Here's the start of Part III in my Chronicles of Narnia series. Thanks Witchy Pixie, my beta, for editing this chapter for me.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chronicles of Narnia or any of its many characters. I do, however, have possession of Alexa, my OC.

~Returning Home~

Chapter One – The Station

Peter sighed, leaning against the stone pillar. The train groaned and hissed as it pulled to a stop, making the previously slow station come rapidly to life. The underpass became filled with the hustle and bustle of people both coming on and off the subway train. Some called out to their loved ones in joy, some wore distinguished suits and a flippant air about them as they boarded, while others (namely Peter) stood in wait.

Where are they? he frowned with the thought. Edmund had left to accompany Lucy to the restroom. It had to have been ten minutes Peter had been there alone, while Alexa accompanied Susan to purchase a newspaper, as she did nearly every morning to keep them current on the war.

It had been a year since they had been cruelly torn from a home they had known for fifteen years. Only two months later they had been forced to return to school.

It didn't seem fair, to have to so quickly accommodate themselves into their drab surroundings after so little time. But even as the Professor understood their plight and grief, he still maintained the fact that they were now children (as he had once been). They must return to their lives in England like any other, which included getting an education.

It seemed moot at this point, in Peter's mind. They had been educated properly while in their true home. They had ruled a country, surely that counted as education fit for a king, which he was—is.

He sighed tiredly, rubbing his eyes. Walking away from the pillar, he made his way towards the entrance of the station. The crowd began to dissipate as the railway dispatched, and left only a few people wandering the corridor along with Peter.

Though they put up quite the argument, Professor Kirke was adamant in his decision.

"Wouldn't your parents be confused if their children suddenly decide they no longer wish to attend school in the fall like normal children should?" he had asked. This just about ruined any other point they could have brought up; he sent monthly letters out to Finchley updating Helen Pevensie and Mary Williams of the children's well being.

And so, he sent them out of his country home with their things to begin the school year once again. The previous year, the girls had been enrolled into St. Finbar Academy, Peter and Edmund in Hendin House Preparatory.

Peter's demeanor became guarded as he noticed the few boys walking in his direction. They wore the blue blazers and beige slacks of the Hendin House uniform, like Peter. He realized they were hooligans from his school: loud, obnoxious boys who enjoyed causing trouble—just as Peter had never avoided the many scuffles that had ensued between the group and himself for some of their antics.

He had promised his family that he wouldn't involve himself further after a particularly nasty occurrence. But these boys, far too arrogant for what they lacked in maturity (and some of them, honor), had a knack for bringing out his worst.

"Oh, look. It's our favorite Pevensie!" said one of the boys. Peter's face remained neutral, though he acknowledged him.

"Charlie," Peter said, nodding minutely. Charlie Haffordam had a fairly light-hearted personality, the potential to be a pleasant person. Though he tended to let his older friends sway his actions, no unlike Edmund once did so long ago.

"Hope you spent the summer restin' off them scrapes I gave ya," said another, who approached Peter with nonchalance and a self-satisfied grin. "It's gunna be another fun year."

Jack Laraby hated Peter's guts the moment he stopped a girl Susan's age from being dragged behind a library. Though bruised and terrified still, Susan and Alexa gave her the courage to file a report. Only the fact of the Laraby's handsome donations to public service centers (and the sway of such well-rooted connections as a checkbook) saw Jack back at school the following spring.

Peter only smiled grimly.

"Will it now?"

Jack chuckled, crossing his arms. "What're you waiting for, anyway—your little family?" Peter's eyes narrowed fractionally, though nothing else showed through his momentarily calm expression. He was tense, eager to find them and get on the train as soon as possible. He didn't want to break his promise.

As soon as he made a move to leave, Jack's hand gripped Peter's shoulder firmly.

"What do you want?" Peter asked. His patience was wearing very thin.

"Those sisters of yours, shapely brunette and that little black-haired birdie—" Peter's jaw set firmly as he tensed, turning to Jack's curving smirk. Both knew he'd hit a nerve, an easy one, even if he wasn't entirely correct. "Either a' them got plans tomorrow night? To study, of course."

He leaned in a little closer, so only Peter could hear. "I hear the library closes late."

He dared it, and Peter's fists clenched to the point of white-knuckling pain.

"If you so much as breathed in their direction," his blue eyes were dark as slate in the dim station lighting. "You'd be more than a fool."

Jack laughed, along with a couple of his companions.

"That's a nice threat you got, it really is. Felt it in my bones, that look," he mocked, roughly bumping his shoulder into Peter's as he walked past, though Peter stood his ground. Jack paused, and leaned back a little.

"Right," he whispered. "This's where you apologize for bumping me, you little twit."

The corner of Peter's mouth raised, just slightly. "Is that so?"

"Unless you—" Jack Laraby's next threat was cut off by the force of a brother and husband's fist to his jaw.

"Hurry Su, they're waiting for us," Alexa said, occasionally taking glances at the subway station's entrance.

"I'm almost done, give me a second," Susan replied distractedly. She panned the newspaper stand for any intriguing articles that she could use as a current event for her history class as well as any details on the battlefront, but so far her efforts had been fruitless on the first end.

"Uh…h-hello." Susan and Alexa turned their heads to the newcomer. A boy about the same age as the two girls, sporting the Hendin House uniform, approached. He adjusted his glasses a bit higher, the sun catching in its reflection; perhaps a nervous habit.

"Hello," Susan acknowledged with a slight nod of her head before going back to the display of articles in front of her. Alexa gave him a smile, but she noticed amusedly that his efforts were directed towards Susan. His eyes never left her form as she scanned a page, her eyes following with her finger.

"You go to St. Finbar's?" he asked hesitantly, disturbing Susan from her reading. She paused, looking back up to him with a wan smile.

"Yes," she replied shortly.

"I go to Hendin House, across the road…I've seen you a lot."

The once Gentle Queen allowed herself a less agitated-looking smile. Alexa was content to stand behind, looking on the scene that was unfolding.

"…Sitting by yourself," he finished. Susan's expression, if possible, became even more tight.

"Well, I prefer to be left alone." Susan grabbed her things that had been sitting on the floor by her feet. Alexa also grabbed her bag, preparing for their leave.

"Wait, what's your name?" he asked. Alexa had to repress a giggle from the look that crossed Susan's face. 'Oh Su, have mercy on him,' she thought.

Susan turned to face him, giving a fake smile.

"Phyllis." The former Courageous Queen nearly burst into hysterics, but quickly smothered it in light of Susan's withering glare behind the boy's back. Secretly, Susan was glad the other girl was laughing. She hadn't been seen doing much of it in the past year and understandably so.

Alexa's laughter died as she saw Lucy running toward them at an astonishing speed.

"Susan, Alexa, come quick!"

The three fought through the formed crowd to see, unfortunately, a familiar sight. Susan frowned, shaking her head as her sister's eyes softened in disappointment. Lucy had gone to the restroom, leaving Susan and Alexa. When she had gotten out, she had seen both Edmund and Peter in the thick of the fight, there from the entrance of the railway station, and immediately ran back to the newsstand. Alexa covered her eyes with one hand, her head slightly bowed.

How could he do this again, after he promised? she thought angrily. Yet she was deeply worried for him, especially as he was thrown to the ground. Just before she would have jumped in herself, if only to try and yank him out, Edmund pushed through people to join the fray, knocking a boy off of Peter in the process.

Perfect, she thought dryly.

Finally, the altercation had attracted the attention of some police officers, who broke up the fight and scattered the boys. One pulled Peter to his feet by the arm.

"Act your age!" the officer shouted over the noise. Peter only pulled his arm from the man's hold and walk away toward a nearby bench, Edmund trailing behind him. Lucy, Susan, and Alexa followed, setting down their bags and taking a seat.

"You're welcome," Edmund stated sarcastically after plopping next to Peter.

"I had things sorted," Peter replied as he stood from the bench.

"What was it this time?" Susan was long-suffering.

"...He bumped me."

"So you hit him?" Lucy asked, clearly disappointed. Peter paused for a moment before turning around to face us.

"After he bumped me, he tried to make me apologize. That's when I hit him." Alexa sighed in exasperation, looking to the ground by Peter's feet.

"What, Alexa?" Peter asked tersely. Her gaze immediately raised back up to his.

"Don't you snap at me," she warned. "You promised this wouldn't happen again."

Peter could have sworn he heard her mumble something sounding akin to "idiot," but chose to ignore it. Instead, he rolled his eyes in agitation.

"Honestly, is it so hard to just walk away?" Susan asked in exasperation.

"I shouldn't have to!" Peter replied, his voice rising with his temper. "Don't you ever get tired of getting treated like kids?"

"Um, we are kids, Peter," Edmund pointed out.

"Well, I wasn't always." The five grew silent at the remark, not knowing what to say.

"It's been a year, how long does He expect us to wait?" Peter asked as he sat back down next to Alexa and Edmund.

"It's time we all accepted that our home is here now," Susan said, mostly directing her words toward Peter. Alexa refrained from sighing, and gently grasped Peter's hand, trying to give reassurance…and perhaps asking for some as well. Peter didn't respond at first, but eventually did tighten his grip on her hand. Just imagining her, or either of his sisters attracting the attention of Jack Laraby simultaneously made his skin crawl and his blood boil.

Alexa noticed the darkness in his eyes as he held her hand with a firmer grip, and so she laced their fingers together, soothing over his tense hand with her thumb. His expression softened, just a little.

"Owch!" Lucy yelled out jumping out of her seat. Her shout made the rest flinch in surprise.

"Quiet, Lu." Susan admonished. The younger girl's voice had echoed, earning them some odd looks.

"Something pinched me!" Lucy pointed to her seat at the bench. Alexa soon jumped up as well, feeling something pinch her on the back.

"Ow! Peter!" He looked shocked at her accusation, but suddenly hissed and jumped up as well.

"Hey!" Edmund looked mildly affronted at the accusing glare he received.

"I'm not touching you," he replied, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion.

"Would you all just–what on earth is that?" Susan asked as she and Edmund got up from being pulled on themselves. The train appeared to be going faster and faster at an abnormal speed, blowing papers around the five and creating a strong wind. They felt little prickles all around their bodies as the atmosphere started to change.

"It feels like magic!" Lucy shouted out, her eyes widened in excitement. A true smile bloomed on Alexa's face.

"Everybody, hold hands," Susan said seriously. When Peter held his out expectantly to Edmund, his younger brother hesitated.

"I'm not holding your hand!" he said raising his voice above the wind. 'Oh, for heaven's sake!' Susan thought agitatedly.

"Just—" Peter cut off his words and grabbed Edmund's hand. The walls were crumbling away and the train was now moving so fast it was almost hard to see. The world was spinning around them as they held each other's hand tightly.

Then, as quickly as it started…it all ended. Alexa opened her eyes, and absently wondered when they had closed. Tears collected, and soon streamed down her face as she smiled.

Garrett, my love...we're coming home.