Edmund looked out the window of the train as he and his siblings headed back home to gather their things. The bombing had subsided back home so they were permitted to go back for a little while. After their adventurous summer with Professor Kirk and Narnia, he wasn't sure how he would cope with getting back to 'normal' life. Back to school and books when he had just come from being a king in a land of magical creatures. How was he supposed to accept that? The ride home was silent, each of the siblings dealing with their own thoughts. Their life in Narnia had been everything to them, and now they had to come back to being kids and the dreary life of England. The only upside to all of this was seeing their mother again. Edmund remembered how he had left it when they went into the country. All before he had been through his change in Narnia where he was bitter and mad at everyone. As they pulled into the station near home, they all stood and gathered their belongings. Edmund was the first to walk off the train and he scanned the platform for a familiar face. A small woman with short brown hair called out to him and a smile broke onto his face. Forgetting his siblings behind him he swiftly made his way over to his mother and embraced her in a hug. Over the past few months he had grown and was now past her head.

"Oh my sweet boy, look at you! You've grown!" she exclaimed elatedly, holding Edmund by the shoulders. As the other three approached, Mrs. Pevensie rushed over to greet and fawn over them. The siblings chuckled as they watched her flutter about between the four of them.

"Well now, let's head back to the house and get you all taken care of. I want to hear about everything while I have you all." She eagerly told them, linking arms with Susan as they made their way out of the station.

"Well I'm sure we can sum it up for you well enough." Peter assured, sharing a secretive glance with his siblings. Obviously they couldn't share everything.

...

After a calming week at home the siblings were off to the station yet again. This time heading for the boarding schools out in another side of the country. The leaving experience was about the same as last time, emotional and short. As the four of them walked up to the school Edmund couldn't help but stare up at the drab walls forlornly. Was this what everything had come down to? To be stuck in a place like this, away from the beauty of Narnia? How long were they going to have to wait on Aslan for them to call back? He was ready now.

"Something wrong Ed?" Peter asked, noticing his brother's pained expression. Susan and Lucy glanced over at him curiously from his other side.

"Just, I don't know if I can do all of this again Pete. Not after everything we have been through." Edmund admitted to them. Peter and Susan shared a look. They knew exactly what he was struggling with. It hit the three of them seemingly harder than Lucy. She was the one who had unwavering faith that they would go back soon enough.

"It will be alright Edmund." Lucy comforted, sincerity shining in her eyes. Edmund shook his head in frustration and started walking forward again. He spun around wildly and looked back at the other three who were watching silently.

"No I don't think it will! How can he expect us to just jump right back into things back here! I don't think I can stand it." He argued. The boy went to turn and grab his case that he had dropped but instead he found himself knocked to the ground by some unknown force. As he hit he could hear a feminine 'oof' from beside him. He had run into a girl. Remembering his manners, Edmund frantically sat up and began helping the girl pick up her belongings that had fallen from her satchel.

"Oh I'm so sorry are you…." He trailed off as he looked up into the prettiest grey eyes he had ever laid seen.

"…ok?" he eventually breathed out, startled by the jolt of emotions that rushed through him in seeing her. The girl was just as stunned as she stared back at him, a small blush crossing her pale face.

"Yea, I'm fine. Are you?" she quietly asked, brushing back a strand of her straight copper blonde hair. Edmund took notice that it was more on the red side than blonde, but not fully auburn. It was unique to find someone with that hair color around these parts. Shaking himself of the thoughts running around wildly in his head, Edmund picked up the rest of her book and stood up before offering his hand for her. Blushing slightly again she timidly grasped his hand and stood up.

"Thank you, you didn't have to pick those up." She told him, glancing over at the books in his hands. Edmund furrowed his brows in confusion.

"Huh?" he asked, staring at her slightly shorter form. His heart sped up a beat when she smiled up at him in amusement.

"My books…..that you picked up for me….you know the ones in your hands? Unless you planned on stealing them or something." She joked weakly, letting out a short chuckle at his awestruck expression.

"Oh of course!" he exclaimed in embarrassment, handing over her belongings for her to put back in the satchel. She bit her lip shyly as she watched an embarrassed blush morph over his cheeks, making the freckles that dotted them more prominent. She couldn't deny that this boy was quite handsome, making her even more nervous that she would normally be with strangers.

"You're not from around here are you?" he asked her as an afterthought. The lilt in her voice wasn't quite the British accent he was accustomed to.

"No, I'm actually from Ireland. Moved here a couple years ago." She admitted clasping her hands in front of her.

"I could tell. You have a nice accent though." Edmund assured. He smiled down at her when she blushed again.

"Thanks." She told him, brushing her long bangs away from her face as they had fallen when she ducked her head. The two stood in awkward silence for a few more seconds, fidgeting as they thought of where to go with this conversation.

"I'm Edmund. Edmund Pevensie." He introduced himself, sticking out his hand for her to shake. The beauty smiled back at him.

"Raelyn O'Brien." She took his hand and gave it a shake. A lough cough shook the two of them out of their trance. From just behind them Raelyn noticed three others staring at them with smug expressions. She immediately ducked her head in embarrassment. They had been watching the interaction the whole time. Edmund cleared his throat and gestured to his siblings.

"Raelyn these are my siblings. Peter, Susan and Lucy. Everyone this is Raelyn." He quickly introduced, glaring at Peter's teasing expression. He knew that he wasn't going to hear the end of this. All throughout their golden years he had been at the topic of their jests, as no one had ever caught his eye. And now he was going to be the butt of the jokes once again for the opposite reason. The siblings politely waved and greeted the girl.

"Well it was nice to meet you all but I think I should get going. School and all that you know." She stuttered, starting to backtrack towards the dorms behind her.

"Well seeing as you're new, we can help show you around." Susan offered with a gentle smile. Lucy eagerly nodded in agreement and dashed off to link arms with the girl.

"I would appreciate it very much." She giggled shyly.

"Goodbye Edmund." She called as the three girls began walking away and back towards the St. Finbar dormitories. Edmund waved back dumbly and stood there as they disappeared out of sight. Peter slapped a hand on his younger brother's shoulder with a smug grin.

"I think you'll manage just fine Ed." He quipped knowingly and grabbed Edmund's jacket, leading the way across the street to their own boarding house. He had a strong feeling that they would be seeing quite a lot of Raelyn in the coming months.