Did you ever think it slightly odd how Peter’s crisis of faith
was brought so suddenly to the fore in season 3? He seemed happy enough at
the end of season 2 and in the Xmas special…This is my take on why and takes
place as a tag to ‘As happy as a turkey on boxing day.’
Christmas Wishes
by Janine
Peter sat sullenly nursing his lager and looked around at the happy faces
of his friends.
Festive spirit abounded aplenty in Fitzgerald’s and not just in the metaphysical
sense. Everyone was relaxed and full of good cheer after the day’s dramatic
events. He chastised himself for feeling melancholy and tried to shake it
off. Scanning the crowd he laughed as he spotted Ambrose’s mother Imelda
pin Brian down under the mistletoe. With a broken leg the man didn’t stand
a chance and he manfully gave in to his fate. Padraig wolf whistled and everyone
laughed. Peter smiled and took a sip of his beer. It was good to see Padraig
relaxed after his stressful day and even better to see Conn happily playing
the fiddle while he accompanied Timmy on guitar.
He’d been unhappy when Father Mac had dumped Timmy on him, but he had to
admit the young man had turned out to be good company. He’d make a fine priest
and a handy one at that. He’d certainly proven himself the hero of the hour
today! Unfortunately he was also the destroyer of classic cars. Peter shook
his head and felt his smile disappear. He knew he wasn’t supposed to crave
material things but he’d loved that car dearly and suddenly felt like crying
into his beer. He turned instead to the bar and stared into his lager.
“Penny for them?” Assumpta said making him jump.
He looked up to find her watching him closely.
“Sorry?” he said.
“You’re very quiet,” she commented.
“Sorry,” he repeated and sighed.
She leaned across the bar so her face was inches from his ear.
“The Javelin?” she said knowingly.
He smiled and wondered at how well she knew him. “Pretty shallow of me, eh?”
She shook her head. “Pete,r you loved that car. You are allowed to be upset.”
He shrugged and she stood folding her arms while staring at him reproachfully.
Peter smiled and held his hands up in a gesture of surrender. “Okay, okay.
I will try not to feel guilty about feeling sorry for myself.”
She smiled broadly at him and laughed in a completely unguarded moment. Peter
found himself mesmerized by her beauty and felt his heart rate double. He
caught himself staring and suddenly looked down trying to hide the blush
he felt creep over him.
Assumpta misread his action and reached behind her for a bottle.
“Here,” she said pouring him a very generous amount of brandy. Peter looked
up and accepted it gratefully.
“Stick around afterwards, okay? I promise you can talk your car troubles
away,” she said.
Peter raised his glass to her and smiled. She returned it before walking
away to replenish drinks at the other end of the bar.
The evening wore on and as the hour drew late people began to file out.
Timmy pulled a drunken Eamon to his feet. “I’ll make sure he gets home in
one piece,” he said to Peter.
The rest of the regulars fanned out waving as they went.
“Night Assumpta – Merry Christmas!” they all chorused.
“Yeah, bog off the lot of you,” she laughed and ushered them out.
As she pushed Brendan out he held Imelda’s mistletoe above his head and wiggled
his eyebrows.
She laughed and stood on tiptoes as Brendan kissed her.
He smiled at her and threw the mistletoe down on the table.
“Merry Christmas, Assumpta,” he said then called out. “Night, Peter.”
Peter waved and laughed as Assumpta bundled him out the door before closing
it. She turned around and leant back staring at the place. “Just what I was
hoping to avoid this year,” she said.
Peter raised a quizzical eyebrow at her and she gestured around at the tables
and bar filled with dirty plates and glasses.
“Ah,” he said, realisation dawning.
“Yeah,” she sighed.
“Want some help?”
“Santa’s little helper are you now?” she laughed.
“Only elf you’re gonna get at this late hour,” he said and she threw a bar
towel at him. “You’re hired.”
They worked together quickly and soon had the place tidied up.
“Thanks, Peter,” she said.
“My pleasure.”
Assumpta returned to the bar and poured some more brandy. Motioning to the
sofa by the fire they both made their way over and sat down. She handed him
his drink and they sat quietly together watching the fire.
“So what happened to your friends?” Peter asked breaking the comfortable
silence.
“Ahh, better offer I guess,” she said sipping her drink.
“Their loss,” Peter said and Assumpta smiled.
“But you had a good Christmas despite your friends not coming?” he asked.
“But my friends did come,” she said and he smiled at her.
“Touché,” Peter said and they both drank.
“So go on then. Bend my ear,” she said.
Peter closed his eyes and leaned back against the sofa.
“I’m not upset about the car in the physical sense,” he said and opened his
eyes when he heard Assumpta giggle.
“Okay I’m really going to miss the car in the physical sense,” he admitted
and nudged her playfully. “But it was more than just a car, Assumpta. I really
liked Judge Bradley, you know? Respected him - I could talk to him and he’d
listen. Something my dad couldn’t do,” he said quietly.
Assumpta tentatively placed her hand over his and squeezed it. He looked
down and turned his hand over lacing their fingers together. “The fact he
left me the Javelin meant a hell of a lot to me. Do you know what I’m trying
to say?”
Assumpta nodded slowly. “I do now,” she said. “I’m really sorry, Peter.”
He shook his head and squeezed her hand back. “Thanks for listening,” he
said.
“What are friends for?”
They both smiled and sat watching the fire for a few more minutes still holding
hands.
“I never got you anything for Christmas,” Peter said suddenly.
“That’s okay. I didn’t get you anything either,” she said.
“So what do you want?” he asked and looked at her.
She looked at him intensely before turning her head away. In the glow of
the fire he thought he saw her blush. Assumpta released his hand and stood
up.
“Nothing that I can have,” she said with a hint of regret.
Peter looked up at her smiled sadly. He finished his drink then stood up.
“Well, I guess I better go before Timmy burns my house down,” he said.
“I wouldn’t joke about it,” she said.
They both laughed and walked to the door. While she reached up to unbolt
it Peter spied something and picked it up. When she turned round she found
Peter regarding her with an intense expression.
“What?” she asked.
He raised his hand above their heads and she glanced up to see him holding
the mistletoe Brendan had left on the table.
“Peter?” she asked uncertainly.
“It’s tradition. Who are we to argue?” he said.
She watched him for a moment then smiled.
“Ah well, when you put it like that.”
Peter smiled and leaned down touching his lips to hers, marvelling at how
soft they were; she tasted sweet from the brandy and he found himself wanting
to melt into her. His free hand lifted to her face touching her hair before
gently tracing his finger down her cheekbone. When he met her neck he slid
his hand around it and pulled her closer to him. He’d never felt so alive;
so aware of every nerve ending in his body as he touched her skin, smelt
her perfume, tasted her mouth. He took it all in greedily, determined to
commit every detail to memory.
He dropped the mistletoe and put his arm around her pressing her to him and
felt her own arms encircle his waist, their bodies moulding into one another’s.
The kiss changed instantly from nervous exploratory, to passionate need and
their hands began to roam freely over each others bodies until they broke
apart gasping for breath.
They looked into each others eyes and Peter smiled timidly still reeling
from the adrenaline rush he felt.
“Merry Christmas, Assumpta,” he whispered against her mouth.
“Merry Christmas, Peter.”
They stood holding one another in silence until, in unspoken consent they
let go off each other and took a step back. Assumpta straightened her clothes
and then opened the door.
“Goodnight, Peter,” she said quietly.
He looked at her and closed his eyes struggling with himself. He sighed heavily
and stepped past her into the night.
“Goodnight,” he said.
Finis
Hope you enjoyed that as much as I enjoyed writing it