Re: Say the Words - ch.29 -- The Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman Fan Exchange

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Date Posted: 07:03:40 03/26/03 Wed
Author: dqfan
Subject: Re: Say the Words - ch.29
In reply to: dqfan 's message, "Re: Say the Words - ch.28" on 07:00:17 03/26/03 Wed

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

"Gone?" Shelby quickly lowered her voice, anticipating a full-scale Cliffhangers assault if the news became public. "What do you mean she's gone?"

"It seems�Sophie has taken a little trip�" Daisy hedged, wary to reveal such a catastrophic glitch in her otherwise magnificent plan to ace their final exams.

"So much for our little surprise�" Daisy lamented to Shelby.

"But they're all working on it�" Shelby muttered under her breath. "If we trash it now�God, I need a cigarette�"

"I don't believe this�" Shelby fumed uselessly, turning her back so that the Cliffhangers couldn't see the scowl that was forming on her face. "Your surprise is going to get us all flunked�"

"Oh, it's my surprise now, is it?" Daisy snapped, reminding Shelby of her words. "I seem to remember you calling it brilliant�"

"What's goin' on?" Scott asked, coming up beside Shelby to see what was upsetting her.

"Nothing�" Daisy reassured him overconfidently. "Nothing�"

"Just our usual crash and burn�" Shelby groaned in exasperation.

"Sophie's gone," she informed Scott matter-of-factly, deciding there was no point in postponing the group's inevitable tirade.

"What do you mean 'gone'?" Scott pressed, hoping it didn't mean what he thought it did.

"A little trip�" Daisy repeated reassuringly. "Nothing to worry about�"

"A trip?" Scott repeated suspiciously as, one by one, each Cliffhanger was drawn into the conversation.

"Like alone?" Auggie clarified uneasily. "Like without Peter? Like they've broken up?"

"That's another way of saying it, yes," Daisy admitted, backing slowly toward Ezra, wishing a trap door would swallow her up.

"But, if they don't get married, what about our surprise? What about our grades?" Juliette asked nervously, finally putting two and two together.

"Oh, we're screwed!" Scott shouted, throwing his hands above his head in disgust.

"Man, we never shoulda listened to her," Auggie railed. "Now, we don't got time to do nothin' else�"

"I'm sure it wasn't all Daisy's fault..." Jealous of all the time Daisy had been spending with Ezra lately, David seized the opportunity to direct some of the Cliffhangers' anger in Ezra's direction.

Caring little whether his rival was guilty or not, David relished Ezra's panicked look with spiteful satisfaction.

"E.Z., you know somethin' about this?" Auggie demanded furiously.

"Uh�just that Sophie left a couple of days ago�and�" Daisy and Ezra gulped as a disgruntled pack of Cliffhangers began closing in from all sides.

"Hi guys!" Sophie chimed, unknowingly saving the day by her entrance into the breakfast hall.

Dressed casually in her sweats and carrying a large workout bag over her shoulder, Sophie arrived with an unexpected smile on her face. Her walking cast was the only sign of any visible injury - physical or emotional.

"Sophie!" Daisy and the other Cliffhangers stood rooted to the ground, stunned by Sophie's surprising arrival.

"What?" Sophie seemed perplexed by the less-than-enthusiastic welcome home. "Didn't Frank tell you I'd be back today?"

"Yeah, sure�"
"Must've forgot�"
"We missed you�"
"You look great�"

The flustered replies came fast and furious as each Cliffhanger looked to the other with nervous confusion.

"Well, good," Sophie nodded with a smirk, accepting their quick hugs and well-wishes. "I missed you, too."

"I'm gonna go grab a few minutes with the punching bag while you guys finish breakfast and then I'll meet you at the obstacle course in an hour," Sophie informed them breezily.

"You can show me how much you've improved while I've been gone," she added with a wink.

To Daisy and Ezra's dubious scrutiny, Sophie was acting a little too cheerful, as if she were making a studious effort to disguise her heartache.

"She's overcompensating�" Ezra whispered to Daisy quietly.

"Unquestionably�" Daisy nodded, sizing up the situation.

The others were far less interested in Sophie's motives and were relieved to see her, whatever the reason. It wasn't so much that they didn't care about Peter and Sophie's happiness. They just cared about their own futures more. With Sophie back, there was still a chance the wedding might actually take place. Then, their 'surprise' - a surprise Daisy had so convincingly described as the perfect ticket to their passing grades - could proceed as planned. For now, all they could do was wait�

"Sure�"
"Bye�"
"See ya later�" they chimed, affecting an equally optimistic fa�ade.

As Sophie headed toward the workout shed and her punching bag, the Cliffhangers slumped into their chairs around the table.

"She seemed happy�"
"Maybe it'll be okay?"
"Man, I can't believe you talked us into this�"

Daisy and Ezra accepted each comment and complaint stoically.

Though Ezra hardly relished repeating his senior year at Horizon and Daisy already rued the day she'd been inspired to creatively adapt Peter's homework assignment, each was far more worried about Peter and Sophie personally than about their passing grade. The old woman had been right - Peter and Sophie were lucky to have Daisy and Ezra as friends.

"I think we should give them a little time�" Daisy offered her suggestion cautiously, expecting another outburst.

"Daisy's right�" Ezra concurred eagerly, "After all, Peter�"

"Peter!" Daisy's voice rose noticeably.

"That's what I said, Daise�" Annoyed, Ezra struggled to regain his train of thought as Daisy hit him in the arm and gestured with a nod behind him.

"Peter!" Ezra repeated in a high-pitched squeal, gulping as he gaped directly into Peter's quizzical stare.

"Hi guys�how's it goin?" Suspiciously, Peter looked around at all the guilty faces, wondering what he'd missed.

With few options left to him, Peter had come to the conclusion that he couldn't stay on the couch forever, staring at the phone. He had to face reality and go on with his life, at least until he heard something - anything - from Sophie. But, his demeanor was noticeably subdued and his conversation stilted. Having little energy for any Cliffhangers shenanigans, Peter prayed for a quiet day with no unexpected surprises.

"Fine�"
"Good�"
"No complaints, Man�"

Suddenly, their breakfasts attracted the Cliffhangers undivided attentions and they began digging in with gusto.

"Well, then, finish up and meet me on the blue trail in an hour�" Peter instructed them perfunctorily.

"Oh, but Sophie just told us�" Juliette blurted, as all eyes, including Peter's, shot in her direction.

"Sophie!" Peter pounced on Juliette's words. Though he tried to regain his composure, Peter's shocked expression gave him away in a flash.

"Sophie's here?" Expectantly, Peter gazed from Cliffhanger to Cliffhanger, waiting for an answer.

"Got here a few minutes ago, Man," Scott replied, feeling sorry for Peter. "Told us to meet her at the obstacle course in an hour�"

"She's in the workout shed," Shelby added quietly, never lifting her eyes from her plate.

Daisy and Ezra said nothing, observing the scene with amazing restraint.

Finally, as Peter dashed out of the room, Ezra and Daisy leaned their temples together exhaustedly, side by side, their shoulders touching. Sighing under their breath, they peered wearily into each other's eyes. "We need to talk�"

^^^^^

"Ugh�Ahh�Umpf�" Sophie attacked the punching bag with the fierceness of a prizefighter, all her pent-up frustrations of the last month pouring from within her. Intently, her focus never left the bag - not even when Peter approached, knocking shyly on the aluminum wall as he entered.

Words could not describe the relief Peter felt just being in the same room with her. Sophie had changed from her sweats to the sports bra and biker shorts she'd been wearing underneath. Her hair was piled carelessly atop her head and, though her boxing stance was a little wobbly due to her cast, she was determined to put in a full workout, needing to exercise her body and exorcise her demons.

That she was there, at Horizon, and not halfway across the globe, told Peter more than anything she could say. She hadn't run after all. Maybe Sully had been right? Maybe Sophie wanted to forgive him? Peter struggled to keep his emotions in check, especially one he hadn't felt in ages - hope.

"Kids told me you were here�" he began awkwardly, circling Sophie as she continued punching, ignoring him for the moment.

As Peter came up behind her, a small smile appeared on his face and he bit his lip to keep it from spreading. There, on the punching bag, Sophie had taped his picture - for inspiration, it seemed. Peter cringed, as she inflicted several rapid-fire blows aimed straight at his head.

"Is that the latest? Voodoo punching bags?" he asked, jumping out of Sophie's way as she sparred.

"Whatever works!" she grunted, hitting the bag with renewed force. "That's what I always say�"

"Soph�I'm glad you're here�" Peter began softly.

"I'm here, because I work here, Peter�" Sophie responded with a quick jab this time, hitting his picture forcefully in the shoulder.

"I'm here, because I made a commitment to these kids�" her next punch hit squarely in the photo's chest.

"I'm here, because�" Suddenly releasing all her anger, Sophie's next three words rifled out of her mouth, "I�don't�run!"

Spewed in conjunction with a battery of left and right hooks aimed brutally below the belt, Sophie's message hit "Photo Peter" in his most vulnerable spot.

Peter flinched, inhaling sharply with the force of each pseudo-blow. Silently he mouthed the word "ouch" and protectively stepped back from Sophie's reach. Whoever wrote that, "hell hath no fury" obviously knew Sophie�

"When you're done pulverizing me, do I get a chance to say I'm sorry?" Peter asked lightly, though neither of them was doing a very good job at camouflaging the seriousness of the conversation.

Realizing there were still some things that needed to be said, Sophie took a deep breath, grabbed a towel for around her neck, and turned to face him.

"I know you're sorry, Peter," she admitted sincerely. "I'm sorry, too."

"I'm sorry you didn't trust me�" the hurt in Sophie's eyes broke Peter's heart.

"I was so scared, Soph," Peter's hurt reached Sophie's heart no less deeply.

"Scared I'd run, like always�" Sophie acknowledged with a grim nod.

"We're not perfect, Peter," Sophie continued with a sigh, remembering her father's words. "You're always going to want to feed your addictions and I'm always going to want to run. That's just our nature, no matter how much we wish it weren't."

"The thing is�I thought we loved each other enough to accept those faults in each other�" Sophie's voice drifted as her eyes lowered, finding it too painful to face him.

"I do love you, Sophie," Peter lifted her chin to look deeply into her eyes. "You know that�"

"But you don't trust me, Peter," Sophie choked softly, as tears began welling in her eyes.

"You were so skeptical back at the old homestead," she explained, brushing the tears away swiftly with the back of her hand. This discussion was much too important for her tears to interfere.

"You kept asking me if I was sure�if I really meant it when I said I'd marry you." Cherished memories of their time there brought shy, tender smiles to both their faces.

"You had every right to ask me then�I knew I'd hurt you�" Sophie confessed freely.

"But do you remember what I told you, Peter?" she challenged.

Peter shook his head, unable to think of anything except how sorry he was.

"I said 'yes for now�and yes for ever�'" Sophie repeated her pledge with a faraway sadness in her voice.

"I meant that promise, Peter," she snapped, unable to control her anger and disappointment. "I took that vow as seriously as I would have taken our marriage vows."

The words "would have" filled Peter with dread. He prayed Sophie wasn't about to call off the wedding. She was still wearing his engagement ring and he intended to see that it stayed that way.

"I know you did, Soph," Peter's voice cracked with emotion as he tried to place his hand lovingly on Sophie's shoulder; but she brushed it away, shaking her head ruefully.

"No�no, you didn't," she replied softly. "See, if you had, you would have trusted that I'd never leave you - whether you fell off the wagon again�or whether Mt. St. Helens erupted�or whether my father showed up unexpectedly."

"You wouldn't have lied to me�" she finished quietly, having nothing more to say.

The truth in Sophie's words stung Peter's heart. She was right, of course - about everything. He'd been worrying so much about what Sophie had done in the past, that he'd forgotten the present - the undeniable core of their relationship. He'd forgotten how much they had come to love and need one another. That truth would never change.

Suddenly, Peter realized just what a turning point their time at the old homestead had been for Sophie. Truly, it had been a life-altering experience for her - he could see that now. The homestead was where she first opened up about her troubled childhood, it was where they'd renewed their physical relationship�it was where Sophie had finally stopped running.

If only the revelation had struck Peter a little sooner�

"I'm sorry, Soph," Peter gulped, forcing back his own tears. "I can say it a million times and it won't change how much I hurt you�I know that�"

"But I love you�and I'm not running either," he vowed. "I'm willing to wait for you to forgive me�Earn your trust again�"

"I want to marry you, Sophie," he pledged with all his heart.

Sophie was at a crossroads and she knew it. She could give Peter back his ring now and cancel the wedding. The old Sophie would have done that. It'd be quick, easy, and no harm done. But the past few days of soul-searching had convinced Sophie that if she did that, she would undoubtedly live the rest of her life wondering. Wondering if she had left Peter simply because he lied to her, or because, ultimately, she was just as scared as he was to trust in the power of their love?

Resolutely, Sophie faced her demons and struggled for an acceptable solution.

"I want to marry you, too, Peter�" she professed, bringing a hopeful grin to his face.

"But I need time�" she sighed, wanting to properly express her conflicting feelings. "I think maybe we should take a step back�" she offered in compromise as his face fell.

Wryly, Peter remembered the last time Sophie had asked him to take a step back. She'd been sitting on his kitchen counter, dressed comfortably in only his blue shirt, reading the daily "Dear Agnes" column. It was then that Sophie had decided they needed a friendship relationship first.

Somehow every day with Sophie seemed to consist of one step forward and two steps back, Peter smiled ruefully. But wasn't that what living together and loving each other was all about? Marriage was a dance, a journey�an adventure that should last a lifetime.

"Sure�" Peter agreed, far more willingly than Sophie had expected. "Take all the time you need."

Gently, Peter moved closer, cupping Sophie's cheek in his warm, loving hand. Thrilled that she made no move to stop him, he placed a soft, tempting kiss on her full lips and whispered, "I'll be here�"

The last time Peter attempted to win Sophie back it had taken ingenuity, patience, and a certain hand-carved peace-offering designed to keep away evil spirits. Never one to shirk from a challenge, Peter's mind whirled now as he considered the superhuman efforts it would take to earn her trust all over again.

With his body still so near to Sophie that he could feel her heart beating, Peter was struck with fearless inspiration as he heard Sully's advice resonate suddenly - and loudly - in his head.

Purposefully, and with an unmistakably wicked gleam in his eye, Peter held his position, inches from Sophie's mouth, enjoying the feel of her breath on his face as she exhaled deeply, obviously uneasy at his extreme closeness. Enticingly, he let his lips brush against hers once again, lingering for perhaps one second longer than he should have, just long enough to arouse Sophie's veiled passions. Then, with a shy smile, Peter abruptly pulled away without another word.

As he walked silently toward the door, Peter congratulated himself on the successful completion of step one in his campaign to winning Sophie back�

After all, now was as good a time as any to "give her a reason�"

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Replies:

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