Disclaimer: I own nothing except for Ester.
Ester sat in the living room of her moms new home. It was still in Finchley but it was a house built for two. Although, it would only hold one while Ester was away at school. Esters grandmother, Polly, had passed away two weeks ago leaving both Ester and Dolores shattered. They moved away from the house that was filled with memories that were just too painful to deal with everyday, especially since Dolores would be alone most of the time. Ester and Dolores had moved in three days ago. Ester was glad to be home, even though she would miss the fresh country air. Professor Kirk had become very present in Ester's life after she returned home. Esters grandmother and Professor Kirk had gotten back to writing each other frequently. He had gone to Polly's funeral as well. Polly's death weighed down heavily on Esters shoulders.
But Ester still had Peter. Peter could walk and see her whenever he'd like, and she could do the same. Such thought brought them both joy but Ester was always soon grounded by a thought of Polly. Ester was on the track to cheering up though. She loved her grandmother, and they were very close but Ester knew for a fact that Polly would want Esters spirits high. A knock on the door brought Ester out of her thoughts. Ester ran to the door and pushed the curtain that covered the window on the door slightly to the side. Ester saw Peter looking at a piece of paper, most likely the one she'd written her address on and sent with her last letter. She smiled and opened the door pulling Peter inside quickly.
Peter had her up against the wall within seconds after he realized what was happening. Peter's kisses were needy and hard against her lips. It was almost as if he was trying to cram in half a years worth of kisses. Between kisses Peter was telling her just how much he loved her. Both of the teens missed each other, and not just emotionally but physically as well. They went from married and sleeping in the same bed every night to seeing each other every now and then. Ester could barely handle it and she doubted Peter felt any better about it. Ester's hands were on his hips as his gripped her cheeks to keep her close to him; it was almost as if he was afraid she would disappear if he let go.
"Peter dear, lovely to see you." Dolores said entering the house making the two teens pull apart in shock.
"Mum!" Ester wailed clearly embarrassed by the situation.
"Hi, Ms. Plummer." Peter said looking down at his feet as a child in trouble would.
"Hello, would you mind grabbing the rest of the grocery's from the car, Peter?" Dolores asked and Peter nodded rushing from the room quickly.
"Mum, that was so embarrassing." Ester said quietly while Peter wasn't around.
"What was I suppose to do? Wait until you two noticed me? You looked rather busy." Dolores said shaking her head. "You'll get to see him all school year anyway. When are you leaving for the train station?"
"Tomorrow at nine in the morning." Peter said with two paper bags in his arms.
"I can assume you'll go with her." Dolores said and Peter nodded passing them and entering the hallway that led to the kitchen.
"Aren't you meeting that man from the grocery tonight?" Ester asked dying to change the subject.
"In an hour, for dinner." Dolores said smiling lightly. "I have to get ready. I'll make you some breakfast in the morning, love. Make sure to pack your trunk tonight." Dolores said walking up the stairs backwards to maintain visual contact with Ester.
"Of course." Ester said and Peter walked back into the room. "We're going to get sundaes!" Ester called up the stairs so her mother would hear. "Come on." Ester smiled and grabbed Peters hand; she tugged him along behind her. While passing the small table by the door Ester grabbed a handful of money. Peter quickly quickly swatted it out of her hands.
"It's on me." Peter said opening the door for his girlfriend.
"I can pay for myself." Ester said sternly and Peter just smiled closing the door behind them.
"You can, but you won't." Peter said enclosing his hand around her smaller one. He liked people knowing they were together, specifically the guys.
Ester and Peter chatted as they walked down the cracked sidewalk. Ester had lived in Finchley all her life but had never heard of the little diner Peter talked so highly of. Ester admired the smile that would constantly appear on Peter's face when he talked about stuff he likes or is passionate about. His smile lit up his whole face making a smile appear on Ester's face as well. They were walking happily until they reached a white building with a big red cursive sign that read Peggie's. Ester let Peter walk her over to a booth. She sat down while Peter went to get their milkshakes.
Ester was being stared at by a couple of girls who were sending glares every now and then. It took Ester a minute to realize they were doing it when Peter wasn't looking. Peter returned with two glasses. Ester looked at the two pink drinks in awe. They were adorable. They were both light pink with white whipped cream towered on top. Speared through the cream was a striped red and white straw and on top of the cream tower was a single cherry. Ester took a sip of hers and fell in love. She looked back up mid sip and saw the girls glaring at her.
"You seem quite popular around here." Ester remarked nodding to the girls.
"What?" Peter asked and turned around just as the girls got giggly and smiley. "Oh, the one in the middle is Jessica. She's had some kind of crush on me for a while now." Peter said while he grinned and switched to the same side of the booth as Ester. "Are you jealous?" He asked getting closer to her ear.
"No, don't be daft." Ester said waving him off but he put his arm around her and held her tightly.
"I love you." Peter mumbled resting his forehead on the side of her head. Peter waited for a moment but Ester didn't reply, she merely drank more of her milkshake. "I'll hold my breath until you say it back." Peter said before puffing out his cheeks and staring at her.
"Alright, Alright, I love you too. Breath you lunatic." Ester laughed pushing him away slightly and he retreated to the other side of the booth again. "Do you think we'll go back?"
"Ester, now? Between you and Lucy, I never hear the end of it!" Peter said already getting frustrated with the conversation.
"You can't tell me you don't think about it." Ester replied stirring her shake with the straw.
"Once in a while I do. I think about us, and I miss being married to you ... among other things." Peter said winking at Ester. She kicked his leg under the table and he laughed. "You're right, that wasn't just in Narnia, you couldn't keep your hands off at the Professors house." Peter said between laughs and Ester kicked him again with a smile herself. "Stop hitting me!"
"Hello, Peter." Jessica said appearing by the side of their table.
"Hullo, Jessica." Peter said politely trying to hide his annoyance of having his 'date' with Ester interrupted.
"Who's this?" Jessica asked staring Ester down.
"This beautiful girl is Ester, my girlfriend." Peter said winking at Ester smoothly.
"Since when?" Jessica asked with a seriously offended looking face.
"Little over a year now." Peter said after nearly saying over fifteen years.
Jessica let out a snort like sound before walking back over to her friends. Jessica and her friends left the diner all with the same scrunched up face. Once the door shut Ester turned her attention back to Peter. Peter laughed as soon as she was gone and Ester smacked his arm gently as if telling him not to be rude.
"She's a loon!" Peter said not caring if anyone heard.
"Oh, Peter." Ester shaking her head. "So, how's the family?"
"They're good, after our drink we have to go see them. Lucy really misses you." Peter said and smiled. "The others do as well of course, and mum is dying to meet you. I think she might stroke if she doesn't meet you by supper." Peter said and he smiled brightly at Ester. "I almost forgot, mum's invited you over for dinner. Since Ms. Plummer is out for dinner you're free as a bird."
"I'd love to have dinner with your family, Pete." Ester said.
"It's your family too." Peter said after a brief silence. "You know that."
"I know love, it just feels like it was all a dream." Ester said looking down at the table. Peter smiled sympathetically.
"It's like you said before. We get two lives together. No one else will get that." Peter reassured making Ester smile slightly. "Although, I don't see how we could top our first wedding. Wasn't that a party."
Peter and Ester enjoyed their milkshakes and each others company for just under an hour before they went on their way to Peter's home. They talked of Peter's mother on the whole way back to his house. Ester had been back home for just over two months and she'd yet to meet Peter's mother, or even go to his home. So much had happened that she'd barely even seen Peter in that time. He'd always brought up his mom and how he'd met Ester's mother so Ester should meet his. Ester always wanted to but something always came up.
Ester enjoyed the feeling of Peter's hand entwined with her own. They were just two houses down from where Peter lived when Lucy burst out of their house and ran towards the pair. Her arms wrapped around Lucy's waist and her head landed on Ester's chest. Lucy grabbed Esters free hand a started to drag the pair towards the house. The short walk was filled with Lucy talking about how excited she, and her mum both were. Edmund and Susan were also happy that Ester was coming around. Ester entered the Pevensie household with a smile. She was instantly overwhelmed with the smell of apple pie.
"I told mum you may be allowed to join us for dinner and she's been fussing about ever since." Peter whispered into Esters ear making her smile.
"She wants you to like her." Lucy said rushing into another room. Probably to tell her mother that Ester had arrived.
"It's probably my fault. I told her how wonderful you are." Peter cooed.
Moments later Lucy returned and asked Peter to go with her to the corner store to pick up some bread. Peter nodded and kissed Ester on the check. He jokingly ordered her to make herself at home. Ester then looked around the narrow entryway of their home. There was a small coat rack, and a little line of shoes. There was a brown staircase attached to the wall on the right of the hall. There was a cozy living room to her left with a nice big window and worn looking green couch. As Ester moved down the hallway she looked at the pictures lining the hallway. They were mostly of the Pevensie children growing up but there were a few of Mr. and Mrs. Pevensie and what looked like grandparents.
Susan then turned around the corner and smiled brightly at Ester. She gestured for Ester to follow her into the kitchen and Ester did. Mrs. Pevensie looked like she'd been in the kitchen for hours. She had a floral apron tied tightly around her thin frame to protect her brown button down shirt and matching skirt. Her hands were covered with green oven mitts that looked as if they'd been through a lot of meals. They were burnt in some places and stained in others.
"Mum, this is Ester." Susan said leading Ester over. Mrs. Pevensie took off her oven mitts and set them by the stove.
"Ester, dear, it's so lovely to meet you." Mrs. Pevensie said sticking out her hand for Ester to shake. Ester shook her hand and Mrs. Pevensie rested her free hand on top of the handshake. "Between Lucy and Peter I feel like I know you as good as either of them!"
"She's not kidding, Peter feels the need to briefly mention you in any conversation." Susan said.
"Peter has never really taken such a shining to someone. Come with me, Susan love, watch the chicken." Mrs. Pevensie said untying the apron from around her waist and setting it in near the oven mitts.
"Yes mum." Susan said sitting down at the kitchen table. She picked up a book and opened it to her last page.
"As Peter's mother," Mrs. Pevensie led her through the dining room and into the living room she saw earlier. "I feel it my duty to show you his baby photographs."
Ester sat on the couch and crossed her legs. She rested her hands on her knees. Ester was rather excited to see Peter when he was younger. Ester was always happy to learn something about Peter. Mrs. Pevensie walked to a little shelf and pulled out a brown photo album. Ester watched Mrs. Pevensie walk back over and sit next to the younger girl. Mrs. Pevensie opened the book and began to talk and point out Peter's childhood milestones.
"Mum, no!" Peter whined from the doorway. He held a brown bag in his arm.
"Peter, I'm just showing her your past. Don't you want her to know your past?" Mrs. Pevensie said crossing her arms.
Peter slouched and walked into the kitchen as to avoid an argument with his mother. Ester could hear a distressed mumble coming from the other room. Ester guessed Peter was telling Susan what their mother was doing. Esters suspicions were practically confirmed when she heard Susan laugh. If Mrs. Pevensie heard it, she had ignored it. Mrs. Pevensie then began to talk about when Peter was ten and fell off his his bike. Apparently, he threw a great fit.
"It took his father an hour to calm him down." Mrs. Pevensie laughed at the memory. "Even then he held a pout for the rest of the day."
"Mum! Chickens done!" Susan called from the other room. Mrs. Pevensie put the book away and rushed into the kitchen.
Ester made her way back through the dining room and saw that the rest of the food had made it's way onto the table along with pitcher or juice and a pitcher of water. Peter was leaning against the door facing the kitchen with his hands in the pockets on his trousers. Ester walked passed him and asked if they needed any help. Mrs. Pevensie told Ester that everything was fine and she should go wash up.
"I'll show you to the bathroom. Come on." Peter said taking his hand out of his pocket and stretching it out for her.
Ester grabbed it and Peter lead her down the hallway and up the stairs. The bathroom was the middle door on the right side. Ester walked in and washed her hands quickly before walking back into the hallway where Peter had stayed to wait for her. Peter smiled at her and she returned it.
"What do you think of my mum?" Peter asked giving Ester a hug.
"She's lovely." Ester said.
"She likes you. I can see it all over her face." Peter said and then pulled away.
"Well, good." Ester smiled as the two of them rejoined the rest of the Pevensie's in the dining room.
"Lucy, run and fetch Ed, would you?" Mrs. Pevensie asked carrying the now carved chicken over to the table.
"Sure, mum." Lucy said dashing out of the room.
"Ester, I've added a place setting right next to Peter." Mrs. Pevensie said smiling. "Go on, everyone take a seat." Mrs. Pevensie instructed as Lucy returned.
"You mean to tell me Ester has been here, and no one told me?" Edmund asked walking into the room with a smile. "I'm only kidding, but it is really nice to see you. It's weird not seeing you everyday anymore."
During dinner Mrs. Pevensie kept a stream of questions going towards Ester. She asked about her parents, her new house, and her schooling. Peter was the only one who looked frustrated. Ester kept giving him reassuring pats on the knee just to tell him that she wasn't nervous or upset. After dinner was finished Lucy and Susan went to the dishes while Ed and Peter went to putting everything away. Mrs. Pevensie called Ester out to the backyard for a glass of lemonade and a chat.
At first she talked about nothing in particular. A book she'd recently read, how supper turned out, but then she brought up the topic of Peter. Lately he'd had a temper and Mrs. Pevensie was getting worried about him. Ester promised to keep an eye on him and try to talk to him about it. Mrs. Pevensie thanked her. Peter then stuck his head out the window and offered to walk Ester home. It was getting pretty late and tomorrow would be a long day. Ester said her goodbyes to everyone but especially to Mrs. Pevensie, as Ester wouldn't see her tomorrow.
"I don't think I told you how beautiful you look today." Peter said as they walked down the sidewalk.
"You don't have to say it everyday." Ester chuckled fiddling with the hem of her shirt.
"Not everyday, just everyday I see you." Peter smiled.
Peter walked her up to her front door. When she was about to open the door he grabbed her hand and pulled her closer. Peter gave her a quick kiss on the lips which made a blush arise on her cheeks.
"Goodnight love, I'll see you in the morning." Peter said.
"Goodnight."