Title: Because Peter Said So Again
Author: Rolletti
This story takes place five years after the monarch returned from Narnia

Ages: Peter 18. Susan: 17, Edmund 15, Lucy 13

No Slash What So Ever

Disclaimer: Yep, I do not own any part of C.S. Lewis' works, and I'm still regrettably poor

Special thanks to: FelipeMarcusThomas, Paigeygirl, PERCABETH3, Athena Silverwof and EdmundPevensie forever moore and many others. Thank you so much for reviewing!

Ms. Bonnie jiggled, wiggled and waddled as fast as she could to reach the front porch. Her dress was a bright, moving garden across the infinite grains of sand, her handkerchief waving in the air. "Sister, oh sister," said Ms. Bonnie, "Did you hear that?"

"I think the whole neighborhood heard it! Where were you?" asked Ms. Evelyn as she helped her heaving sister up the porch steps and into her chair. Their eyes were huge at the latest news on their strip of beach.

"I was on my way over with this plate of cookies when I heard all that shouting from the Pevensie's. I froze dead in my tracks, I couldn't move!" The women pulled out their knitting and continued. "Well, it would seem that the older son disapprove of the Jamieson's nephew's interest in his sister Susan. Good looking lad."

"Well she's a beautiful girl. I wondered why she wasn't taking strolls in the evening with a suitor," said Ms. Evelyn.

"When I was her age I had a string of suitors. Now mind, I wasn't as beautiful as her, but I had my fair share." Bonnie said with pride.

"There is the father; I wonder why didn't he put an end to such a display?"

"You're going to think me silly for saying this, but…well sometimes their roles seems reversed, he and the older boy Peter. I noticed that just by watching how he interacts with his siblings," said Bonnie.

"No doubt a lot of roles have been altered due to that wretched war."

"Well, a girl as beautiful as Susan will attract more and more young men. What's he going to do, slay them all?" the women scrunched up their noses at each other and laughed before returning to their knitting.

"So, you heard what she said. Do you think she'll see the boy despite her brother?" asked Evelyn.

"I don't know, the saga continues," they laughed again.

"Oh look, there are the parents coming this way."

"Do invite them over, Evelyn. Maybe we can glean a few more morsels. Oh, I can't wait to tell the girls," said Ms. Bonnie adjusting her glasses.

"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Pevensie. Nice weather we're having. Would you like to join us for some lemonade?" asked Evelyn from her palace of shells.

"No thank you. We're just out for a short walk," said Mrs. Pevensie with a smile as she interlocked her arm with Henry's.

"Another time then," waved Ms. Bonnie.

"Nosey hens," whispered Henry, drawing a gasp out of Helen.

"Henry Pevensie, you should be ashamed."

"Why, that's precisely what they are. I'm sure they heard all of what just happened between Susan and Peter. They just want more fodder so they can gossip with the other nosey hens along the beach." They continued to walk in silence as the summer breeze played with their hair.

"What shall we do, Henry?"

"The question is what can we do if anything? Do you think she'll see the lad?"

Helen was quiet for a while, pondering. "No, but I feel someday, she will see someone without Peter's consent. Heaven help her when that day comes."

"Well she is almost grown, I don't think it will be all that bad." Helen did not hold that same belief. She understood why some boys in the neighborhood avoided Susan. She will never forget how Edmund literally brought down a boy three times his size because he ignored the warning to stop teasing and flirting with his sister. The boy just cowered on the ground as Edmund stood over him yelling something about a Rabadash complex. He coldly told the boy to never show his face around his sister again. Helen witnessed the whole thing, and saw for the first time just how cold Edmund's eyes could be. Edmund usually listened to Susan's advice, and is shamed when she felt the need to scold him…except on the subject of flirtatious boys. He's just as bad as Peter.

"Have you ever heard of a Rabadash?" asked Helen.

NnNnNnNn

Edmund found Peter silent on the front porch watching their parents go for a walk down the beach. "Are they going for a walk, or are they escaping?" asked Edmund.

Peter never took his eyes off them, "I think I scared them."

Edmund could see the tension radiating off his brother, the fire in his eyes. He sat closer, and softly laid his hand on Peters arm. When Peter looked into his brother's serene eyes, all the stress of the confrontation slowly faded away. "Is she alright?" asked Peter worried.

"Lucy's with her."

"We're losing her, Ed. I felt it before Lucy's dream."

"Pete, please don't."

"You've seen it too, Ed."

Reluctantly, Edmund nodded his head in agreement. He looked away down the beach and said, "Blast those Madeline sisters!"

"Edmund," warned Peter.

"Well, they're looking this way…again." He rolled his eyes. "They gossip worse than the wash maids at the Cair."

Peter chuckled as he remembered how the rumor mill spun out of control at times.

*Narnia, Golden Age*

Mr. Tumnus was invited to the private quarters of the monarchs to take a spot of tea in their dinning room. It was a real treat to be invited there, only those closest to the monarchs ever get invited the inner sanctum. Whoever is invited get to see them as a family, and what a joy that is. Queen Lucy's shoes are scattered about the place, King Edmunds law books are on a side table near the fire, all of their crowns are on some surface or another, which exasperates their valets and ladies in waiting when not found, with much respect of course, and the High King can stretch out as he pleases without royal etiquette.

The table was large enough for the royals, and a few intimate guests. The room was cozy, with a comfortable sofa and two stuffed chairs you could fall asleep in if the notion strikes you. There was a ball in one corner, and an on-going gold chess set in another. Mr. Beaver carved toy models of Centaurs, Fauns and King Franks flying Horse, Fledge for Queen Lucy. Once the food arrived the family served themselves, no one waited on them in that room. They were simply siblings seeing to the care and well being of one another, a place where they were allowed to be children. It's never used every day, but they try as often as they could.

Despite all that, Tumnus made sure to give his scarf an extra washing, and combed every inch of his hair, on and off his head. For Tumnus, only his best for the Kings and Queens of Narnia.

As Tumnus was eating a piece of sardine, Queen Susan watched him with a keen eye. "Go ahead a say it, Mr. Tumnus. I know you are dying to tell us something juicy."

Lucy giggled at his shocked expression.

"Susan!" exclaimed Peter.

"Well, I did hear a bit of news. Duchess Wombat's cousin from the Western Woods is here for a visit. One of the wash maids said she entered the visiting Duke PawPaw's room, and saw him pulling the Duchess' cousin out of his bed, AND he hugged her senseless.

"What?" asked Susan, shocked as her siblings eyebrows rose into their hair.

"She was mortified when she found out he thought her a teddy bear left there as a present by his wife."

"A present indeed."

"What was she doing in his bed?" asked Lucy.

"I don't think I want to hear this," said Edmund.

"She said she was sleeping, but rumor has it she wanted a taste of his famous honey drops he keep hidden under his pillow. Everyone knows it's there. I've even heard the wash maids comment on how delicious they are, so you know they've had a taste."

"What happened, next," whispered Lucy intrigued.

Peter and Edmund rolled their eyes.

"Mrs. PawPaw walked in and gasped at the sight. The Duke dropped Miss Penelope, that's the cousin's name, on the bed. You know what he did next," said Mr. Tumnus nodding his head while pursing his lips.

"No, he didn't," said Susan.

"Yes, he did. He sucked his paws.

Everyone gasped.

"Yes, right in front of everyone. His wife was more mortified than seeing the Duchess' cousin."

"Oh how embarrassing. He tried so hard to break that habit," said Lucy.

"Miss Penelope said she must have gotten turned around, because she thought she was in her room. With five floors I can see how that would happen, but she's supposed to be on the west wing, and she was found on the east.

"That's likely possible, it took me quite some time to navigate the halls when we first arrived," said Susan.

"Well, she would have been believed had she not asked for a honey drop before she left the room. So the maid said."

"Well I heard…" said Edmund, but bit his lip in silence. Peter smirked at him.

"And what pray tell have you heard little brother?" Peter chuckled in his goblet.

"I might have overheard the upstairs maid, and my valet, say Miss Penelope has a paw sucking problem of her own and hid in the PawPaw's room to indulge," he turned scarlet after Peter almost fell out of his chair laughing.

"Or maybe she felt faint after her travels, and the High King, courteous as he is," Peter placed his hand across his heart, "put her in that room to rest, unaware it was occupied by the PawPaws!" he declared. Finished with his tea he laughed all the way to the door. He then glanced to look at their shocked faces and continued laughing out of the room.

Present Day England

Lucy found Peter sitting on the sofa with a worried brow. The room had a soft light with the beginning rays of sunset, but it felt so gloomy, like a funeral. When Peter saw her standing before him, he smiled lightly and lifted his arm towards her. Lucy snuggled next to him as he wrapped his arm securely around her. With a deep sigh he asked, "How is she?"

"I've talked to her, I think I was able to get her to understand, more like remember who her big brother is."

"I had no right to lose my temper. I just…"

"It's alright Peter." Peter pulled her in closer and kissed the top of her head. "You're a jewel, Lu."

Lucy looked up at Peter and met the stormy eyes. "Susan will not see that boy, Peter, because you said so."

"I know," he said quietly playing with her fingers as he held her hand.

"My king," Peter started at the title. "You have always trusted our sister, trust her now. It is only a walk on the beach, not a proposal of marriage. Every boy or man is not the Tisroc's son, and you must not view them as such." Peter's right brow went up. "I know, Peter, but someday you must yield. What if someday she truly falls in love?"

"She's too young, Lu."

"Only on the outside, Peter." Peter sighed as he eyed his very wise and grownup sister, trapped in a body too small for her wisdom.

"I'll talk to her," he said. Lucy pulled his head down to hers and kissed him on the cheek.

"Not just yet, give her some time."

To lara1401112 sorry, but you didn't sign in, and I couldn't send you a reply. This story has been on my computer for, I'm embarrassed to say, too many years. I have everything written except the very last chapter. I wouldn't say Peter is psycho, it really is a reference from The Taste of Murder. I guess I should include that in the header. It's difficult being a parent of a sibling while still a child, and Peter had been there and done that. Now he's doing it again. Could you imagine. Plus I'm writing the cultural standards of the 1940's. Good girls didn't just go off with boys like they do today. Thanks for the review, I really appreciate it. ;)

Rolletti