Peter led Rachel into his family's dining room. The table was set with beautiful china and brass candle holders complete with peach colored candles. In the middle of the table was a large roast. Around it were various vegetables and side dishes. Rachel's mouth began to water; it all smelled so delicious.

In no time at all the family was situated around the table. It was a tad bit crowded, but Rachel felt comfortable. The family did not appear to be bothered at all by the closeness. Gregory shifted in his seat. Susan reached down and squeezed his hand comfortingly. He pulled his hand away. He was not a big fan of public displays of affection. Truth be told, he wasn't a fan of showing physical affection at any time, not even holding hands.

Susan sighed, and turned her eyes across the table to her brother and his girlfriend. Their foreheads were touching as Peter whispered something to Rachel. Her smile was wide, and from the look of their body positions, they were most certainly holding hands. Edmund, who was situated next to Peter was pointedly avoiding looking at the happy couple. He found his brothers mushy behavior embarrassing. Lucy was stealing dreamy glances at the two of them. Mrs. Pevensie smiled at both couples.

"Peter dear," she asked. "Would you please say grace?"

The family immediately bowed their heads. Rachel followed suite. Her family was religious as well. It was nice to be praying with a group again. Her father was part of the American Air force. As a result she and her siblings had moved a lot as children. When the war had ended, and her father had been honorably discharged, her family had settled in England. As Black people, England was an easier place to live. She reflected that if she was in her native country Peter and her could certainly not date. It was a sobering thought. America had a long way to go. She thought about her family, she had not seen her siblings in a long time. She missed her them. It was nice to be sitting around a table with a family.

As Peter prayed, Gregory watched the family. His parents had never been religious and the idea of praying was foreign to him. He also was uncomfortable being so closely seated to others. He was an only child and he normally sat at one end of a very large, and very empty table.

Peter finished grace, and the family dug in. As the steaming platters of food were passed around, the family broke into conversation. Peter recounted his college experience so far, while Edmund talked about how well his rugby team was doing. Susan spoke about some classmates and Lucy interjected with question after question while Mrs. Pevensie commented on all her children were saying. Rachel took it all in. All of the voices around the table overlapped. Rachel found that sound rather enjoyable.

Gregory did not. The incessant barrage of questions firing from his girlfriend's little sister was causing him to develop a migraine. He also found Edmund's talk of sports dull. He was not a fan of physical activity.

"Speaking of sports, we are going to have to play Cricket before I leave. It's been a while since I've seen you play Su. Still any good?" Peter asked his sister while heaping a pile of mashed potatoes onto is plate.

Gregory turned to Susan, "You never told me that you played sports."

Susan looked embarrassed. "I used to play, when we were children."

Edmund interrupted. "Don't be ashamed Su. You're the best cricket player of the family."

"Yeah," Lucy added. "Own up to it. Besides, we're still young enough to run around outside."

"You should all play." Mrs. Pevensie agreed. "Gregory, Rachel, do you play?"

Rachel paused from cutting her meat to answer. "Honestly, I have never played Cricket. I was pretty good at softball when I was younger though."

Gregory shrugged. "I never played as a child. My parents generally disapprove anything that distracts me from my studies."

"Well," Peter said. "it's settled then. We'll have to teach Rachel and Gregory the sport after dinner." He and Edmund exchanged glances when they saw Gregory's worried facial expression. This was the perfect excuse to rough up the pretty boy. Rachel noticed their glance.

"Be good," she whispered to Peter. He simply smiled.

"Not a chance," he whispered back.

"So Rachel, tell us about yourself," Mrs. Pevensie said.

"Yes, please do! We already know Gregory." Lucy sat up.

"Oh, well what do you want me to tell? I'm American, but I have been living in England for about five years now. My parents live in the countryside with my siblings. I'm the oldest of six."

"So you have a big family as well then?" Edmund asked. "Do you like it?"

"I wouldn't trade it for the world. We are very close. They are supposed to come visit me soon. You will have to meet them when they come."

"That would be great!" Lucy exclaimed. The rest of the dinner, they traded family stories. Rachel learned that Peter had once tried to fly by leaping off of the roof and had broken his arm. She also learned that Edmund and Peter had gotten into all sorts of trouble last summer when they had broken the window of a next door neighbor during a particularly intense game of Rugby. Even Susan spoke up, telling a story about the first time they had ever been to the beach and how she and Lucy had been pummeled by the waves while looking for shells. Rachel laughed along with the family.

The only one who remained silent was Gregory.

"All right," Edmund announced after the table had been cleared and the dishes were washed and in the rack drying, "Ten minutes to change, then I'll see you guys down here."

There was a flurry of motion as everyone, Susan included, rushed up the stairs to change. Gregory and Rachel stood uncertainly at the bottom of the stairs.

"Peter?"

"Yeah?" he called from the top of the staircase.

"I didn't bring clothes to play Cricket in."

"Nor did I," added Gregory.

"No problem, Su will let you borrow some. And Gregory, come with me, I'll get you something."

Susan beckoned Rachel to the room she shared with Lucy. Lucy had already shed her dress and was pulling on shorts and a play shirt.

"Are you ready Rachel?" Lucy asked excitedly. Rachel smiled at her. She was already fond of this little girl.

"Sure am. Are you going to be on my team?" Lucy grinned.

"That would be awesome! Susan is so good, just watch!" Lucy looked at her sister with pride.

Susan smiled slightly. "We'll see Lu, it's been a while." She handed Rachel a small stack of clothing. "We'll just change with our backs to one another. Fair?"

Rachel accepted. "Thanks so much for all this. Just don't make me look too bad on the field. I'm trying to impress your brother," she joked.

Lucy giggled and Susan grinned. "I don't think you need to worry about that," the sisters said at the same time. Soon all of them were giggling. By the time they emerged from the room, they were all three giddy with excitement.

A/N: little longer than normal. The next chapter is coming soon, I promise. It will be more like part two of this chapter. Thanks so much for the reviews! J