A week had gone by since Peter had returned home and everyone in both families was happy for it. Aleisa and Peter had fallen even more in love, if that was even possible. However, she had noticed that Peter was acting a bit shy and hesitant around her ever for a couple days now. At first she didn't think much of it but now that it was becoming consistent she was worried. Had she done something wrong? Was she being too clingy? Peter had constantly assured her that it was nothing she was doing but Aleisa couldn't be too sure. Currently Aleisa was sitting at home, organizing the library in her home when she heard their doorbell ring.
"Aleisa can you get that?!" John Thompson called from the living room…right by where the door was… Aleisa was silent for a moment as she thought through whether she had heard him right or not.
"Aren't you already there?" she answered skeptically. There was a pause.
"Yea but I'm busy. And I really think you will want to answer the door this time." He countered. She scrunched her face up in confusion but set down the book she was holding and came out anyway. She swiftly made her way towards the door, passing by her father reading the newspaper on the sofa.
"Oh yes, I can see you're clearly busy." She muttered sarcastically as she passed by. Her father merely smiled up at her innocently. Aleisa roller her eyes at him and opened the front door. She was pleasantly surprised to find Peter standing on her front porch. His eyes shot up from his feet when he heard the door open.
"Peter, what are you doing here. I thought you had plans with Richard and Cyrus?" she asked curiously.
"Well I did, but now I would like to spend my evening with you." He smiled down at her. Aleisa lightly chuckled at his pleading expression and turned to face her father who had stood up to watch the two of them.
"Daddy I'm going out. I'll be back later." She told him, stepping out onto the porch next to Peter. Mr. Thompson smiled over at the two of them, sharing a knowing grin with Peter, piquing Aleisa's curiosity.
"Sure thing. Have fun you two." He waved and shut the door behind the couple. Peter quickly wrapped his arm across her shoulders as he led them down the sidewalks.
"What was that about?" she asked, looking up at him questioningly.
"What?" Peter asked, glancing down before staring back ahead of them.
"That look you and my father shared. Are you keeping secrets from me?" she continued, staring up at him. Peter ducked his head briefly before looking down at her with a soft smile.
"Don't worry about it. You'll find out soon enough." He answered vaguely. Aleisa frowned but didn't push any further. She trusted Peter. After walking and chatting for another few minutes, Aleisa noticed that they were making their way towards the outskirts of the town.
"Peter where are we going?" she suddenly asked, glancing around as the scenery changed. Peter grinned to himself and shrugged impishly.
"That's a secret." He whispered, causing Aleisa to giggle. Soon after they reached a clumping of trees and Peter abruptly stopped.
"This is where you have to close your eyes." he instructed her. She stared at him, a smiled tugging at the corner of her lips.
"You're not dragging me out into the middle of the woods to hide my body are you?" she joked, trying to see what the fuss was all about but was met with darkness. Peter chuckled and merely stood behind her to cover her eyed.
"Well that was my first idea but I loved you too much." He chuckled. Aleisa let out a laugh and held onto his wrists as Peter gently guided her along the path deeper into the forest. When he had stopped Aleisa could tell that there was another light source around them as it had grown a little darker earlier.
"Ok no open them." He whispered in her ear affectionately. Aleisa slowly cracked her eyes open and gasped at what was in front of her. A small table and two chairs had been set out in the middle of a clearing, with lanterns handing all in the tree branches around them.
"Oh Peter! How did you manage all this?" she asked, turning around to face him.
"Well Richard and Cyrus insisted on helping." He shrugged, grinning madly as he was pleased with her reaction. Aleisa beamed and leaned up to press an eager kiss against his lips.
"Thank you, its beautiful." She told him sincerely. Peter smiled again and held his hand out, gesturing for her to lead the way. Once they were at the table, he swiftly pulled out her chair, helping her into it before walking around to his own seat. Reaching down he pulled out a picnic basket and set out the array of foods that his mother had prepared for them. For the next hour the couple talked and laughed, munching on the dinner that was made. During the dinner Peter had grown quieter as he nervously fidgeted with the small box inside his pocket. Ever since he had come home, the box had been in his pocket constantly, just waiting for the right moment to be revealed. As he sat there listening to his girlfriend's story he couldn't help but smile at how her eyes were illuminated in the low light of the lanterns. He was entranced by her smile and the way her hands waved around as she chatted away, not even realizing she was doing it. Noticing his silence she stopped and tilted her head at him curiously, wondering what was going through that blonde head of his.
"Everything alright?" she gently asked. Peter grinned at her but didn't answer. Instead he reached across the small table and grasped her hand, running his thumb across the back of it thoughtfully.
"Aleisa, I know I have been acting a bit off lately and I think it's time that I explained why." He started, watching as her eyes furrowed in confusion and worry. Swallowing hard he continued.
"Ever since the day I saw you on that train a couple years ago, I knew that you were special. You're beauty and spirit entranced me despite our lack of conversation." He chuckled lightly, causing her to smile at the memory.
"Then in Narnia I fell in love with you and we married. Which was by far the best part of my life. And when I lost you for that year I never imagined that I could be happy again. Yet we found our way back to one another." He rambled and paused. Clearing his throat he looked up into her eyes, suffocating her with the intensity in them.
"Spending a life with you is all I could ever ask for. And so I would like to spend another lifetime with you as one just isn't enough." He told her with a grin and slid out of his seat, getting down on one knee, his hand holding onto her tightly. Finally picking up on what was happening Aleisa's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes tearing up. Peter grinned at her reaction and reached into his pocket to finally put out the box, containing his grandmother's ring that his mother had acquired for him. The small stone sparkled in the lantern light, reflecting off of the other diamond chips that were embedded into the silver band.
"Aleisa will you do me the honor of marrying me…..again." he asked, staring up at her with nothing but unbridled love shining in his heated gaze. Aleisa chocked out a laugh before beaming down at him.
"I would love to. Yes!" she nodded eagerly and barely let him slip on the ring before launching herself at him. Peter grunted in surprise and managed to keep the two of them from flailing backwards. He wrapped his arms tightly around his new fiancé before pulling back and sealing the deal with a heated kiss. Aleisa grinned and hummed in contentment as they slowed the pace, lingering their lips on one another before pulling away. Another lifetime together couldn't come soon enough for them.
