Peter walked through the halls of the manor, Edmund at his side. They didn't speak, and for that Peter was grateful. After all of the confessions and oaths of redemption, Peter didn't think he could take much more conversation between him and his…

Peter sighed. He still couldn't find the right word to describe Edmund. Calling him "King" seemed too formal, and honestly Peter didn't know if he could so readily pledge his allegiance as he once had. Oh, surely he would defend Edmund if it were life or death, but to call him "King" was almost too fond and intimate for Peter. "Husband" and "lover" were out of the question. If "King" was too intimate, than the use of the other two was just agony.

Peter mulled over this as he and Edmund made their way to the lunch prepared for them. So lost was he in his thoughts that he almost walked into the closed dining room door.

"Peter!" Edmund called softly. The High King looked up to find his nose inches from the Maple. He stopped short, and flicked his eyes to Edmund, who had turned to face him should he have needed a hand to stop his momentum.

"Thank you…Edmund." And that was it. That was all Peter could call him. Not "love" or "Husband", "King", "Friend", or even "Brother". No, not even "Ed". Just Edmund. That was his name. And that was all.

He turned the handle, and moved into the dining room.

EPEPEPEPEPEPEPEP

Edmund tried not to wince at the lack of feeling in Peter's voice as he murmured Edmund's given name. Once, that name had tumbled from Peter's lips with such affection, such love, that Edmund had thrilled to hear it again, had often encouraged Peter say it, again-moan it, again. Now, it sounded like the name of a stranger Peter had just met.

It was maddening.

Edmund wanted to grab Peter and press the words "I love you" over and over again in to the High King's skin until Peter finally realized that, this time around, Edmund wasn't leaving. He wasn't going to give up, or deny them, or do anything to go against those bonds of marriage that he had sworn before Aslan, King, and Country to uphold. He would be by Peter's side until their dying day, and would walk the paths of Aslan's Country with him until the end of Time and beyond. He would be with Peter for Forever and a Day, a Year, an Eternity, and be glad for it.

Lunch would have been a fun affair in any other setting. The professor was a lively chap with a wide range of knowledge and a contagious laugh. But with Peter so put-on and half fake beside him, Edmund couldn't really enjoy the company. He could tell that Peter was trying to soldier through for the Professor's sake, but his heart wasn't in it.

Edmund could tell that the Professor could sense the dissension between them, and though he smiled at the young men for their efforts, he kindly called the end of lunch, early. Edmund sent an apologetic smile to the Professor after Peter made his exit, but Diggory just smiled kindly and waved him off.

"It'll get better, young King. You'll see." And the older man was off through the far door. Edmund turned to follow Peter's path out into the hall.

EPEPEPEPEPEPEPEPEPEPEP

Edmund found Peter in the Library, perusing the many stacks for some afternoon reading. Edmund was glad to see that some habits hadn't changed, at least.

"Hello, Peter," Edmund murmured as he approached the blond. "May I sit with you? Or would you like some time and peace to yourself, my king?"

Peter regarded Edmund as he withdrew a book from the shelves and moved to a couch by the bay window. After settling himself comfortably to one side he opened the book to the first chapter, skipping the preface, and relaxed into the arm of the couch. Edmund, thinking he would be ignored, readied himself to take his leave. Peter's voice stopped him before he could take a single step.

"If you can sit and not stare, you are more than welcome to read with me."

And with that, Peter was lost in his book. Edmund tried not to smile. He picked a book from the nearest shelf, not caring the title or the subject, and settled into the second couch facing Peter. As requested, he did not stare, but forced himself to become engrossed in the book he had picked. Funnily enough, Edmund discovered that he had picked a book on ancient sea travel. In minutes, he was lost in his own book and his comparisons of these earthly travels with his own Narnian, Dawn Treader one.

As he read, he had his first idea of how to woo his beloved back into his arms. Content to be where he was, he faded into his thoughts.

EPEPEPEPEPEPEPEPEPEPEP

Hours later, Peter glanced up from his book to rest his eyes, and found Edmund sprawled comfortably across from him. He watched as Edmund moved to turn a page and rest his head sideways on his hand. In that moment, Peter was struck once again by how beautiful Edmund was, and how familiar this scene was to him. Reading together in the library or the study of the palace had always been a favored pastime, and Peter found his heart swelling despite himself. These moments had been treasured, and where once he had been sure he'd never experience this kind of calm ever again, here it was like an old friend. Something he had been aching for, appearing when he'd least expected it, and needed it most.

"Edmund," He called softly, rousing Edmund and startling himself. He hadn't meant to say anything. The name had just slipped past his lips, without his knowledge that it had been resting there behind them in the first place. It had just sprung into being, as if his heart and not he had spoken.

"Yes, Peter?" Edmund answered, curious and patiently waiting. His dark eyes were kind and gentle, if a little fuzzy from focusing on the text of his book for so long.

"I—" Peter didn't know. "Nothing. Sorry." He murmured, ducking his head behind his book as a faint blush rose on his cheeks, unbidden. "Carry on."

As Edmund watched Peter duck and blush, he allowed a small smile to creep across his features. He dropped his gaze back to his book. "It's alright, Peter. I'm sure you'll remember whatever it was."

He watched Peter's head shoot back up to him in his peripheral vision, but didn't look away from his book as he schooled his features to a more neutral pose. He didn't want Peter to know that Edmund had understood that call probably better than Peter, himself, had. Not yet, at least. Peter returned to his book, and Edmund let the smile steal across his face, once again.

There was hope, yet. In fact, there was an awful lot of hope.

EPEPEPEPEPEPEPEPEPEP

AN: IT'S ALIVE! Or, I am, at least. ;) This really kind of came out of nowhere. I was just trying to figure out how to get this story moving again, and all of a sudden I just had to listen to "I'll See you, again" and "In the Library" from the Easy Virtue Soundtrack, and "Kisses and Cake" from P.S I Love You….and Boom! We have a chapter! I know it's short, but I think I know where the next chapter is headed…and how it starts. ;)

Thanks for sticking with me! Please Read and Review! It really does help me write the next chapter!

As always, here's a little preview of some dialogue that might make an appearance, soon:

"Bless this ground, and the life it harbors. Bless the Animals, the animals, and the rest, that they might grow heavy and bear fruit. Bless the Spring, that it will be a first step to a good harvest. Aslan bless the soil beneath my King, the trees above his head, and the sky that harbors the Heavens where my Husband's eyes currently cast their gaze."

"Edmund!"