Title: You Had Me From Hello
Author: Jason Lundy
Some months ago someone requested that a Fanfic be written that had more
of Peter and Assumpta's thoughts and feelings. It has been more difficult
than we thought because I constantly had to fight my husbands desire to
shoot Father Mac, have him run over by Brian's golf course lawn mower or
give him a heart attack while in a compromising situation with Kathleen.
Series 3 before all the angst and rotten ending.
'You had me from hello'
This was turning out to be a terrible day. Peter had had another one of
those dreams last night. It had seemed so real. When he woke and saw that
it was only 1:30, he knew that it would be hours before he could drift off
again, and it was, falling to sleep only minutes before the alarm. When it
sounded it left him startled and jittery, feeling out of sync all morning.
Even when he was saying mass his thoughts began to wander, drifting back
to events in the dream. He had to make an effort to pull himself back. He
wondered if any of the half dozen congregation had noticed. He was
embarrassed and ashamed. In the afternoon he was called out to the home of
one of the mountainy men. The tiny house had been cramped, far from clean
and full of strange overpowering odors. Soon after he left the mountainy
man the car began to act up. He coaxed it for several miles before it quit
all together, at least 10 miles from town. Generally he enjoyed a good
walk, but he had little sleep last night, it was pouring rain and of
course he was wearing the wrong shoes. He sat in the car for sometime
hoping for either the rain to let up or for someone to pass by. Finally
without hope of rescue, he started out. It would be long dark by the time
he reached town. His mind turned again to Assumpta. It was bad enough when
she had only haunted his nights, but now she was taking over the days as
well. He gave in and let the fantasy play as he walked. About a mile from
town a farmers van stopped for him. When it dropped him off he realized he
didn't have his house key. Peter turned and trudged down the street. The
warm beckoning glow from Fitzgeralds windows put him at ease for the first
time all day.
Assumpta had, had little business all day. The heavy rain had kept people
home. It was now, when she was alone, the bar closed that she realized how
much she missed having someone to share her life. Why did she stay in this
tiny town where couples were chosen almost from birth, and there had never
been someone for her. Why wasn't there someone for her. Peter. How
different things might have been, should be. Her thoughts turned to him so
often lately. Yesterday they had been talking, she had looked into his
green eyes and lost all track of the conversation. What would it be like
to kiss him. Hold him. Luckily they hadn't been alone, she didn't need the
whole town to know what she felt. She had already locked the door, she
might just as well go up to bed. Not that she would sleep, for months now
Peter had been showing up in her dreams. He was getting in to the habit of
doing some very unpriestly things. There might not be a ghost of a chance
for the waking Peter and Assumpta but the dream ones were doing nicely,
thank you. She stepped into the kitchen to turn off the light when she
heard a tapping at the door. A customer. Too late, she wasn't in the mood.
They'd just have to go home.
The door was locked. Was nothing ever going to go right today. He knocked
lightly on the door. Assumpta opened it:
A: Peter, you're soaked, come in
P: Thanks, I was afraid you were closed
A: What's happened to you?
P: My car quit on me again
A: Let me get you a drink and a towel
P: Lovely
A: How long were you out in that rain
Peter took off his shoes and jacket. After drying off he helped Assumpta
push the chairs closer to the fire. For over an hour they sat and talked.
Sitting there watching him, she thought this is how it should be. The two
of them by the fire, talking, being that missing part of the others life.
He was exhausted. He closed his eyes. She felt a huge wave of affection
for him. Right now he really did look like that young boy she was always
on to Niamh about.
Peter had hardly closed his eyes when the dream began. Assumpta was
calling his name, her hand on his shoulder, he fought it but his eyes
opened. There she was, only inches away. He wanted to reach out for her,
but he didn't.
A: Peter, why don't you stay here tonight. Any room you want.
He stood slowly, they exchanged a very charged look, his hand took hers.
They stood for several seconds just looking at each other. He pulled her
close, kissing her lightly and then with a fierceness that surprised her.
She stopped thinking and he stopped fighting his conscience. After a while
they went upstairs outside her bedroom door she broke off the kiss.
A: Still time to change your mind
His answer was another kiss, he opened the door and carried her through.
She had made love with other men but this was different. She felt a
connection to Peter that would make any other man irrelevant. She was
truly in love with Peter.
He kissed her again, he saw a look in her eyes that he had never
recognized before. Peter knew that this was where he was meant to be. Home
was here in her arms.
Morning Fitzgeralds kitchen, Peter and Assumpta are sitting at the table.
P: You know, you had me from hello.
A: What!
P: That first day, in the rain, when you stopped for me, I thought you
were probably the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen
A: What do we do now Peter, you're still a priest?
P: Fr Mac will be back from his conference on Friday. I'll give him my
letter of resignation then
A: There will be an awful lot of talk
P: If Niamh could take the pub, we could go away for a while
A: Are we going to tell anyone about us?
P: Lets wait
Exterior early morning Assumpta is putting suitcases in van, hugs Niamh
A: Don't let Kieran forget his auntie Assumpta
N: What are you going to do with yourself
A: I'll tell all when I get back
Assumpta drops the keys into Niamh's hand
A: Just don't burn it down
Assumpta looks back at Fitzgerald's then at the town, catches her breath,
gets in the van waves and slowly drives away.
Day interior Fr Mac's study
P: I've made my decision
FR. Mac: I hate to see a priest of your ability throw his vocation away
especially on someone like Assumpta Fitzgerald.
Peter stands leans across his desk
P: I realize that you think I'm making a mistake, but I wont have you
saying anything against Assumpta, she's blameless in this
FR. Mac: Women like Assumpta are never....
Peter reaches out pokes Fr Mac's lapel
P: Not another word...ever. You have my letter of resignation please
forward it to the bishop.
Peter crosses to the door
P: I love the church Father and you know that I really made every effort
to get along with you. But if I ever hear one thing against Assumpta my
respect wont stop me from coming back here.
Peter exits. Fr Mac gets very red in the face, gasps for breath and grabs
his chest with one hand and fumbles for the pills with the other.
Cut to exterior of Fr Mac's house, Peter slams door and walks out to
Assumpta's van, takes a deep breath gets in.
Interior of van
A: I wont ask
P: Good
A: Are you okay
P: I am now. I thought for a minute I might throttle him
A: Why
P: Doesn't matter, he's no longer a thorn I have to bare
A: Where to
P: 3 of my former fellow seminarians said they would marry us. All we have
to do is decide which one
They turn look at each other with sudden revelation
A&P: Tim MacAnally
Weeks later
Night interior bedroom, dark phone rings, hand fumbles to answer
P: Hello
N: Is this the number for Assumpta Fitzgerald?
P: Just a moment
Peter turns on the light hands Assumpta the phone mouths "Its Niamh"
A: Hello Niamh
N: Assumpta how did you know it was me
A: Is everybody okay?
N: Were fine but there's a problem with the bar
A: What
N: We had an electrical fire tonight
A: Was anyone hurt
N: No but the bars a mess
A: Can you have Brian start things for the insurance?
N: Assumpta who answered the phone??
Weeks later
Morning exterior Garda house. Door opens Niamh steps out heads toward
Kathleen's shop, sees Assumpta's van parked by Fitzgerald's. Goes in shop,
hurries out with small purchase. Goes back into her house, back out,
crosses street unlocks door to Fitzgeralds. It didn't look like Assumpta
was up yet. Niamh was so glad Assumpta was home she could hardly wait to
talk. She walked into the kitchen and put the kettle on. She made two cups
of tea and started upstairs. She had her eyes on the cups as she entered
and didn't look up until she was fully in the room.
Assumpta had heard the downstairs door. She climbed out of bed, and put on
a robe. She had to intercept Niamh before she stumbled across Peter. As
she passed the bed Assumpta saw Peter was awake. His hand reached out for
hers, he pulled her over for a kiss. It was quite a kiss.
N: Assumpta....Oh my God! Niamh's shouted and the crashing cups broke their
kiss. Niamh quickly back peddled out of the room and down the stairs.
A: Niamh, wait, Niamh!!
Niamh had almost reached the door when Assumpta caught her.
A: Niamh, please wait.
N: Assumpta a priest!
Peter comes downstairs pulling on a shirt.
P: Shall I make some more tea. We need to talk.
Cut to interior kitchen Peter making tea
P: Its good to see you Niamh, how are Ambrose and my namesake.
N: They're fine. Oh my God....
Assumpta goes to stand by Peter, he takes her hand
P: Assumpta put her mind to rest. Assumpta looks at him and chuckles..
A: I haven't fallen quite as far a you seem to think Niamh, Peter left the
church two months ago.
Exterior night Fitzgeralds sign on door "Grand Reopening Tonight" cut to
interior totally redecorated, very crowded. Assumpta behind bar, rings
bell, raises hand.
A: A bit of hush if you will. First, I am very glad to be home. I've missed
you all. Second, Brian what a wonderful job on the bar. The place never
looked so good. Its nice to have toilets that flush, lights that don't
start fires and the redecorating you did on my private rooms upstairs is
lovely. Third, Niamh you are my best friend, if it wasn't for you Id be
lost. Now for the most important item. As only a few of you know while I
was away I visited Fr Mac's nephew Fr Tim. He was generous enough to
perform my wedding. Since I couldn't invite you all to the wedding, I
thought we could call tonight the reception. Niamh if you'll open the
kitchen door Id like to introduce the Groom.
The kitchen door opens and Peter steps out. Everyone brakes into applause
and cheers.
P: A round on the house he says.
No one notices for a while, by then it was to late..
Over in the corner Fr Mac had grabbed his chest and slumped over!?!?
THE END
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