I couldn't hold back and wanted to update again! Thank you to everyone that has read so far. I appreciate it! Enjoy.

Chapter 2: The Professor's Mansion


Jo's evening ended in laughter, for once. One of the dance halls in the city had opened up and was free admission for the night. Taking the opportunity, she snagged some friends on the way and danced the night away. She had even met some nice boys that wanted to dance with her another time. Happily, she took up the offer and decided to come back the next time it was open.

Not even war could take away the joy dancing brought.

The thought of saying goodbye to her friends the next day saddened her. She wished it was already said and done so she wouldn't have to bear seeing Lucy cry.

One by one she dropped off her tipsy friends, smiling at their playfulness. She was nearly home when the sirens began to sound.

'No, please no!'

Slamming on the gas she rounded her street corner and sped past the houses. Against the roaming spotlights, the outlines of the Luftwaffe against the dark sky chilled her to the bone.

There was a boom and her car swerved, the ground rattling as a bomb crashed into the ground.

Regaining herself, she backed up and turned around, pulling up to her house just as more bombs began to fall.

All at once the air around her went silent as the explosions shook the ground. All she could do was crouch and cover.

Once she was aware that the bombs hadn't hit her surrounding neighbors, she sprinted to her front door. Her shaky hands couldn't get a steady hold on the keyhole. Fumbling around, she began to pound on the door and scream for her mother.

Just as the door opened, there was an explosion so loud she went deaf. Throwing herself over her mother's body, they shielded themselves away from the glass flying from the windows.

Her head pounded and she couldn't see, all she could do was lay there.

Looking over, she sighed in relief at the sight of her mother sitting up. It was the last thing she saw before she fell asleep.


Jo pushed through the crowd of parents at the train station, searching for the Pevensies. She panicked when the whistle blew, signaling for the last chance to board. People didn't even stare after her black eye and scrapes across her cheeks, it wasn't an unusual sight after a raid.

"Jo!" A shrill voice rang through the air, Lucy.

Joanna ran to the girl with arms held wide, taking the small girl in her embrace.

"Come with us," she whispered.

Jo didn't say a word but held her tighter, "Write to me, promise?"

Lucy nodded against her neck and smiled, "Promise."

Standing up she gave a hasty hug to Edmund, who didn't seem to care. Next she turned to Susan and Peter. All her life she had grown up with them, went to school with them, and had come to love them. She hugged them both tightly and said goodbye.

"Please be safe," Peter whispered.

"Don't worry about me, Pete," Jo said back, taking his cheek in her hand. His smile always warmed her and she could feel the heat in her cheeks rise. Looking away, she took Susan's hands and squeezed them. The two smiled at each other one last time.

"On with you now," Mrs. Pevensie said from behind, scooting her children off.

Jo linked arms with her as they watched the kids find a seat. As the train began to move, Lucy stuck her head out the window, followed by Peter and Susan. They waved back to Jo and Mrs. Pevensie, who was leaning her head on Jo's shoulder. The two raised their hands and waved violently back.

"Bye-bye dear," Mrs. Pevensie whispered. Jo looked down at the sobbing woman, she couldn't imagine saying goodbye to your own children in war.


Dear Jo,

It's not the same here, this house is so big and boring. Peter always plays games with me, though, so it isn't that boring. Edmund won't stop teasing me and Susan just pouts and reads. I hope you can read this, I asked Susan for some spelling help.

You'd feel better here, I do. The war isn't out here, there's no raid drills, or raids at all.

Peter wants me to tell you hello, and Susan wants you to write to her.

We miss you.

Sincerely,

Lucy Pevensie

It had been two weeks since the Pevensies left London. Jo tried not to worry herself about her friends, she knew they were safe where they were. Lucy and Susan wrote to her every week, not failing to mention how much she would love it where they were. Apparently the house was a good place for playing hide and seek, so Jo imagined the mansion to be rather large.

"That place sounds wonderful, Joanna." her mother said after reading Susan's letter.

Jo smiled, "It does, I'm glad they're there."

Her mother sighed, "I wonder what your brothers are up to."

"They've written to us every week, don't worry,"

"You'll understand once you have children of your own," she leaned down to kiss Jo's head and held her tight, "You just have these instincts, and you have to trust them."


Dear Jo,

Since Susan and Lu have been writing to you, I felt it right I should include a letter of my own. I hope you and your mother are doing well, you know we miss you two. It's so different out here in the country, we have no neighbors and hardly any cars pass by! I must say it can be a nice change in scenery when you take the time to appreciate it.

My favorite thing would have to be all the artifacts in the house, and the big yard in front. The professor allows us to play out front whenever we like. I haven't been to the stables, but I'd like to take Lucy out there one day to see the horses. I think they might cheer her up.

I know you don't want to leave home, none of us did, and it's wonderful you can stay to help your mother. Perhaps you could at least spare us a visit? It would be wonderful to see a familiar face from home out here.

Your friend,

Peter


The air raids didn't stop, if anything they picked up. They were even happening in the middle of the day now. This was life for everyone, you had to adjust and be prepared. That was what Jo did, she had to be brave for her mother.

She didn't like to admit it, but moving out to the country did sound nice.

Perhaps she and her mother could spare a visit out to see the Pevensies. She hated the thought of leaving her mother behind.

Jo and her mother sat huddled together in their shelter, waiting for the bombs to die down. They might as well have moved down into the shelter, the raids were becoming so frequent. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see her mother looking at her.

"What is it?"

"I've been talking with Mrs. Pevensie, and she thinks it would be a wonderful idea for you to visit the kids!"

Jo perked up, "Really?"

Her mother smiled, "Yes, she even asked the professor of the mansion if that would be acceptable. You're to go up tomorrow!"

"Thank you so much, mother!" Jo exclaimed as she threw her arms around her mother. A nearby bomb shook the shelter and they huddled closer together, "But will you be alright for the time I'm gone?"

"Don't you worry about me, I'll be fine,"

Jo hugged her mother tightly and smiled, finally something was looking up. In her heart she knew she'd be safer, but her heart also belonged there in Finchley with her mother.


With her baggage in hand and arm linked with her mother, Jo took a shaky breath in as she neared the train. Truth was she was worried to leave her mother, very worried.

"Come with me, mum," Jo said as she got to the platform. She took her hands and squeezed them as tears streamed down her face.

Her mother sniffled, "I'll be fine, Jo, that's a promise."

"I can't leave you!" She exclaimed.

"It's only for a little while," her mother said as she soothingly rubbed her daughter's cheek, "Get on that train before our goodbye gets any worse, now."

The two took each other in a tight embrace. Jo's entire body shook as she held onto her mother. Quickly she turned and ran up the train steps, hurrying to a seat.

She couldn't cry, she wouldn't cry.

Taking a deep breath in, she stared out the window as the train lurched forward. She ignored the goodbyes kids were shouting from across the aisle to their parents, hoping to come home safe and sound someday.


It was the longest trip Jo had ever taken, it seemed. Even though it was only a day, stopping at every single place along the way to drop off kids felt like an eternity. She couldn't even sleep.

The sadness hasn't worn off, she feared it never would.

"It's only for a little while,"

Jo kept repeating what her mother had told her in her head. It just a little while.

The train rolled to the last stop, in the middle of nowhere. Begrudgingly, Jo stepped off the train, keeping her head down.

When she looked up, though, an instant smile appeared on her face. The Pevensie siblings stood on the platform to greet their friend. Jo hurried to them and gathered them in for a group hug. At last she was feeling some familiarity.

"We can all say our hellos back at the house, don't want the Macready to get impatient," Susan said with the roll of her beautiful blue eyes.

"The Macready?" Jo asked with an amused smile.

Edmund snorted, "She's a witch,"

"Ed!" Peter snapped at him with a smile of his own, "She's just-"

"Uptight, mean, cruel?" Edmund interrupted.

"Uptight," Susan corrected, scolding her brother.

Jo laughed and followed behind Peter, holding her breath as she rounded the corner. There was a carriage with a horse leading it, a woman held the reign. Suddenly, she turned and stared Jo down.

"So you're the McCarthy girl?" She snapped as she eyed her.

Jo nodded slowly, "I am, nice to meet you-"

"Mrs. Macready will do."

"Ah, yes." Jo responded quietly. Peter scooped her belongings up into the back of the carriage. They landed with a thud.

"Please mind the beautiful state of this carriage! Don't just toss things on! Break the wood, you pay!" Macready shouted at the eldest boy, who blushed under her harsh glare.

"Sorry," he apologized quickly and let Jo up into the carriage first. The other siblings piled in and soon they were headed back to the mansion.


"First off, there shall be no shoutin', runnin' or playin' in the house! The professor has the finest of artifacts from all over the world, can't risk them being broken!

"There shall be no disturbin' of the professor, under any circumstances. He's a very busy man and doesn't have time to deal with children's affairs. You're lucky he allowed you here, too!"

"I'll only be here for a little while," Jo said with a smile.

The Macready gave her a weary look, "No matter, you shall still abide by these rules."

As soon as the woman turned to walk up the stairs, Jo rolled her eyes. How could she be so uptight all the time like this? Susan followed behind her while Peter followed behind the Macready with her luggage.

"Now you shall sleep with, um, Susie-"

"Susan." She corrected the woman with a stern look.

"Yes, that one," Mrs. Macready responded with a nod, "If I find you in the boy's room-"

"Oh you'll have nothing to worry about, Mrs. Macready. I'm not like that, I promise!" Jo responded with a nervous laugh, embarrassed she would say that in front of Peter. With that he scurried out of the room, blushing himself.

"I would hope not! Now the other children can show you around, I expect we understand the rules here?" Macready eyed Jo.

"Yes, ma'am," she gulped.

Mrs. Macready left the two girls in the room to unpack and set up the bed. Jo sighed in relief when she left, the tension magically gone. Susan looked at her with a smirk and began to laugh.

"She's a bit much, isn't she?" Susan asked.

"D'you think?" Jo responded with a laugh, pulling the sheets over her bed with Susan's help.

"Bet she catches you and Peter snogging!"

The girls whipped around to see the mischievous smirk on Edmund's face as he stood in the doorway. Jo glared at him and scoffed, huffing in frustration.

"Nice to see you too, Ed," she growled.

Edmund laughed, "Not that he'd have any interest in snogging your face-"

"Edmund!" Susan shouted, "Please, grow up and leave us alone,"

The black haired boy rolled his eyes and walked away. The girls turned back to each other and sighed in relief, Jo mustering a small smile.

"Maybe someday he'll learn to follow Pete's example." She whispered.

"Peter has some work of his own to do before Edmund should,"

"Really?"

Susan scoffed, "He thinks he's his father, treats him like a child-"

"Has a rather large ego?"

Susan laughed; her voice dripping with sarcasm, asked, "How could you tell?"

"Well when you've grown up with someone since you were only a baby, you can learn quite a bit!"

The two girls chuckled and got back to making the bed. Jo was excited to be able to spend her nights with Susan and Lucy.

"What are you two laughing at?" Peter asked from the doorway.

Jo cleared her throat and smiled, "Girl matters, which I am sure you're so interested in."

"I'll leave you two to it then," Peter said with a smile, "I'll be listening to the radio if you and the others want to join me later."

"No one wants to listen to that." Susan said quietly.

"Why not?" Peter and Jo asked simultaneously.

She glared at them, "We're here because we were sent away from war."

"Why wouldn't you want to be kept informed?" Jo asked.

"Well death isn't exactly a cheery thing to hear about, is it?"

"Come on, Su, it's not all about the body counts-"

"Peter, stop," Susan said through clenched teeth. She threw the pillow onto the bed harshly and smoothed out her skirt, "We don't need to listen to the radio."

Jo turned to look at Peter, "I'll listen to it with you, I think it's important to be updated."

Peter nodded at her in appreciation and took one last look at Susan before turning to walk down the hall. Slowly, Jo turned back to the brown haired girl, fearful of the reaction from her friend.

"You must promise me you won't let Lucy hear any of it," Susan said as she continued laying on the quilt.

"Susan you know I wouldn't, she's not old enough."

"It would frighten her,"

Jo nodded, "I promise."