Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or Narnia. They are property of C.S. Lewis.


Summer 1948

Peter wondered vaguely whether Lucy would actually want something in the way of a party for her sixteenth birthday. Apparently, sixteen was special, according to Susan. But Lucy…well, she liked to have people around, but he wasn't sure a party was quite the right thing. At a loss, he went up to his room and found Edmund there, reading, as he usually did.

"What are we to do?" he asked, looking hopeless.

Edmund looked up. "With what?"

"Lucy's birthday is coming up, and Su gave me the impression that sixteen is very a very important age," Peter explained. "Do we throw a party? Do we stay home?"

"Well," Edmund said, "What did Susan say to do?"

"Throw a party." The two boys were silent for a moment, and then they heard the sound of someone coming up the stairs. They both jumped when the door burst open and Lucy came in, beaming.

"Guess what," she said.

"What?" her brothers asked.

"Mum and I ran into Susan in town today and she promised that, whatever we did for my birthday, she would be there for it." Lucy looked to each of her brothers. "Isn't that wonderful?"

"It is," Peter said. "Say, Lucy, is there anything you would like to do for your birthday? Anything in particular?"

"This might sound silly," Lucy said, looking thoughtful, "but I really just want to spend it with the family. I don't really want a party, fun as they are. Susan seems to think I need one, since I'm getting to be 'that age', but I'm not exactly sure about that."

"That settles it then," Edmund said, looking relieved. "We won't throw you a party. Now, I think Peter and I need some time to think."

"About what?" Lucy asked, looking confused.

"You didn't think we would let you plan your own birthday, did you? We're trying to surprise you!"

"Oh!" Lucy's eyes widened. "Well, in that case, I'll leave." She grinned. "I can't wait to see what you two have come up with." She left the room, practically skipping.

"Neither can I," Peter said, staring at the still open door.

After much talking and planning, Peter and Edmund managed to come up with something after all. They remembered, in Narnia, how Lucy would always like to spend a portion of her birthdays at the beach at Cair Paravel, which was possible because her birthday was in the summer. England's seashore wasn't the same as Narnia's, but they knew Lucy would enjoy a trip there regardless. As long as the weather held, and the water wasn't too cold, the day would be perfect for her.

Two days later, on her birthday, the family woke up early and began packing the car. Peter had wanted to drive, but Mr. Pevensie insisted on driving instead. Lucy, for her part, couldn't care less who drove, so long as they got there. She stood by the door, waiting for Susan to show up. It had been a long time since Susan had last been with the family.

As they packed the car, Edmund muttered to Peter, "I just hope Su doesn't get into any arguments with Lucy, should Lucy mention Narnia."

"She won't," Peter said. "At least, she shouldn't. She knows how much this day means to Lucy."

Susan arrived a few minutes later and was nearly knocked over by Lucy, who hugged her as tight as anyone can be hugged. Peter and Edmund grinned at each other; Lucy's happiness was infectious, and they were surprised that she was so happy even though the day hadn't really started yet.

The beach was crowded, which could only be expected during the summer time. The Pevensies arrived just before noon and set up. Lucy wanted to go into the water, while Susan took her place laying on a towel, next to their parents. Lucy walked over to her and frowned. "Susan," she said, "won't you go in the water with me?"

"I'm not sure," Susan said, hesitantly. "I don't think I want to get wet today."

Lucy looked slightly upset. Behind her, Peter and Edmund exchanged a look and both agreed that something needed to be done. Peter stepped forward and said, "But Su, you used to love to swim."

"That was then," Susan said. "Perhaps I've grown out of it."

"It's Lu's birthday," Edmund pointed out. "The least you can do is join her in the water." He gave her a slight smile. "What do you say?"

Susan found herself trapped by all three of her siblings, who were giving her pleading looks. Lucy's was the most convincing, and despite having been away from home for a long time Susan still wasn't immune to it. She sighed and stood up. "Fine," she said, "but only for a little while."

"Thank you, Susan!" Lucy said, grinning widely. She grabbed her older sister's hand and half-dragged her towards the water. "You won't regret it."

As they reached the water, Susan remarked, "I thought you would have outgrown this sort of thing."

"Why?" Lucy asked, facing the water. "Anyone who's completely grown up is also completely boring. It's much more fun to be a child once in awhile." She walked slowly into the water and shivered—it was cold, but refreshing for the hot day. The water went up to her ankles, but the waves occasionally came up to her knees. She walked further and the water got deeper, and her siblings followed her. Then she turned to them.

Susan was staring longingly out into the ocean, most likely thinking about when she would swim for hours in the seas that bordered Cair Paravel. Lucy grinned mischievously at her siblings. Peter and Edmund noticed this, and glanced at Susan, who seemed to be lost in thought. They both shouted, "Susan!" just as Lucy splashed her older sister with the cold water.

Susan gasped as the wave of water hit her in the face, and for a second she looked as if she might yell. Then she saw that her brothers and sister were laughing, and perhaps this made her less angry because they looked so happy, and she smiled slightly. Then she bent over, low, and did something that no one really expected her to do. She splashed Lucy back.

All hell broke loose, and soon the siblings were engaged in a water fight. Peter found a piece of seaweed and tossed it at Edmund, who found some more and threw it at both Peter and Susan. Lucy laughed at how ridiculous her older siblings looked covered in seaweed, until she too was covered in it. On the shore, their parents watched with amused expressions on their faces.

After the seaweed fight was over, the siblings took to jumping around in the waves and, after that, they sat where the water lapped up against the sand, half-drying in the sun. There was a content silence. Lucy closed her eyes and imagined that Cair Paravel was just behind them, and for a second she felt as if it really was there.

"I feel as if we're home," she sighed, and no one had to ask what she meant. Peter and Edmund made noises of agreement, and Susan frowned slightly. Lucy did not elaborate.

A second silence lasted for quite awhile, and then Susan abruptly stood and returned to where their parents were. This broke the mood, and Lucy looked at her brothers in confusion. Peter said, "I don't think she likes being reminded."

"Why not?" Lucy asked. "I know she's upset we can't go back, but think of what we've done right now. We've found Narnia here."

Edmund grinned. "That's quite the birthday gift!"

"Thank you," Lucy said, grinning.

"What are you thanking us for?" Edmund asked. "You really gave it to yourself, you know. We only planned to come here. You were the one who saw it this way—as Narnia. A home away from home…"

Peter glanced at Susan and sighed. Lucy stood up and said, "I think I'll go sit with her for awhile. I think she wanted to talk to me about…being more mature now that I'm older." She made a face, and then laughed. "I hope I never get boring."

As she walked away, Peter muttered, "I wish Susan could see it."

"Oh, I think she already has," Edmund said. "She just doesn't like to admit that she was wrong."

"I don't know," Peter said. "I suppose we should just forget about it. After all, you said it yourself—no arguments today." He stood up, and Edmund followed suit. "Let's go and see what they're up to. After all," he grinned, "we're older, too, and I'm sure we have good advice on growing up…even if Lucy's already done it once."

They joined Susan and Lucy and talked of growing up and gave her advice. Susan talked of fashion, and Peter and Edmund watched their sister and reflected on how wonderful of a person she was, and how great she was going to become. And Lucy was reminded of another time when they sat on a beach and talked of growing up, and of suitors, and of Peter and Edmund threatening said suitors with their swords. She wanted Susan to be reminded of it as well, but she wasn't sure that Susan was open enough to the idea.

Then, Lucy thought back to when Susan had stared wistfully into the open sea with that faraway look in her eyes and it gave her hope. It was, after all, a start, and that was really what she wanted for her birthday.

Author's Note: I'm sorry I haven't posted in awhile, but school's been really busy, and it gets hard during the school-year to find a lot of free time. As I've said before, I will finish this story, even if it takes me awhile. Thank you for reading, and thank you for being patient. I hope you've enjoyed it so far!