Hello everyone! I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get this chapter out. I've been fighting with Plot Bunnies for the past two weeks and just found out a few days ago that I'm going to need surgery on my dominant hand. :/ Through God's grace, I will be able to continue writing, but from here on out, it might take me longer to get chapters written/published.
This chapter is our first glimpse into dear Peter's POV. I'm not entirely happy with it though, even if Peter is so much fun to write. :/ It's mostly just fluff, with Peter waking up and falling asleep way more than I would like. However, he's just gotten back from death's door, and I know from the times I've been really sick all I want to do or can seem to do is sleep. So, even though it's basically filler, I hope you all like it!
Once again, if there's something you wish to see added to the story, drop me a note and tell me. I will do my best to incorporate it into the story. Thank you all for the continued support and encouragement. Each comment brightens my day. God bless!
Oops: One more thing, and then I'll get one with the story. :D Tenses and I have an ongoing battle for dominance in regards to my writing. I still have not found a reliable enough assassin to get rid of them for me… (If any of you know of one, I will gladly take contact information ;D) I do multiple read-throughs of each chapter I post, but inevitably I miss one or two mistakes. Please forgive any you find, but if they are atrocious, I gladly accept any and all constructive criticism and/or critiques!
All4Aslan: Thank you! Here's the next chapter for you. Hope you enjoy!
TheOpenDoor07: I'm glad that my explanation cleared things up. No worries at all; I enjoy clearing up any confusion my writing may have caused. :P
I'm so glad you like the idea. And yes, indeed, it very much mirrors our own situations today. :( By God's grace, this story will live up to your expectations.
The explanation as to why the Pevensies are split up is actually being explored in the sister-story to this one: King and Lionheart. Valiant and I haven't totally gotten around to explaining everything about it yet, but we're getting there. I won't be explaining why they're in different families in this story, so if you want an explanation, you'll have to read that story. ;)
Thank you very much for the encouraging words!
Chickencomes1st: I still smile every time I read your username. It really is awesome. Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm glad you're feeling so bad for Peter. This chapter is in his POV. Not quite as angsty as it has been, we're in the calm before the storm. ;) I hope you enjoy it!
CooperGirlHH: Thank you for your kind words. And yes indeed, poor Peter and Edmund. Unfortunately, the angst isn't going away anytime soon.
Disclaimer: If I owned it, we would have gotten a book about what happened to Susan after the Accident in The Last Battle. But since we don't; logically, I don't own it. Just playing in Lewis's (and Valiant's) sandboxes. :D
~~~~ Line Break ~~~~
My return to consciousness is welcomed by the return of the pain I had been in before my … collapse? I frown, trying to figure out what had happened to me. The last thing I remember is coming home from work and going up to Edmund's and my room to take a quick nap before Mum came home.
"Peter?" Something warm and soothing brushes the hair from off my forehead. "Peter, are you awake?"
It's mum. The hope – and what sounded like tears - in her voice confuses me. I turn my head into her touch, searching for the strength to open my eyes. My eyelids feel as if they each weigh a ton. I'm confused about the weakness that has a hold on my body. Sure, I had felt bad when I got home, but it hadn't been this bad.
"Peter, honey, if you can hear me, please open your eyes."
There's desperation in Mum's tone now. I can't leave it there – I never have been able to ignore it when my mum's feeling upset. Everything in me wants to fix it. Unfortunately, all too often, there's nothing I can do to fix it. But this time I can.
It takes a lot longer than I would have liked, but eventually I lift my eyelids enough to be able to see what is going on around me. There's nothing in front of me but the wall and the side table I share with Edmund. One of his books is perched precariously on one corner, and a bowl and mug occupy the rest of the available space.
"That's it, Peter!" Despite the enthusiasm in Mum's voice, she's still keeping her voice low. "I'm right here, Sweetheart."
I tilt my head down so I can see more towards the middle of my bed. I'm just in time to see Mum wipe a few tears from her eyes. She smiles at me when she notices me looking her way.
"Are… you–'' It's hard to talk. The words stick in my throat, and before I can even get the second one out, I'm thrown into a coughing fit.
Mum immediately jumps up and lifts me into her arms. One hand grabs the cup sitting on the side table, and she brings it to my lips.
"Small sips, Peter. You're all right." She whispers in my ear, and I follow her instructions.
The water feels so good as it slips down my throat. It calms the coughing and sooths the fire that that action has kindled in my throat. Mum takes the cup away before I've had too much water, placing the cup back on the side table. I try to move my hand – to grab the cup to continue drinking – but it does nothing more but twitch slightly where it lays on the bed.
"I know that you want more, Sweetheart. But you haven't had very much to drink for a while. Once your stomach has settled a bit, you can have some more."
Mum reaches up and starts to comb my hair. I lean into her touch, relishing the comfort it gives me. It has been a while since we've done this. Most of the time it is Edmund who is on the receiving end of her comfort and care. Not because Mum loves me less, but because I rarely get sick and when I do either I push through it to continue working or she cannot spare the time from work to sit with me.
"What… what happened?" Even with the effects of the water I had just drunk, my voice is still incredibly harsh. But I need to know. I had to have been horribly sick for Mum to have taken time off to sit with me.
"You've been ill. You had a… a cold a few days ago." Mum's voice hitches a little. "It took a bad turn, but you're better now." She presses a kiss to my forehead. "Praise Aslan." She murmurs under her breath.
"Where's Ed?"
"He's at school. He'll be back later. He'll be very happy to see you getting better."
We stay that way for a while longer. I feel my eyes growing heavier and heavier as each second passes, and I lean further into Mum's arms. It's so nice to stay like that, to feel her arms around me and know that I don't have to worry or carry the burden of being her partner for this short time. That I can relax and be the child I was forced to leave behind at too young an age.
It comes to an end far too soon for my liking. Mum places a final kiss on my forehead and eases out from behind me. She slips me further down in the bed and pulls the covers up to my chin.
"You rest some more; you want to be awake when your brother gets home. I have some work to get done downstairs. I'll come and check on you in a little bit. Call if you need anything."
I nod slightly, curling into a more comfortable position. "Love you, Mum."
Her hand runs through my hair, "I love you too, my Lionheart. Rest."
I slip into sleep to the sound of her steps exiting the room.
~~~~ Line Break ~~~~
"Come on, Peter. Mum said you've been sleeping all day."
It's to those words that I wake next. I blink my eyes open to see Edmund's face inches from my own. It breaks into the biggest grin I have ever see him wear when our gazes meet.
"Get out of my face." I growl lifting my hand to push his forehead. My voice is still hoarse, but it's stronger than it had been earlier with Mum. "Your breath smells rancid. What have you been eating?"
Edmund moves back. I didn't think his smile could get any wider than it had been, but I am wrong. "I had to get some things at the market. I got a slice of Ms. Jill's cheese."
I grimace, "I don't know how you can stand that stuff." I'm about to say more, but a coughing fit stops me.
Edmund's expression drops immediately. He scurries to pick up the mug from the side table and place it to my lips.
"You're all right. Just take small sips. You're okay." There's slight panic in Edmund's voice as I take a few sips.
"Thanks." I whisper as soon as I get my breath back.
"Are you all right? Do you need anything else?" he asks setting the cup back on the table.
"No. I'm okay. Thanks for the help."
"At least you're finally giving me an opportunity to help you for a change." Edmund grins. "I've been feeling a bit useless around here what with you and Mum doing all of the work."
The words are said in a teasing tone, but the look in Ed's eyes reveal just how close to home they hit for him.
I reach out and take his hand, glad that my limbs seem to be obeying me this time around. "You're not useless, Ed. Don't ever think that. You keep me and Mum going. You bring so much joy into our lives. We wouldn't be us without you."
Ed grins eases a bit, but there's still shadows hidden deep within his eyes. I rub my thumb along his hand, seeking to give him more comfort. However, it catches and skips across his skin. I frown. Looking down at it, I'm amazed to see how chapped and red it's become. There are deep splits across the back of his hand and his fingers are white from dry skin.
"Ed, what happened to your hand?"
He blushes, pulling his hand from mine and ducking his head, "Nothing, Pete. They're just really dry this year. I've been putting the lotion you got me on them. They look worse than they are. I promise."
I purse my lips, not believing him. Ed knows I'll be able to read any lies in his eyes, and he'd kept his head ducked the entire time he was talking. Once he's finished though, he raises his head once more.
I take a closer look, searching for any other signs that he is lying to me. There are dark bags sitting under his eyes. His eyes themselves are bloodshot with a weariness he has never born sitting deep within them. His skin is paler than normal, and I can't tell, but he looks like he's lost some weight.
"Ed, are you all right? You're not getting sick, are you?"
Oh, Aslan, please tell me I haven't gotten him sick. Please protect him this year. Let him not fall ill because of me.
"Nah. I've never been better. Aslan's kept me safe so far. And anyways, if you think I look bad, you should see yourself. You haven't had a bath in over a week! You definitely won't get any looks from Lillian if this look becomes permanent."
Now it's my turn to blush. Lillian is a girl that was in my class in school. She works in the mines along with me now, and I greatly enjoy her company. Nothing has come of our relationship yet, but Edmund still takes great delight in teasing me about any possibilities.
"Shut up, Ed. You're just jealous because no girl has paid you any attention yet."
Edmund raises an eyebrow and crosses his arms. "I'm quite fine with that thank you very much. I've seen what happens to you any time Lillian even looks in your direction. I don't need to be all twitter patted; I like my brain cells intact. I will leave the wooing all to you."
I roll my eyes and try to stifle a yawn. I have been sleeping all day. There should be no reason I'm as tired as I am. However, as each second passes, I'm finding it harder and harder to keep my eyes open.
Edmund seems to realize this. "You should get some more rest, Peter. Mum's gonna bring dinner up for you soon, but you have enough time for another nap."
"I've been napping all day." I grumble. "I shouldn't need any more sleep."
Edmund's eyes darken in a way I never wish to see again, "You've been sick, Pete. Take some of your own advice and listen to your body? Rest. It's the only way you're going to get better."
I wrinkle my nose as my own words to Edmund are tossed back at me. I've forgotten how many times I had given him that same advice over the years.
"I will, Ed. I promise. I'll be up and about soon. Just you wait and see."
"I'll hold you to that." Ed leans up and kisses my forehead. "Love you, Peter. I'll see you when you wake up, okay?"
I nod, eyes already closing. I hope I'll have more strength next time I wake. I've left Mum and Edmund without help for far too long. I need to get better soon.
