So this is just something that came into my head, hope you like it, and there will be more.
The throbbing was unbearable. I had practically spun down into my bed, the dizziness and nausea had been dreadful. I needed to rest. For someone who was supposed to belong here I felt worse than I had in years, and then I'd had flu. Sleep. I decided. Sleep was what I needed. I let it take me, the darkness approached and the illness faded.
As Walter and I drew near to the building, I glanced at him, almost proud of how well the man could dress up. His suit was starchy, ironed to perfection. He was so excited. I smiled, remembering the glare Olivia had given me when I'd declined her invite at first. Fancy FBI parties were not my thing, but she'd pleaded and threatened and I'd been forced to agree. She just didn't want to have to go alone. I wondered for a second what she'd look like, the dress code was formal, strictly dresses for women and suits for men, so she couldn't try and get away with her usual attire. The two of us entered and I glanced around, surprising myself with the almost nerves that were bubbling inside me. The delicate Victorian ceilings were lit with small rose shaped lights, which helped illuminate the room, shining beams across the people and bouncing back off of dresses that glittered and shone.
"Come on son, we must find Agent Dunham" Walter declared enthusiastically, and we began to weave our way through the crowd of sophisticated and important persons, idly mingling amongst one another with glasses of champagne and hors d'oeuvres. It didn't take long to find who we were looking for. A very uncomfortable, bored looking Olivia was stood nodding to a man who seemed like he could talk until he died. I slipped a head over her shoulder, careful not to touch her, and whispered a greeting into her ear, making her jump. She vaguely apologised to the other man before turning around to face us.
"Thank God." She let out a sigh of relief. "There you are"
I took a moment to look at her, trying to keep my mouth closed but likely failing badly (that wasn't my biggest concern), and took in her floor length emerald dress and loosely pinned up hair. She looked at me with her eyebrows raised, with the implication of 'that's-very-inappropriate'. I grinned, noticing this, but continued to observe the way the dress hugged her curves, and notice how the strapless design emphasised the elegance of her collarbones, just in a sneakier manner. Or so I had thought. She rolled her eyes anyway, and turned so we were stood side by side, slyly pointing at someone far off who I recognised to be Astrid. The junior agent waved at us, and pulled by the hand a male companion who looked like he couldn't quite believe his luck. She looked almost as fantastic as Olivia, sporting a burnt orange, one shouldered dress that clung to her neatly. Livvy seemed to notice my approval, as I noticed her eyes narrow slightly. I grinned.
"Hey Astrid" we greeted almost in unison.
"Hey guys!" she beamed, and I briefly wondered how much she'd been drinking, noticing the way she swayed slightly on black strappy heels. Olivia seemed to share my thought, and we exchanged a glance. The five of us stood chatting for a while, discussing who looked good in a suit, and who wasn't pulling it off. I apparently looked fine in mine, but Olivia and Astrid decided they preferred the casual jeans and shirt look on me. I grinned at them, speculating about how much time they'd spent thinking about it. Soon after, Astrid and her new friend, who we had learned was called Doug, had begun to join in the dancing, inexpertly holding each other's shoulders and waists and swinging around. Walter had started chatting with people who were in a similar age group about how much people's tastes in music had changed, and Olivia and I stood leaning back against a wall, debating what to do. Dancing apparently was not an option; Livia had decided she was going nowhere near the dance floor, especially sober. I made a mental note to get her drunk one day, and force her to join me in a really embarrassing dance, perhaps a waltz.
I noticed in the corner of the room a doorway leading out to a balcony, so I took Olivia's hand and pulled her toward it, enjoying the fresh air as we emerged into the night. The gardens that we looked out on were lit similarly to the reception area, with small lights highlighting paths. We leant on the banister and stared lazily out, just enjoying each other's presence. After a while, I heard her sigh, and looked in her direction. She met my eyes sadly.
"Does it ever get to you?" she asked slowly. "I mean, everything that's at stake here. These gardens, all of those people, me... you..."
"Livia" I groaned, putting a hand on her arm and squeezing it tightly. I noted how cold she was, so pulled her into a hug, smiling as she laid her head on my shoulder. I put a soft kiss into hair, enjoying the fruity scent. "Not tonight"
"Sorry" she half-smiled apologetically, and let go of me, but I kept my arm where it was, and gently moved closer so that our foreheads were touching.
"We'll stop it, you know we will, we have each other."
"Promise?" she smiled
"Promise" I agreed, and leant my lips closer to hers, just touching them before withdrawing. Her smile became sad again, and she took my arm, pulling me back into the hug.
"We better get back" I sighed, "Walter will be wondering where we are"
She nodded and we re-joined the party, remaining close throughout the night.
"Peter?" a voice penetrated my reality and I opened my eyes, confused. "Are you ok?"
My mother was staring down at me, worry plastered over her face.
"I'm fine" I decided, sitting up in my bed and looking at her.
"You were shouting, I was worried, you kept screaming 'I promised', were you having a bad dream?"
"Not particularly" I stated remorsefully, and she seemed to note my sadness because she sat down on my bed, putting a hand loosely on my arm.
"Peter, I never asked you just how much you left behind" she sighed, and began again. "It was your whole life. Were you married?"
I shook my head slowly. "No, it wasn't like that"
"Was she your girlfriend?" I wondered how she knew that there even was a 'she', and this must have become apparent in my eyes because she elaborated. "You're obviously heartbroken"
I looked away from her, hoping she didn't quite understand the depths of my despair. This was embarrassing enough already. "No she wasn't, but she might have been one day... she was an FBI agent, the one I worked with in Fringe division, Olivia Dunham"
"There is an Olivia over here, you must remember, but I do believe she has a partner of some sort..."
"Mother it wouldn't be the same"
"Of course not" she smiled sadly. "You should go back to sleep now"
I watched as she turned and left the room, pausing at the doorway. "Sweet dreams"
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