Everyone was so nice with their comments for my first story, I thought I'd give this other idea I had a go. This will be multi chapter, though I'm not sure how long it will be yet. That depends on whether you guys like it I guess

Did anyone else think that maybe Peter was afraid of the dark? In the sweating statue episode when Ambrose and Peter are caught by Father Mac in the church, Peter says how it can get surprisingly lonely in the dark. Then in the famous Killashee scene when everyone leaves Peter and Assumpta at the site she mentions that if he's afraid of the dark she'll stay with him, and he seems really relieved. Anyway I thought I'd explore this idea, along with others.

This story starts at the beginning of the bittersweet Reckoning episode.

Please assume that everything leading up to this point is the same as the show. (Though as you will discover in my story Ambrose is not hell bent on spoiling the fun and arresting everyone!)

Assumpta was crawling on the floor of the darkened cellar looking for the fuse.

She felt Peter brush up against her in the darkness and the warmth of his arm traveled up her body and caused a blush to form on her cheeks. Thank god for the darkness she thought.

But then she noticed something else, he was shaking. Concern immediately overtook any embarrassment she felt.

"Peter, you're shivering"

"I know" he replied in a quiet, dejected voice.

"Why?"

"Lots of things"

"Oh of course, your mother?"

"My mother, my life"

"The little things" she said, a poor attempt at making him smile.

It worked though, as Peter lightly chuckled, "Yeah"

"You guys ok down there?" Padraigshouted from the top of the steps leading down into the cellar.

"Yeah we're fine Padraig!" She turned back to face Peter, "Another time"

Peter looked back at her and smiled, thankful for her friendship. God knew he needed a friend right now. He didn't quite know what he wanted to say, but he knew he didn't want to say it to anyone else.

As others began to descend into the cellar the fuse was eventually found and replaced, flooding the cellar with a dim, fluorescent light. Assumpta let out a few glib remarks, inwardly annoyed that they had interrupted her and Peter's conversation. In a huff, she was the first to climb back up the stairs and into the bar. One by one the others emerged and made their way back to their seats, except for Peter who headed straight for the bathroom.

Padraig was the last to emerge from the cellar.

He went to close the hatch door over the stairs when Assumpta shouted at him from the other end of the bar.

"Don't!"

Padraig looked around in surprise at Assumpta's loud retort.

"What's wrong with ya?" he replied, matching her tone.

"Don't close the cellar door properly, the latch is broken. If you close it completely I won't be able to get it open again without a crow-bar. Here, stick this under it."

She threw him a small wooden wedge which he dutifully placed down the side of the trap door, stopping it from fully closing.

Brendan looked over from his usual place at the bar.

"If I went down there and got looked in, I would have one hell of a time!"

"If I caught you," Assumpta acidly replied, "you would have one hell of a bill."

"And one hell of a headache I'd imagine" Siobhan piped in.

They all started to laugh as Peter reemerged from the bathroom.

"What's the joke?" he said, looking around at their amused faces.

"Nothing Father, here have a drink" Brendan replied handing Peter back his pint.

The evening continued much the same, everyone enjoying the food and the company, but mostly the beer.

About an hour later Assumpta began to make thinly veiled comments about wanting to close the pub.

"Will you all ever bog off home?"

"Ahh Assumpta, we could drink at home, but it's that sparkling wit and those charming manners we come for" Brendan smiled at her over the top of his pint.

"Well you can come and sample it again tomorrow, I promise to have some extra special remarks aside for you" she smiled wickedly back at him.

Brendan laughed and drained the remainder of his drink. "Come on then, away with us all to our beds, before she makes us clean up this mess! Night Assumpta"

He waved as he walked out the door, Siobhan and Padraig at his heels, all yelling out their own goodbyes.

As the pub began to empty Peter thought of his cold and empty house waiting for him and didn't have any urge to leave so soon. In an effort to prolong the inevitable he began to idly gather plates and glasses and take them through to the kitchen. He didn't fancy going home with nothing but his thoughts for company; they were likely to drive him mad if he gave them free range.

As the last customer made for the door Assumpta followed them, waving goodbye, and closed and locked it behind them. She turned and lent her back against the door as Peter remerged from the kitchen.

"Training for a second career?" She smiled up at him.

"Yeah, gotta keep my options open" he smiled back and continued to clear the tables. She tried not to read too much into the comment, a habit of hers when Peter said, well, just about anything really.

Assumpta, glad of the help, especially from Peter, moved around him and began to clear the bar. Apart from their brief encounter in the cellar earlier in the evening she hadn't spoken to him alone, and despite her concern she thought it best not to broach the subject of his mum until he did.

As the bar began to resemble some semblance of normality again Assumpta thought it probably best to change the stout barrel now rather than leave it for the morning, something she always hated to have to do first thing.

She removed the wedge from the trap door and lent it half open against an empty crate and descended into the cellar. A few minutes later a loud crash emanated from down below.

"Assumpta! You alright?" Peter shouted, who, after hearing the bang, had come out of the kitchen in a rush.

"Yeah fine!" She yelled back up the stairs. "Just knocked over this stupid pile of boxes. Who the hell stacked them there? Bloody stupid place to put them!"

A smile began to tug at the corner of Peter's mouth. He thought it probably best not to point out at this moment that since Assumpta was the only person who ever really went down into the cellar that she was the most likely candidate for stacking the offending boxes.

Some choice words continued to emanate from below stairs as Peter continued to stare down into the dimly lit cellar.

"You want a hand down there?" he called.

"No I'm fine" she replied in a hard, slightly annoyed voice.

Peter stood and listened to a series of grunts and straining noises, plus some more swearing, as Assumpta continued to struggle with the heavy boxes.

Peter was constantly amused and frustrated in equal measures at Assumpta's unflinching desire to be independent. The woman never asked for help, even when she obviously needed it.

When another bang came from below, Peter thought enough was enough and began to descend the stairs.

"Look I won't tell anyone that you asked for my help"

"I didn't ask for help!" Assumpta replied sharply, looking up at Peter from behind a pile of barrels.

Then she realized what was about to happen, nanoseconds before it actually did. But she couldn't form the words quick enough to stop it.

"Peter! Don't close the…!"

But it was too late. As Peter had ducked his head down, his hand accidently knocked the trap door and it swung shut over his head with a loud bang.

Would love to know what you think