A Surprise Thing, 1/2

[jlrpuck_fic]

Pete had effectively ordered her to take a day or two of leave following a rather intense four-day investigation into the sudden proliferation of aardvarks in the streets of London, and for once Rose wasn’t of a mind to disagree. It had been a far more exhausting investigation than any reasonable person would have expected, requiring crawling

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[jlrpuck_fic]

I thought he had mentioned his ex-wife before, but that could have been in one of the 'future' stories.

He has--and it was. I've actually added a note to the front of this, providing the timeline for when it falls--it's after A Pants Thing, but before A Burns Thing. Sorry 'bout that!

Part 2 should--hopefully--be up on Thursday!

[jvgymnast]

Peter met her, as he always did, at the train station.
I love that little aside.

She loved stepping off of the train, turning to find him standing on the platform; it reminded her of old movies, right down to the trench coat he would always wear.
Great visual.

“I am. And I’ve got a treat in store.”
“Have you?”
“Well…not what you’re thinking.”
Hee.

“It was a bit of a bother when it interfered with Uni, or work.”
Rose turned to face him, her hand sliding down to grasp his. “You…you lived here? With your gran?”
So she's still learning about him here. Timelines are confusing me-- I presume that these are not in order then?

Peter warned her that there was no heat other than that provided by the fireplaces (or that they made, she thought);
*snort*

It was small, cold, and drafty-it would no doubt be called quaint in some of the magazines on her mum’s coffee table-and yet, somehow, it was so very Peter. He looked more at home in the small cottage than at any other place she’d seen him. It really is him-- a touch of the classic,

[jlrpuck_fic]

Timelines are confusing me-- I presume that these are not in order then?

Not remotely--and I apologize for forgetting to say when, in Peter and Rose's timeline, this fell! I've added an A/N--but for the record, it's before A Burns Thing.

Maybe he's like a boy scout-- always prepared?

Hee! Where Rose is concerned--or, more specifically, where his and Rose's sexual activity is concerned--this is quite true.

However, I think he neglected to think about how she'd see it.

You've read Chapter 2!!!! ;)

I hope you're all dug out from the snow monsoon!

[jvgymnast]

You've read Chapter 2!!!! ;)
Actually, my brother asked me for girl advice the other day and had the same problem of not looking at how the girl would interpret his actions.

I hope you're all dug out from the snow monsoon!
Believe it or not, it was a lovely weekend, here. Less than half an inch of snow on Friday, then none the rest of the weekend. Guess we're luckier than Ohio...

[principia]

I'm sure Pete would be pleased, since he actually wanted her to go rest up.

Heck, once he hears about it he'll probably be tempted to ask to rent out the place for a vaca.

I can see what he probably thought-- "we're in this lovely place, and I can finally open up about something that's been nagging me."

Or he felt so open laying there with her that he let his guard down and it just slipped out.

[scringestone]

This rings so true -- is there a graceful, pleasant way to bring up an ex? Do we really expect our current partner not to bristle at that bundle of old letters tucked in a drawer? For Rose, though, maybe it's not so much how Peter let it slip. He was trying to tell Rose that he hadn't even brought his ex-wife there, that she was privileged to see something very private. It's that he's hidden something from her after she revealed all.

What a beautiful setting for making up ....

[jlrpuck_fic]

is there a graceful, pleasant way to bring up an ex?

There's really not--and don't think I didn't try to write one, where Peter found the perfect time and place to mention it. I could never get it to work though...and so wound up writing this scenario. ;)

For Rose, though, maybe it's not so much how Peter let it slip.

Well, yes--this is really the heart of Chapter 2, exploring Rose's thoughts and feelings about what Peter just told her.

What a beautiful setting for making up ....

Yes indeed.

[principia]

There's really not--and don't think I didn't try to write one, where Peter found the perfect time and place to mention it. I could never get it to work though...and so wound up writing this scenario. ;)

It could've been worse: can you imagine how she'd have reacted if she only found out he'd been married through Loreen popping up in the tabloids?

Yes indeed.

Or completely freezing your bum off while you chase after Rose in the great outdoors.

[principia]

And she's trapped and can't run away, so they're going to have to have it out (I'm assuming a few days' stony silence is not in the cards. *g*)

I'm sure if she were sufficiently motivated to do so, she'd manage to get away. She's a resourceful one.

[principia]

True enough. But if, say, a big storm were to whip up and trap them both in the cottage....

There are two ways that could go: one, the way of a couple of cats, with the cornered one hissing and spitting and growling and lashing out, or two, the way of the delicious making-up because they're forced to hash it out. Perhaps after both having spent some time outside in it - her leaving in a huff then coming back when it starts pouring, him going out looking for her after the squall hits, and ending up with his freaked-out, exhausted, drenched self coming back to the cottage to find her there. Hypothermia Prevention 101 kicks in at that point, natch.

Then again, eschewing any such dramatic tropes, I could see him sadly offering to either sleep in separate bedrooms, or drive her up into town so she could get back, since she undoubtedly wouldn't want to either a) stay in the cottage or b) spend 3+ hours in the car riding back to Kendal with him. He might even offer to piss off himself and let her have the cottage while he stays in town. *

[liber_noctuae]

well, I suppose it had to come out at some point. oh Peter, not so good on the timing there. That said, these two have weathered witheld information before, and this time one of them can't run to the other end of the island. Can't wait to see the next bit!

PS. aardvarks ha.

[jlrpuck_fic]

oh Peter, not so good on the timing there.

Yeah--Peter's a dear, but his timing's a bit off.

Can't wait to see the next bit!

It'll be up on Thursday.