A/N: Happy late new years. I realize it's been months since I've updated. A million apologies to those who have patiently waited for me, and a million thanks to those who continue to stick around. I promise I won't take half a year to update ever again. I will definitely finish this fic and I won't leave anybody hanging, because I know how much that sucks.

England

The room was getting hotter; everything was grating on her nerves. Susan slouched a little lower in the uncomfortable chair as the sales woman showed them yet another set of china. Jack had feigned ill and been let off the trip with only a disapproving look from his mother.

The lucky bastard, Susan thought irritably.

She had not been so lucky. Beside her, Jack's mother, whom Susan referred to as old Mrs. Bateman in her head, and Mary were carrying on about the sets they liked best. Mary's high pitched, nasally voice was telling Mrs. Bateman to choose the set with the cherry blossoms painted on and Susan wasn't sure she could take much more. The sales woman returned, hidden behind a stack of three large boxes. The three women watched and did nothing, as she struggled to find the table from around the cases. It wasn't until she nearly dropped them that Mrs. Bateman suddenly barked out,

"Watch it! Watch it!"

The small woman squeaked and teetered backward, the tower of cases tilting precariously with her.

Oh for Pete's sake, Susan jumped from her seat and reached out to help the poor woman. The two of them managed to move the heavy cases on to the table. Mrs. Bateman adjusted her spectacles, glaring at the poor sales woman.

"You could have dropped those and then where would we be?" She chided "I will tell you where. Without options!"

The poor sales woman looked as though she were only seconds away from a nervous breakdown. It couldn't be easy, Susan noted, having to deal with brides-to-be and they're horrible mother-in-laws on a daily basis.

"Don't pay attention to her" Susan muttered under her breath to the red-faced woman from her place behind the box. It was a good thing Old Mrs. Bateman, who was turning 78 this year, was nearly deaf. The sales woman shot Susan a look of deep gratitude before she began to unpack the set of china from the first case.

"Ooooh!" Mary squealed in delight as she took a plate and handed it to Mrs. Bateman.

Susan was unimpressed. This set looked almost identical to the one they had just seen, and the one before that, and the one before that. Jack's mother wiped her spectacles on the heavy red table cloth before perching them back on her nose again.

"Su, what about this one? It's lovely!"

"No," Mrs. Bateman shoved the plate roughly back at the girl, "the quality is terrible. You call this china? Looks like an imitation of the cheap stuff they use in those Oriental restaurants. Show us the next one."

The next set was brought out. Jack's mother took one look at the red cups before waving them away.

"No, no, no! Did I not tell you before I arrived that we want a set that matches the rest of the hall? Periwinkle and cream. That set would clash horribly with the rest of our ideas!" Mrs. Bateman's endless complains were beginning to drive Susan mad.

She stood and mumbled an excuse about calling Jack and needing fresh air before fleeing the table, leaving the sales woman alone with Mary and Mrs. Bateman. Susan had her mobile out and against her ear as soon as she pushed her way out of the store. It rang twice before someone answered.

"Hello Mrs. Bateman," a cheery voice on the other end said.

Susan pulled her phone away from her face and glared at it angrily, as if she could burn holes into the person who had called her that. How dare they?

"Who is this?" she demanded.

"Relax Su, it's me, Laurence."

"Laurence?"

"Yes, Laurence. You remember me, we met at the train station years ago, or maybe I'm confusing you with another girl. Her name was Phyllis, perhaps you know her?" the man joked good naturedly.

Susan groaned, rubbing her eyes tiredly.

"Are you ever going to let me live that down? It was an accident!" she protested "And what are you doing with Jack? He's supposed to be sick."

"I -er -came to bring him soup" Laurence offered lamely.

In the background Susan heard Jack yell "PULL!" before there was the echo of a loud gunshot.

"Are you on the green?" she shrieked angrily.

Here she was, putting up with Jack's mother, while he and Laurence were having a grand old time on the green, shooting clay pigeons. The nerve of some men! There was rustling and murmuring as Susan thought she heard Laurence mumble something about crazy wives. Jack laughed.

"Hello, sweetheart?" Jack said jovially.

"Jackson Timothy Bateman, you are about to be buried with those stupid dinosaurs you like to dig up so much" Susan snapped angrily.

Jack just laughed again, and in spite of herself, Susan found her anger and frustration at the two men slipping away as quickly as it came. It was hard to stay mad at Jack or Laurence for too long. The two of them were so good natured and treated her so well, it was only fair she let them have the day off, she reasoned with herself. Jack's voice brought her back to the conversation at hand.

"What's wrong?" he asked her.

"Your mother is driving me absolutely batty" she groaned.

"And now you know why I don't let her live with us," Jack said in a mock serious tone.

Susan laughed, "You wonderful man, choosing your wife over your own mother."

"I do have my priorities straight, don't I?"

Susan was about to say something else when the door behind her opened. Mary popped her head out to stare grumpily at her.

"Are you ever coming back in? That old witch is going to make me prematurely gray!" she hissed.

"In a minute," Susan said. Mary disappeared from view, grumbling.

"The Queen is requesting my presence," Susan groaned.

Jack just laughed again, "You better go then. You know what happens to those who keep Her Majesty waiting."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Narnia

Caspian's eyes fluttered open as a large quake rocked him from his sleep.

"Wha-?" he mumbled, only half awake.

The quake stopped as suddenly as it had come. Caspian blinked at the heavy wooden door that guarded his room, waiting for anybody to come running in, yelling about a quake, but nobody came. His mouth opened in a long yawn that nearly split his head in half. Convinced the whole thing had been a dream, he rolled over and was asleep within seconds, lost to the rest of the world.

Outside the castle, Lucy wrapped her robe tighter around herself as the wind whipped her hair around. The quakes had started less than a week ago. Were quakes an imperfection? How could they possibly exist in Aslan's kingdom then? Lucy had so many questions that she needed answered.

The sun would not rise for hours, morning was still in the far distance, and sleep eluded her. She had been coming to stand outside the castle, just beyond the drawbridge, every night for the past month. She wasn't entirely sure what she was waiting for out here. Still, it was nice to see the sun rise each morning. Every golden ray of sunlight reminded her of Aslan's mane.

Aslan, Lucy thought, and a sharp pain filled her chest. Nobody had seen him in almost a year now. Not really, anyway. Edmund and Caspian had dreamt about Aslan and Susan only months ago. The two Kings had focused on different parts of the dream. Caspian had been delighted to see Susan, along with Aslan. Edmund had seen the war tents and become his moody self once again.

War couldn't exist here, Lucy pondered the idea, turning it in her mind. The kingdom-beyond-the-sea was perfect and beautiful, Aslan made sure of-

Ah, but Aslan isn't here anymore is he? a small, mocking voice tickled the back of her mind.

Lucy pushed it away angrily. It wouldn't do to be doubting at a time like this.

Why haven't you dreamt of Aslan? the voice asked again.

"Stop it" Lucy said aloud, then felt rather foolish. The doubt was inching its way into her mind, creeping slowly and subtly. Lucy pushed back.

Aslan will come back! He understands magic that is beyond Deep magic. He saved us before. Lucy's faith glowed inside her, spreading like a warm fire that quickly turned into a blaze. The doubt retreated, and then it was gone.

Lucy heard the soft clopping of hooves crossing the drawbridge behind her.

Tumnus.

She did not turn to greet him, choosing to stay with her arms crossed over her chest, keeping the robe tightly wrapped around herself. The clopping came to a stop beside her and Lucy could feel the faun's gaze on her. She stood silently, keeping her gaze locked on a star in the distant night sky.

"Did I ever tell you the story of how I learned to fish?"

Curiosity finally got the better of her and Lucy turned to look at him. His hair was thinning, and his temples had grayed considerably, but Tumnus still had the same youthful twinkle in his eye.

"No."

"Would you like to hear it?" the faun asked, reminiscent of the first time they had met so many years ago on a snowy day, when he had offered her a cup of tea and his music.

And just like she had then, Lucy smiled, "Yes, please."

Lots of movie references! Hope you enjoyed! For future reference, you can also catch me on my blog. Yes, apparently I blog now.

www. gardenofkale . blogspot .com (remove the spaces)

Unfortunately I never got the hang of Livejournal or Twitter. Sorry guys, whoever uses those.