Precious Moments

Summary: When you're a mother, every moment with your children is precious. You can never know, how many more moments there will be ...

Author's Notes: I've written this in summer, but I kind of fought with it since then ... or fought with myself whether I should post it or not ... here it is now. Hope you'll like it.

This was looked over twice; many, many thanks to awilliamsbbc.98 and JubileeKnight for taking the time :)

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It has been a rainy summer so far, and the upcoming week is promising no change in weather. Helen doesn't mind, not today at least. Not when she is blessed with the pleasure of having her eldest son to come for a visit.

Peter is always busy these days. He is on his way to finish his studies in physics and maths, and unlike his younger brother, who is spending his time off college at home, Peter has engaged himself in a time-consuming summer project at university.

This particular weekend, however, he has managed to get enough off-time to get himself on a train to London and spend a full three days with his family – making up for the fact that he will not make it home for his twenty-third birthday that is about to come up.

Much to Helen's joy she found that Friday afternoon happens to belong just to the two of them with her husband and Susan still at work, Edmund still out in the park (probably playing one of his silly ball games) and Lucy visiting a friend for tea.

Giving her eldest a fond look Helen puts tea and biscuits on the table. The boy looks exhausted, she thinks.

Sitting at the small kitchen table, Peter watches quietly as Helen fills his tea cup up to the brim, but shakes his head when she pushes the tin of biscuits towards him.

"I'd better not," he says with a sheepish half-grin. "I really ought to shed a few pounds; I haven't had much time for sports lately, and I'm afraid it's starting to show."

Looking him over closely Helen does notice that the button-down shirt he is wearing stretches a just little tighter over his abdomen than it did when she bought it for him some months ago. But it isn't much really, if he hadn't said anything she might not even have noticed.

As it is, she finds herself even rather more pleased by it than anything else. "University food seems to agree with you," she remarks, kissing the top of his head from behind. He is in need of a haircut, she notices, but somehow she likes how his blond bangs cover his forehead. He also needs a shave, she thinks, finally sitting down opposite him with her own cup of tea.

Peter smirks at her. "I would suspect that it's more my new roommate who is to be blamed. Apparently his parents own the best restaurant that can be found in all of Glasgow, and he practically grew up in their kitchen."

Helen smiles. "Don't worry … you just start training again when you've got time and you'll be skinny again soon enough, dear."

"Not skinny, Mum. Athletic would be the word." With a shrug, Peter bends forward and snatches a biscuit from the table, despite his words. "Besides, to tell you the truth, I don't really care so much about that." He grins again. "What irks me, though, is that Ed beats me at running these days. Can you believe that?" And in one bite he downs the biscuit.

Helen has to laugh heartily at her son's words. "Well, he does little else but running around in the park lately … it is probably no wonder." Then she sobers up, looking a little concerned. "It bothers me, quite honestly."

"How come?"

Looking down at her hands, folded before her on the table, Helen sighs. "I don't think your brother has got his priorities right." Shaking her head, she waves off the topic. "But that's something I'll have to discuss with him."

At these words Peter lets out an amused snort and helps himself to another biscuit. "Good luck with that then," he says cheerfully around a mouthful. When Helen doesn't reply, he raises an eyebrow, offering, "I can have a word with him, if you want."

"That's kind of you to offer, dear, but no, I had better talk it through with him myself," Helen replies, knowing very well that Peter has got enough on his plate without having to sort out her – or rather Edmund's – problems. To make this clear she pointedly changes the subject. "Lucy mentioned the other day, that you're going to the Professor's for a visit, next weekend?"

Peter nods, munching away on another biscuit.

"How lovely. Is Susan going to come as well?"

"No, just Lucy and Edmund so far. We did ask Susan along, but she declined … Eustace will come, though, and that friend of his, Jill … We told you about Jill, haven't we?"

They probably had, but Helen doesn't remember. She isn't too interested in that person, either; her mind is with her eldest daughter. "What about Susan? Any idea why she doesn't want to go? A weekend out of London might do her good."

"Mum ... she's got her own head. And that is probably keeping her busy enough, what with all the make-up and hair spray that needs to be applied." Peter's tone has become uncharacteristically snide as he says this and Helen is a bit perplexed.

When did he get so cynical? After all, this was a comment she might have expected from one of her two youngest, but not from Peter.

Indeed, he looks a little guilty, when he realises himself how unkind he has been. "Sorry Mum. It's just that dating seems to be all that interests her lately."

"But that's not too unusual, given her age, is it? How about you, by the way? Are there any girls lining up on your doorstep?"

"Mum!"

"Sorry, dear… A mother's just curious."

He shakes his head – and pushes back the bangs that have fallen into his eyes. "Even if there were any applicants – and I'm not saying there are – I really don't have time for that, what with exams, assignments and internships. Dating can ... no it must wait."

"If you say so, dear." Helen can not help feeling somewhat disappointed with his answer. For a while now she has been hoping he would bring someone home to introduce as his girlfriend (or maybe even more). Impressively built at over six feet he is such a handsome lad, and it can't be that the young women out there haven't noticed it yet.

Seeing his mother's disappointment Peter's expression momentarily wavers between gentle understanding and annoyance. Being Peter, he finally settles for the first. "Look here, Mum, you mustn't worry about that … I'm quite sure the family will be extended soon enough."

"Yes, dear, you're probably right." She would have to say more on that topic, but unexpectedly there is a rumbling sound coming from the front door, then they hear as it is unlocked and, a moment later, banged shut again.

Peter grins. "Sounds like Ed's in," he says, his eyes lightening up at the thought of seeing his brother. "He'll be thrilled I am home already." He gets up and glances at the kitchen door and then at Helen. "You mind?"

"No, no … go on!"

"Good …" On his way to the door, he suddenly hesitates, turns around and asks, "are you sure you don't want me to set him straight about priorities?"

Helen smiles. "Perfectly sure. Just you two enjoy the time you have together."

Peter laughs happily. He is half out the door, causing for a cheerful, "Pete! You're here! Why didn't you dafty say you'd be so early?" to erupt from the hall.

Helen giggles silently to herself. Knowing that for the rest of the day her boys will be inseparable, she quickly calls after Peter, "I love you, darling!"

He sticks his head back in. "And I love you, Mum!" And then she can hear both of her sons dart out the front door again, heading down to the park, no doubt.