thepicketfencecliche | darkest timeline } { of reevaluating differences and revenge

Peter: [A few days after talking to Elena, and then confirming that Derek could stay with him through the winter, he decided that he needed to talk with Freya. It didn't go over his head that the paramours of the three time travelers would all be in the same city for a long period of time. And while he was still confused on what his previous life with Freya was, he couldn't ignore the fact that when she had erased his memories, he had felt a tenderness to her mental touch. So he decided to come and talk, and to listen, openly, to what she might want to tell him.]

Freya: [hasn't been sleeping well, but she assumed that would be the case when she took on a spell like this. Her subconscious keeps taking her back to the last morning they had together, and there's a part of her that wants to beg him to stay, even though she knows it isn't real. She needs to move on, to move into the present of what she has now, and the best way she knows how to do that is just resuming her life, and hoping with time the dreams will fade. And for the most part it's working, but then Peter walks in the door of her bar. Taking a breath, she squares her shoulders and tries to keep it professional] What can I get you?

Peter: I was thinking perhaps a bottle of wine over conversation?

Freya: Oh. [good response Freya. very articulate. She glances down the bar to Kol, and he nods that she's free to do what she needs to do. She swallows before turning back to him] Red or white?

Peter: [thinks, then nods] Red.

Freya: [nods as she grabs what she remembers as one of his favorite reds from behind the bar, as well as two wine glasses. Then she tips her head to the side for him to follow her. this probably isn't a conversation they should have in the public bar]

Peter: [nope, and he will follow her up, his eyes taking everything in, making sure he knew where everyone in the bar was before exiting]

Freya: [and she'll take him back to her little section of the second floor, a place where he's been before, so he already knows where the backdoor exit is if he needs it. Once she lets them both in, Freya moves to place the two glasses down on the coffee table, pouring them both a glass] So. What did you want to talk about?

Peter: [he waits until he takes a sip from his glass, his head debating on how to approach this] First, I wanted to thank you. For what you did to help save us. I don't think any of us have had the clarity to appreciate the sacrifices you three took upon yourselves, but I do.

Freya: [nods, playing with the rim of her glass] I don't think we did it for the gratitude but you're welcome.

Peter: You did it out of love.

Freya: They did. [meaning Stiles and Elena. Maybe Freya did too but she always knew that she wasn't going to get back what she lost, or at least she assumes] For me, I'm not sure if ego or revenge was the larger goal.

Peter: [leans back in the seat, crossing his legs and watching her carefully.] But nothing else.

Freya: I wouldn't say nothing. [she takes a long sip of her wine, trying to find the right way to explain] In order to save you, we had to take away the thing that made you ... made him, rather. The thing that drew us together in the first place. [she's done her fair share of googling, asked around. The Peter now is a vastly different person and she can't see a path where he would decide that what he wants is this messy witch with a darkness she'll never be able to wash away] The man that I loved was forged in that fire. By stopping it, I was erasing him. I'm not sure that's an act of love.

Peter: [thinks a moment, twirling the wine in the glass] Before I returned to have my memories erased, I told my sister about my relationship with Kate and to make sure no matter what you did to me, to make sure that I didn't go back to her, to the point of sending me away from Beacon Hills. So, for what it's worth, I made the choice before you altered my memories and emotions.

Freya: Perhaps. And she also would have been dead before she got that far. [hence the revenge portion of things] But would you have made the choice without my presence at all? [a beat] I'm not blaming you for your feelings. Kate Argent was a master manipulator. She learned from the best. And I never had a problem with the person she made you. [she's just not sure why the person who wasn't burned by Kate would want her]

Peter: Without your presence at all, you already know what would have happened. Stiles wouldn't have that kind of power to bring himself or Elena there.

Freya: [that's not ... quite what she meant but that's not the point] But my losing him was going to happen whether I went or not. So like I said - not so much love. More wanting to ensure that Kate Argent had a slow and painful death. And a perverse wanting to prove that I could.

Peter: And no hoping that perhaps you'd find me again?

Freya: That's why I erased your memory. [not to kill all hope but ...] If things happened before I remembered again, I wanted it to be real. [but those hopes weren't high]

Peter: And now that I remember, you don't believe that it will

Freya: Now that we both remember, I think it's harder to gauge. Wishful thinking versus actual reality. If I'm going for something because I'm trying to fill the hole he left or because it's actually right.

Peter: Well, I'm not the one to allow myself to be pressed into the mold of another--even if the other is myself. [he smirks a bit, amused] However, that doesn't mean I'm opposed to not trying to at least get to know one another. If it never goes beyond friendship, then we will both know, but I would be lying if I said you don't intrigue me.

Freya: [intrigue is good, but she's not getting her hopes up. And she also knows that she's not in a place where she can promise that. So as much as she wants to sink into the familiar she knows that she needs to figure out her own head first] I'm not opposed to being friends. But I think I need time first. [to fully grieve that part of her life and set it to bed once and for all]

Peter: Understandable. [he pauses a moment] You should know, though, that I have a good life here. I think that I'm a better person today than I would have been if I stayed in Beacon Hills. [he smiles softly] While my marriage didn't work, my daughter has given me a new perspective on what it means to live.

Freya: [and she is glad he's had that. But in her mind she's seeing them as points against her. It's a bit hypocritical as the first time they discussed their relationship she told him to let her worry about what she deserved but she can't see anyone wanting to bring her into a good life, a life with a child involved] I'm glad to hear it.

Peter: How do you feel your life has changed from what you remember of the past?

Freya: I left Pasadena earlier than I was supposed to. There were a few years where I ran wild over New Orleans that didn't exist prior, but beyond that ... you were a more recent addition to my life. So not that much changed.

Peter: I seem to remember hearing about some trouble in New Orleans a few years ago. Rumors along the non-human channels.

Freya: There's always trouble in New Orleans. [that city doesn't know how to stay quiet whether it wants to or not] But what you're referring to is someone trying to upset the balance between the French Quarter witches and the bayou wolves. They swiftly learned that while the two may not always get along, they hate intruders even more.

Peter: Ah.

Freya: [nods] Still, Klaus and I found our own fun there for a while. Then he had to go and fall in love. [fortunately, one of the things that remained the same was Klaus and Hayley. Regardless of the shifts to the timeline, they still found their way to each other, unencumbered]

Peter: Leaving you on your own?

Freya: I'm a Mikaelson. I'm never on my own. [there's always another sibling to slide into place] But ... Klaus and I got the worst of our mother. There's a ... very specific kind of bond with that.

Peter: [nods] I only have my sister, but for awhile it was us against the world.

Freya: You must miss her, being all the way across the country.

Peter: Every day. But even if I wanted to go back, Malia's life is here. Plus, I've become a part of the community here. There's not a lot of cryptid representation in the police.

Freya: [she nods] Want to hear something funny?

Peter: Always

Freya: My Peter was a high powered defense attorney. [takes a sip of her wine] Named partner and everything.

Peter: I thought about that, actually. But the hours didn't work with a newborn, so I decided to take a more practical use of my talents and work in a crime lab.

Freya: [she nods] My Peter also wasn't a father.

Peter: Was I still angry at the world, trying to manipulate it all to my will.

Freya: Angry, yes. But it wasn't without direction or purpose. [she finishes her wine before reaching to pour herself another glass] It was one of the things I liked about you.

Peter: The anger or the direction?

Freya: Both. [she leans back in her seat] The idea of doing what needed to be done, rather than worrying over it being right or wrong or rising above. Others weren't going to extend us the same courtesy.

Peter: Oh, I still do that. I just don't let my emotions drive my actions. The one good thing about being a part of the law is that I also know how to avoid it.

Freya: [she raises an eyebrow] Really?

Peter: Of course. I can't legally deal with hunters trying to kill non-human appearing cryptids in town.

Freya: Hmmm. [good to know. And maybe not as different as she thought] Seems to be serving you well.

Peter: Having a good connection to the Price family has helped.

Freya: [she nods] Cora was always good at sniffing them out. And they do like to make themselves useful.

Peter: Well, Stiles and Derek are close friends. The sons of two powerful women in the supernatural community? It was pretty sure to happen.

Freya: In a world where Claudia Stilinski doesn't die young, I suppose.

Peter: [tilts his head] She was supposed to die?

Freya: [she nods] Frontotemporal dementia. Before I intervened, she had maybe a year at most.

Peter: ..... that was what Kate Argent died of.

Freya: [yep. She doesn't flinch, she's just going to take a long sip of her wine and see how far he connects things. This is what she meant by doing what needs to be done]

Peter: [and he gets it a minute later and nods] A better end for all, I say.

Freya: [she nods] I thought so as well. The world was better off without her in it.

Peter: And Stiles, I assume, is better for having his mother in it?

Freya: He seemed fairly happy. It seems he stayed in Beacon Hills longer. In the original timeline he went to Portland once his magic manifested to train with his cousin.

Peter: Good. He seems much more controlled then the child I remember.

Freya: He's a good kid. And he very deeply cared for your niece.

Peter: Well, she's a strong woman, but she takes awhile to open up to people.

Freya: She was then too. In fact, I would say she was worse. He figured it out once - if that's what she wants, I'm sure he'd be able to do it again.

Peter: I will leave that up to them. [thinks] And who knows, if others have the same persistence, there's always a chance those relationships could rekindle in a way that fits this world.

Freya: Perhaps. Only time will tell. [because she was serious about needing time, but she's not completely without hope. that could be a good thing.]

Peter: Of course. And I'm sure I've taken up a good portion of yours tonight. I should be heading home.

Freya: [she nods as she gets up to walk him to the back door. As much as she doesn't know what she's ready for or what will happen between them, actually talking to him has her feeling a bit steadier than she has since she woke up. So as she opens the door, she looks up at him and meaningfully nods] Peter? Thanks for coming.

Peter: [and he will nod and smile] You're welcome. [and off he goes]