for miles on every side of them, but Peter likes it that way. Being with the people who care about him most in an empty world is better than being alone in a world full of people.

Peter feels sleepy again. He can't bring himself to stay sitting up with everyone else. He lays down, feeling Berwald's lap beneath him. Berwald's long fingers work their way through Peter's hair, gently and slowly, and Peter feels the warmth of the sun and the comfort from the people around him to be too much for his eyes. They slip shut, and a wide smile is worn on his face. He hears the lullaby once more, and the sounds from outside melt together, and Peter is asleep.

"Peter, honey, wake up." Tino is shaking Peter's shoulder gently.

Peter sits up. A dream. Of course.

Peter looks into Tino's eyes and frowns slightly. His eyes are wide and his lips are parted, it's clear that he has something to share.

"Peter, we have good news. You're safe... Your mother was found dead. She can't hurt you anymore."

Peter's eyes go wide. "Dead?"

Tino nods. "The police said it was likely to be a drug overdose. She was found in an alleyway this afternoon, already dead."

"So I'm... I'm really safe. I'm really, truly safe..."

Tino nods, tears brimming his eyes. "Yes, honey. You are. You're safe. We promised you would be, and now there's nothing to get in the way of that promise. You're finally safe...!"

Tino leans forward and pulls Peter into a hug, scooping him up on to his lap. He hugs him securely, and Peter's arms snake around his neck, hugging right back.

Berwald enters the room and smiles softly. He sits on the bed next to Tino and runs a hand through Peter's hair. "We can go home, now, Peter. You won't ever have to worry about her again."

Peter finds tears in his own eyes as well. He recalls his dream, where he sat with his parents and the other people that he loves and felt content by their side. He was safe. Finally. He doesn't have to worry about hiding any longer. His father is in jail in England, a life sentence, and his horrible monster of a mother is dead.

He's safe.

He buries his face against Tino's shoulder and let's out a relieved sob. Tino places a gentle hand on the back of his head, holding him close.

"Thank you. Both of you... Without you, I'd be dead... You gave me a chance at life again." Peter murmurs.

Even Berwald can't hold back tears, he feels his eyes stinging as he watches the relieved Peter crying into Tino's shoulder.

Peter pulls back and rubs at his eyes. Tino stands up slowly, adjusting himself so he can carry Peter.

"I'll miss this when you get too big for me to carry." Tino chuckles.

Peter smiles, deciding that he will miss it too. He wasn't ever held comfortingly before, he liked being able to have someone to do so now.

Berwald leans over to kiss Peter's forehead, and Peter once again remembers his dream. Such a warm place he had been in, but this one is even better.

"Come on, Peter," Berwald says. "Let's go home."

Peter smiles. Home... Finally.

-
A/N: Ahh, finally this is done! I'm sorry guys, I really don't have many excuses besides slight writers block. I've had the dream sequence basically written out in my mind, but I couldn't quite figure out how I wanted to write the beginning, because I didn't want to screw it up. On that note, I hope the description of the diagnosis was okay. I did research on how people are actually diagnosed with panic disorder, anxiety, etc., but there wasn't much solid info that applied, besides getting a blood test.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, (no, this is NOT the end. There are still a few chapters to come!)

Thanks for reading, everyone!

-KayDubs