CHAPTER FORTY-ONE —
( Daydreaming about Lydia. )

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Peter couldn't help himself from staring at Lydia's retreating figure as she hurried after her six year old daughter. His eyes fluttered shut as he savoured the feeling of the warm sun on his pale skin and tuned out the sound of his friends chattering around him, focusing on the birds chirping. He released a relaxed sigh, leaning back on his forearms.

"He's probably daydreaming about Lydia again," Scott commented, nudging Peter's side.

Peter let out a small huff in response, a faint smile finding its way onto his face. He was serene in that moment. His eyes flew open when Jean poked a slender finger into his thigh.

"What?" He grumbled playfully, sitting up.

"Charles said you wanted to speak to him; well, he's free now," Jean smiled, resting her head on Sophia Drake's roommate, Ivy Mitchell's, shoulder.

Peter nodded, and like that, he was gone, speeding through the mansion's hallways. He skidded to a halt in front of Charles' office and raised his hand to deliver a firm knock on the wood. He dropped his hand, digging it into his leather pants. He heard a gruff "come in" from the other side of the door and pushed it open before slowly sitting down into the seat in front of the big mahogany desk. Peter cautiously met his mentor and girlfriend's brother's eyes.

"So, you wanted my help with your...issue with Lydia?" Charles smirked, leaning forward on his elbows, oddly resembling someone eager for gossip, which, in a way, he was.

"Erm, yeah. I think I'm in love with her," Peter replied. "Everything she does...leaves me in a trance of sorts. I find myself always looking for her in a crowd, even when we're fighting. My mind should be on other things, but it always goes back to her. I can't get her off my mind, Professor, and I don't know what to do. I've never felt anything like this, and it petrifies me." Peter croaked, eyes getting slightly moist with tears.

"Then why are you telling her brother this and not her?" Charles queried, raising an eyebrow and smiling softly at the twenty-nine-year-old.

"I'm terrified of rejection," Peter admitted. "What if she doesn't feel the same? I don't want her to say she loves me out of pity. I mean, there's nothing extraordinary about me. Why would she love me back?" He asked. "She's strong, beautiful, a genuinely nice person. Why would she go for a guy like me?"

"You'll never know unless you take a risk, Peter," Charles said softly, knowing his younger sister's feelings towards the silver-haired speedster. "You'll never know how she feels until you tell her how you feel."

Peter glanced down, hiding his eyes from the older man. He had always feared rejection; it was his weakness, but perhaps Charles Xavier was right. He'd never honestly know if Lydia loved him back if he didn't take the risk. Yes, there was a chance that she wouldn't — not yet, at least — but what if she did? What if she felt the same but was too scared to confess it to him alone? He'd never know until he took the risk.

Peter let out an exasperated sigh before meeting Charles' eyes again. He nodded, finally overcoming the fear slightly. He had to do this.

"Thank you, but how would you advise me to do it? I can't just go up to her and say that I'm in love with her; that's...unromantic," Peter scratched his cheeks to hide the slight blush, feeling stupid.

"Call me old-fashioned, but I think taking her on a date and perhaps a small walk around the property would suffice," Charles smiled.

"Hmm, thank you, I'll do that." Peter waited until Charles nodded before rushing off.

Charles chuckled to himself. That man...

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Lydia glanced up from her book to see papers flying around. She sighed, closing her book after marking the page and leaning back, awaiting the arrival of her kleptomaniac boyfriend.

"Hey, Lyds," Peter smiled, perching himself on her bed.

"Hey, Speedy," Lydia mimicked, the corners of her mouth twitching upwards as she fought the smile that was daring to show.

"Are you free tonight?" Peter asked, playing with the end of his Pink Floyd shirt.

"I believe so," Lydia replied. "Why do you ask, Mister Maximoff?"

"Er — I just thought we could take a walk around the mansion?" Peter said. "I mean, there's so much I haven't seen that maybe you could give me a tour? Especially around the garden?"

Lydia smiled and nodded. "Okay. Sounds good."

Peter smiled brightly, the type of smile that made Lydia's heart flutter, his dimple digging into his cheek and the corners of his eyes crinkling.

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Lydia pulled her sweater sleeves over her hands as she organised her room, waiting for Peter to show up. She placed her books back on her shelf and sat on her bed, glancing at her watch. What was taking him so long? The door swung open, revealing a slightly sweaty and pink Peter. Lydia couldn't withhold the giggle bubbling in her throat at the sight of him.

"I'm sorry I'm late. Come on, put your shoes on," Peter ordered playfully, leaning against the threshold. "And where's Avery?"

"She's befriended a new mutant her age. They're downstairs in the living room playing Uno," Avery told him.

"Ah," Peter hummed. Lydia looked back at Peter and smiled at his appearance.

He wasn't wearing his usual attire, but a pair of washed out blue jeans with a rip at the knee and an oversized sweater. Lydia's smile grew even more as she soaked in his appearance, even his hair was different — fluffier.

Lydia and Peter made their way towards the lake when Peter finally plucked up the courage to come clean about how he felt. Lydia was staring ahead across the lake, admiring the setting sun, but Peter's eyes were trained on her face.

"Erm...Lydia, what I'm about to say could be potentially embarrassing for me, but I can't keep it to myself anymore," Peter began.

Lydia stopped looking at the scenery and turned around to look at him, eyebrows knitted together and a small frown evident, although a smile was threatening to coat her beautiful face because she knew what he was going to say.

"I-I think I love you," Peter admitted, casting his eyes downwards. "I was planning on taking you to the other side of the lake for an — err — picnic, but I couldn't hold it in any longer."

Lydia smiled lightly but tapped her ear as if she didn't hear him. "You what?"

Peter sighed. "I love you; I don't think that I love you; I know that I love you. I can't live without you. Everything you do is so perfect and entrancing. You're always on my mind, no matter what I do. I love you."

Peter waited for a reply from the female when Lydia suddenly planted her hands on his cheeks and smashed their lips together in a heated kiss. Peter stumbled backwards slightly, eyes fluttering shut before wrapping his arms tightly around Lydia's waist, pulling her even closer. He hummed against her lips. Lydia's lips were soft against his chapped ones, warm. He wished they could remain like that forever, wrapped in each other's embrace and kissing lovingly, not with a care in the world.

Lydia was the one to pull away, resting her forehead against Peter's. Their noses occasionally bumping, their breath mingling. She could still taste him on her tongue, and he could taste her on his.

"About time," Lydia chuckled, draping her arms around his neck. "I love you, too, Peter."

Peter sighed in relief. "Thank god, because I thought you would reject me."

Lydia gave Peter a guilty smile. "I know you did." When Peter frowned, Lydia tapped her forehead. "I'm a telepath, remember? I've heard all your internal debates about whether or not you should tell me for the past few weeks."

Peter smiled lightly and rolled his eyes. "Of course. Stupid of me to forget."

Lydia smiled brightly before placing their foreheads against each other's. "I love you, Peter," she mumbled.

Peter smiled back. "And I love you, Lydia."

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AUTHORS NOTE
I've got some bonus chapters I've decided to add between Apocalypse and Dark Phoenix so that it's not just a random eight-year time jump between their relationship 🕺🏻
Don't forget to comment and tell me what you think!!
Pheebs / -rosepetal