She didn't expect to see him. She was just getting her cloak. But there he was, leaning against the table, head on his knees, sword a few feet away, as though it had been flung. She walked over and heard her voice call her brother's name.

"Peter?"

His head jerked up and he blinked through a veil of tears. She never saw him cry, he never let her. He was the eldest, always in charge, always in control, until now.

"I…Lucy, I…damn…"

Never used to swear either. She watched him scrub at his eyes. They were cloudy blue, haunted. His shaggy blond hair obscured his face as tears leaked onto his leather tunic.

"Lucy…I, what have I done?"

She sat down next to him and handed him her hankie. He smiled ever so slightly, but it didn't reach his eyes. "How do you manage to always have one of these?"

"I just do. Are you okay?"

"Well let's see, I've managed to get on the bad side of the future king of Narnia, I've led almost a hundred narnians to their death, nearly got into a duel, and let myself get under the spell of a woman I hate. Not to mention I've been acting like an ass for almost a full year, hurting people I care about. Oh, yeah I'm fine, real great."

He stood and turned away from her. "Don't try to deny it. It's all true. I'm the reason they're dead…why didn't I listen?" The anguish and self torture was too much for her to bear.

"Peter…"

"I should have listened! You said we should wait, I didn't listen. You said you saw Aslan, but I ignored you. I just was so sick of doing nothing! I hate being helpless, but I am…" He sank down next to her. "I'm no king…"

"Yes you are! Think of all you've done!"

"You mean what Aslan's done. You were right; I'd forgotten who really won that war."

"But…"

"It's too late, anyway. We're finished."

"It's never too late!" Lucy burst out. "He'll help us, I know he will!"

Peter stood, picking up his sword. "He gave this to me…when I still was a king. Susan said just because I had it didn't make me a hero. She was right, I didn't deserve this. I never did!" He was about to fling it away when the carvings on the wall came to life and a lions roar echoed through the chamber. He fell to his knees in shock as fear, excitement, pride and shame, coursed through him. Then it was silent. Lucy looked at him in wonder.

"Peter?"

Slowly coming over he sat and looked at her. "How do you do it? You always have faith. I wish I had a fraction of your spirit."

"Peter, listen. Do you know what just happened? He hasn't given up on you, and neither have I. We love you, idiot. We know what you are, even when you don't. You're not hopeless, but you're not God either." He winced, thinking of how he had acted back home. "You're High King Peter, the Magnificent, but you're my brother, Peter too. That's who I like the best."

Before he could answer Edmund ran in and gasped, "You'd better see this!"

The high king of Narnia stood and clasped his sword tightly. "Lead the way."

Peter Pevinsie was back.

It's been drawn to my attention that i made Peter ever so slightly out of character. Well, yeah, i may have a little. I was kinda' not in it while writing this. This is Peter from the movie though, so he's a little off to begin with. Next time...next time... *sigh* Thanz for the imput though! :)