Chapter 15: Idyll

Murasaki Shikibu:

And were you to move to deepest Yoshino,
I still would find you, through unceasing snow.

Olivia woke up in an empty bed and experienced a moment of panic until she smelled the aromas of coffee and bacon.

She made her way to the kitchen. The pain and disorientation from yesterday were gone. The healing powers of a good night's sleep never ceased to amaze her.

Peter was making breakfast.

"You said you'd be there when I woke up," she said in mock complaint.

"I was going to be, but then I decided since you didn't look like you'd be waking up for a while I might as well have breakfast ready for you when you did. It's almost noon."

A glance at the clock confirmed that claim. "Wow, I must have been out cold. Usually I'm a light sleeper."

"I know. But you do have an excuse. Traveling to a new dimension really takes its toll."

She smiled. She loved how he could sound upbeat and confident no matter the situation. He always seemed like sunshine contrasted with her own somber nature.

He put a plate of bacon and eggs and a mug of coffee on the table for her, and they both sat down to eat.

"I feel like I've been going crazy without you," Olivia said.

"I know the feeling. It's so good to be with you again."

"Peter, there's so much I want to ask you and so much I want to tell you I don't even know where to start." She took a breath, then smiled. "I think I can get us back. Walter and I have been doing experiments, testing the limits of my powers. I think I can transport both of us back home, but it's going to be a while before I'm strong enough."

"But you're not sure, not a hundred percent sure that you can?"

"No," she admitted.

"So you came here looking for me, not sure if you'd ever get back, or even survive getting here?"

"Yes."

He was amazed at how much she was willing to sacrifice for him.

"What if...we can't both go back. What if there's not a way for me to go back?" he asked

She looked at him for a long moment. "What's your relationship like with the Olivia from here?"

He wondered why she was changing the subject, but only for a moment. It was an unfair question to ask, he realized: Olivia had a life outside him. She had her sister and niece, her job, her responsibility of saving the world. Of course he couldn't ask her to stay with him if he couldn't go back.

Then another thought occurred to him: was she asking if he and the Olivia here had a relationship?

"Tense," he stated. "She doesn't trust me, and I think it weirded her out that I thought she was you at first. She's very different from you, you know."

A shadow crossed Olivia's face.

"Last night," Peter said slowly, "you said there was something you needed to tell me. Something that's bothering you."

Olivia frowned. She stood and turned away. Peter was at her side in a moment. "Just tell me."

"After you disappeared," she started, "Walter was allowed to examine the Machine. He figured out how the other side managed to turn it on."

"How?"

"They used your DNA. That's how they were able to trick the machine into thinking you were in it. But it wasn't a pure sample. It was...there were differences. It was like half of it was your DNA, and half of it was..."

She trailed off again, shaking her head.

"What?"

"She knew what happened as soon as Walter found the DNA. Fauxlivia. I think she was about ready to kill Walternate when she figured out what he did."

"What was it?"

"There was a child. A baby. Peter, you have a son."

The words were left to ripple through the silence of the room.

Peter didn't know what to say. He didn't know what to think. How was it even possible?

Olivia answered one of his unspoken questions. "Fauxlivia was kidnapped, and the aging of the fetus was accelerated so he could be born healthy. He's a few months old now. His name's Henry. I've seen him. He's beautiful."

Olivia kept her face turned away from him. Peter stepped in front of her, so he could see her face.

She looked as conflicted as he was.

"I'm sorry, Olivia."

"It's okay. It's not your fault. You thought she was me. And these things happen. It's just...when I see Henry...he's as much mine as you were Walter's before he crossed over and brought you back. I want you to meet him."

"And I will." He cupped his hand over her cheek. "But you have to know that you're my Olivia. You're the one I love. Only you. The baby doesn't change that."

She smiled. "You always know what I need to hear. I guess that's what I get for falling in love with a con man."

"Comes with the territory," he jokingly agreed.

She kissed him, then rested her forehead against his. "I'd stay with you," she said. "If I couldn't take you back, I'd stay here with you."

He knew he should tell her not to stay with him, not to leave her life behind to be with him, but right now he couldn't bring himself to argue against something he wanted so much. He was selfish. It would hurt too much to be separated from her again.

So he just wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him, holding her like he was afraid she would be torn away from him. He was afraid. He was so afraid of losing her again that he couldn't stand it.

He's always had an instinct that loving someone would bring pain with it. That's one reason he'd tried to avoid getting close to anyone for so many years.

She was pressing her cheek against his shoulder, her eyes closed.

"I love you so much, Olivia," he whispered. "And we've been through so much together. You have no idea how much I've missed just having someone who remembers the same things I do. I wish..."

He broke off. He was perilously close to tears.

"You wish what?"

He shook his head. "I think I finally understand why Walter and my mother didn't take me back to my universe after curing me when I was a child. If they loved me anywhere close to as much as I love you, I can see how it would have been too hard." He added in a whisper. "I wish there were a way I could know I'd never lose you again."

She smiled gently. "Life is uncertain. Especially ours."

He laughed. "Yeah. Tell me about it."

"But we're together now, and that's what matters."

Together they looked out the window at the falling snow.

"Yeah," he agreed.