Author's Note: This story would not have been written without the encouragement of my reviewers for 'Punishment'. You asked for a sequel, and here it is. I didn't think I had more to add to this story, but you proved me wrong. I hope this meets your expectations, and I'd like to say again how much I appreciate your feedback.

A special thanks goes to my wonderful beta mvariorum. You support and inspiration are the wind beneath my wings.

And a final note, if you haven't read 'Punshment' you should know that this conversation takes place at night in the Bishops' living room.

Part 1

"There's something that I have to talk to you about."

A worried frown creased Olivia's brow at Peter's solemn tone. "That sounds really ominous," she said, but her attempt at humor was betrayed by the nervousness in her voice.

Peter took a deep breath. "You remember what you said to me? When you asked me to come back to this world with you... you said…"

"I said that you belonged with me. I remember," Olivia whispered.

Peter nodded. "And so I came back for you... for us. And… Olivia, there's no way to break this to you gently. We... started seeing each other."

Olivia went rigid, every bit of color leaving her face. Desperate to explain himself, Peter continued.

"I thought she was you, Olivia. Of course there were differences in her behavior. And I explained them away because our relationship was different."

Shaking her head, Olivia stared at her tightly clenched hands as if she could find support in their white-knuckled grasp.

"This is... I… Dammit, hasn't she taken enough already? She lived in my apartment, wore my clothes, worked my cases. She touched all my most private things – and as it turns out, that includes you." She looked up at Peter. "How could you not realize it wasn't me? I met her, you know. She was nothing like me. She was cool, and fun, and carefree." A bitter laugh tore from her lips. "I guess she was what you were dreaming of, wasn't she? Me, only better."

"Olivia, that's not true."

"Isn't it? I wonder."

At first Peter had been glad when her hurt turned to anger, but now he winced at Olivia's scathing tone.

"As I said, there were differences. But she had explanations for having changed, for her little lapses…"

"I bet she did," Olivia muttered under her breath.

"… and I was only too eager to accept them. Yes, I admit that my ego led me to believe I may have had something to do with it. I hoped what was making you this happy was that the two of us could finally be together in this way."

"Only it wasn't us, was it, Peter?" Olivia stood. "I can't listen to any more of this. I need space."

As she turned and walked away, Peter called out to her, but she didn't react. With a deep sigh he worked himself upright to follow her. Handicapped by his injured leg, he only caught up with Olivia in the hallway when she was already standing by the door, bundled up in her coat and car keys in hand.

"Olivia, don't…"

She barked a mirthless laugh. "Don't what? Don't be that way? Don't leave me like this?"

"Neither," Peter said softly. "I meant to say, don't take your car. We've made a sizable dent in this bottle you brought, and I don't think it would be safe for you to drive."

Olivia snorted. "So you think I should stay here, so you get a chance at working your charm on me until I fall into your arms, is that your plan?"

A tired smile flitted across Peter's face. "Actually, I was going to offer you our guest room, but if you prefer I'll call a cab for you."

"How chivalrous. I'm sure the other Olivia really went for that, didn't she." She shook her head. "I'm not staying here. I'll take that cab."

Peter nodded and turned back towards the living room where he'd left his phone. As he limped away, a thought crossed Olivia's mind.

"Did you sleep with her – in my bed?"

Peter stopped, and she could see the tension in his shoulders. "Yes," he admitted without looking at her.

"Right, don't sugar coat it."

It was the jibe that finally snapped Peter's self control. "What do you expect me to say?" he asked, turning so quickly that he staggered slightly as he put too much weight on his bad leg. "I decided the right thing to do was to tell you the God's honest truth, regardless of what it would do to the way you see me. Would you rather have me lie to you now?"

The hurt in his eyes gave Olivia pause. After all, he had been betrayed as well. But she didn't want to see things his way, she couldn't, not yet. There was such a big black hole of despair in her chest, it needed to be filled with something, and anger and resentment was all she had at her disposal at that moment.

"And the guest room? You never..." Olivia broke off with a vague hand movement.

"No. Actually, never in this house."

"Which way?"

Peter nodded towards the stairs. "Up there."