Story: A Brief Note -- Teen
Title: A Brief Note
Author: Fabrisse
Pairing: Peter/Nathan seen by an outsider
Rating: Teen
Word Count: 555
Category: Drama
Prompt: Day 56 for theyreitalian
Spoilers: Through season 2 Four Months Ago
Summary: Heidi comes to terms
Prompt: A photo of a sheet of paper with “I love you” written on it.
Notes: Sorry, gang. Unbetaed again.
Heidi found the note in the planner Nathan carried in his breast pocket. It was torn so there was no signature, but there didn't need to be. She knew Peter's handwriting.
Three words that Nathan kept with him, near his heart.
She remembered helping Peter move into his apartment. Someone had dropped a box, and they all scrambled to pick up the papers before they blew away. Later, Heidi found a paper in her pocket. She'd picked up one of Nathan’s letters to Peter from when he was in the Navy. She read it.
The letter was light in tone. There were answers to questions Peter had obviously asked in a previous letter, anecdotes about missions, and even some references to her. She checked the date and realized Peter apparently knew Nathan's thoughts about marrying her before she did. He ended the letter with "I love you."
All of the letters she'd had from Nathan - even on the rare occasions they’d been apart after their marriage - ended with "All my love." It was still three little words, but they seemed less personal, less meaningful than the stark clarity of "I love you."
Listening to the story Nathan told was heartbreaking. People with strange powers, a plot to unite people through a violent act, reports of a weather anomaly - she would have been incredulous if it didn’t explain so much. Her cure, courtesy of a man she loathed, was part of Nathan’s reward for going along with a plan that would have destroyed their city, killed their friends.
Heidi remembered that afternoon. She’d taken such joy in making love with her husband, reveled in being able to feel his touch, his lips against body. She hadn’t thought twice about being sent to Nantucket because she was drunk on sensation.
She examined it now, dispassionately. Nathan had made certain that she and the children were out of harm's way. But, ultimately, his choice was to face danger and, probably, death with Peter rather than join them. Losing Peter hurt him more than the radiation burns covering his body.
Heidi loved Nathan. She'd always thought it was in spite of his arrogance, but seeing him in the hospital bed humble and quiet, she knew that much of her love was because he was arrogant. Without Peter, Nathan was like a small child lost in the dark. He found the strength to bear the pain, the courage to face a new day only in the certainty that Peter wasn't dead.
She rushed out of his room wanting to flee her new knowledge. Instead she faced Angela trying to lie to her, tell her that Nathan was mentally ill. Maybe he was, but Heidi knew the illness wasn't in believing that he could fly or that Peter could give off radiation - Nathan was in the burn unit with enough radiation in his system to ensure they'd never have a daughter even if he recovered. Nor was it in believing Angela to be evil. If she believed him about flying, then she had to believe him when he said Angela had helped to plan it all.
Heidi didn’t doubt Nathan loved her. She didn’t doubt that he loved their children. But it wasn’t enough.
Heidi wanted Nathan to love her wholeheartedly.
Heidi wanted Nathan to love her like he loved Peter.
Author: Fabrisse
Pairing: Peter/Nathan seen by an outsider
Rating: Teen
Word Count: 555
Category: Drama
Prompt: Day 56 for theyreitalian
Spoilers: Through season 2 Four Months Ago
Summary: Heidi comes to terms
Prompt: A photo of a sheet of paper with “I love you” written on it.
Notes: Sorry, gang. Unbetaed again.
Heidi found the note in the planner Nathan carried in his breast pocket. It was torn so there was no signature, but there didn't need to be. She knew Peter's handwriting.
Three words that Nathan kept with him, near his heart.
She remembered helping Peter move into his apartment. Someone had dropped a box, and they all scrambled to pick up the papers before they blew away. Later, Heidi found a paper in her pocket. She'd picked up one of Nathan’s letters to Peter from when he was in the Navy. She read it.
The letter was light in tone. There were answers to questions Peter had obviously asked in a previous letter, anecdotes about missions, and even some references to her. She checked the date and realized Peter apparently knew Nathan's thoughts about marrying her before she did. He ended the letter with "I love you."
All of the letters she'd had from Nathan - even on the rare occasions they’d been apart after their marriage - ended with "All my love." It was still three little words, but they seemed less personal, less meaningful than the stark clarity of "I love you."
Listening to the story Nathan told was heartbreaking. People with strange powers, a plot to unite people through a violent act, reports of a weather anomaly - she would have been incredulous if it didn’t explain so much. Her cure, courtesy of a man she loathed, was part of Nathan’s reward for going along with a plan that would have destroyed their city, killed their friends.
Heidi remembered that afternoon. She’d taken such joy in making love with her husband, reveled in being able to feel his touch, his lips against body. She hadn’t thought twice about being sent to Nantucket because she was drunk on sensation.
She examined it now, dispassionately. Nathan had made certain that she and the children were out of harm's way. But, ultimately, his choice was to face danger and, probably, death with Peter rather than join them. Losing Peter hurt him more than the radiation burns covering his body.
Heidi loved Nathan. She'd always thought it was in spite of his arrogance, but seeing him in the hospital bed humble and quiet, she knew that much of her love was because he was arrogant. Without Peter, Nathan was like a small child lost in the dark. He found the strength to bear the pain, the courage to face a new day only in the certainty that Peter wasn't dead.
She rushed out of his room wanting to flee her new knowledge. Instead she faced Angela trying to lie to her, tell her that Nathan was mentally ill. Maybe he was, but Heidi knew the illness wasn't in believing that he could fly or that Peter could give off radiation - Nathan was in the burn unit with enough radiation in his system to ensure they'd never have a daughter even if he recovered. Nor was it in believing Angela to be evil. If she believed him about flying, then she had to believe him when he said Angela had helped to plan it all.
Heidi didn’t doubt Nathan loved her. She didn’t doubt that he loved their children. But it wasn’t enough.
Heidi wanted Nathan to love her wholeheartedly.
Heidi wanted Nathan to love her like he loved Peter.