Disclaimer: Nothing is mine.

A/N: Sorry for the long wait. School was a hassle hence the delay. Thank you for the reviews. I'm glad the change is being regarded in a positive way :D It makes me very happy, especially if I read all those great reviews :D So here is the next chapter, and I hope you guys will review and make me even more happy :D

Where Even Strangers Make More Sense

After the doctor had established that I had a concussion and I should stay up for at least eight hours, there was only one thing left to do. Find out where my family was. When I left the platform that day because I got pulled into Narnia the war was still going on. Apparently the war had been over for over a year now. That meant, that my dad must've been back from the war. As Peter suggested phoning them first to check whether they still lived in the same place I felt this strange churning in the pit of my stomach. What if they weren't there anymore? Peter assured me I shouldn't assume anything without finding out. I went with that. As Peter waited outside the phone booth I dialled my aunt's number. Peter gave me an assuring smile that offered some comfort.

"Hello?"

"Aunt Maya?" I whispered and I heard a gasp on the other side.

"Ana?" I nodded but then realized she couldn't see me so I forced myself to answer but my voice wasn't cooperating.

"Y-yes." I stumbled over my words. At least I knew that they were still there. "It's me."

"Who is this? I swear to God if I find out who made this call I will personally come over and slap you so hard that you will feel it throb for the next ten years." The viciousness in her voice startled me.

"B-but."

"N-no buts. Ana has been dead for four years now. You should be ashamed of yourself, tainting my girl's memory like this." She hung up after that and I couldn't feel my limp hands. I was dead? For four years. I tried putting two and two together. That could only mean that I died when I went to Narnia. I felt a strong gust of cold wind as the door of the phone opened behind me. A warm hand clasped itself around my cold one and pulled the phone out of my hand.

"And? Any luck?"Peter asked.

"I'm dead." I murmured numbly as Peter pulled me out of the phone booth. "How can I be dead?" I felt my heart tear and I pulled away from the warmth that Peter provided. I took shaky breaths but the panic was too much and I felt my walls crumble. "T-this can't be happening." I sobbed and put my hands in front of my face, before I felt warm arms embrace me.

Peter's soft hushed voice whispered in my ear but I couldn't decipher the meanings. After all, I was dead. Something I couldn't understand. I can't be dead. I am not dead. I'm here aren't I?

When I calmed down somewhat Peter pulled away and I couldn't help but notice that he always put some distance between us so it wouldn't get too personal. I felt his thumb wipe away tears that strayed and held on to his arms. To the outside world it would look like a normal scene. A couple comforting each other but we knew better. Because to Peter I was nothing more than a stranger who happened to be closer to him than he to her.

I was glad that the hostile demeanour was leaving Peter and it was making room for the Peter I liked. The warm and affectionate Peter. The Peter that knew more about women than let on. The Peter that was Lucy's big brother and wasn't afraid to show sibling affection.

"Feeling better?" He asked and I slowly nodded. He let go of my face, forcing me to drop my hands from his arms. I looked up into his eyes that sympathized with me more than ever.

"What am I going to do now?" I pondered out loud and Peter sighed before putting his hand on the small of my back urging me to walk.

"You are going to come with me." Peter said and I nodded. I wasn't going to protest, after all, what choice did I have? Exactly none. "We will figure this out Ana. Don't worry." I closed my eyes and let Peter lead me to his apartment. How could everything change so much in only a split second. A few hours ago I was still in Narnia and now I'm back in London, four years in the future and supposedly dead. Peter linked his arm with mine and as we walked our steps echoed in the evening, alerting everyone of our presence.

^*^

"I called Edmund. He has agreed to meet us with Lucy tomorrow." I nodded slowly. I was sitting on the couch, doing nothing but stare out of the window. Peter had moved to close the blinds but I had stopped him. I was fine with the blinds being open.

"What about Susan?" I inquired and Peter's face changed. He shrugged and as a shadow darkened his face he moved to the kitchen. I could hear him fumble with cups.

Peter's place was nice. Cosy, comfortable and obviously a bachelor's house because it had this certain touch to it. But it was home and he at least had a place for himself. I found out he finished studying Medicine at Cambridge. I never figured he would've studied something like this. I was finally getting used to the idea of him being a king, but now he was back to being normal. Being normal contained doing a job. But it was either this or join the army. He wanted to join the army. But it was against his mother's wishes, hence he decided not to.

"Here you go." Peter said as he handed me a cup of tea. I smiled.

"Thank you." He gave me a small nod and sat down on the other side of the couch. My attention was still focused on the rain that crashed like waves against the window.

"You can sleep in the bedroom. I will take the couch." This pulled me out of my silent misery. I looked at Peter wide eyed.

"Oh no. I can't do that." I protested. "I can stay on the couch, you can sleep in your own bed." I said.

"Ana. It is fine. You are my guest and you can sleep in the bed. I'm sure that will be more comfortable." I felt uncomfortable with the thought of him sleeping on the couch while I hogged up his bed. It didn't feel right.

"Please, Peter. It's fine. I can take the couch, don't make yourself uncomfortable because of me." I couldn't put him in such a position.

"I insist." Peter urged and he smiled. "Really." I smiled back weakly.

"Alright, if you say so." I brought the cup to my mouth and sipped the tea. I was getting comfortable with Peter the adult and started to see the differences in the Peter the adolescent and Peter the adult. But I also saw the similarities, the things that could never change. Like the way he would pinch the bridge of his nose when he was frustrated. Or the lack of subtly, something he possessed. But also the way he was so suspicious of people making him somewhat rude, but I knew it was meant in a good way. It took me a while to convince him I was from Narnia but once he did, everything seemed to fall in place.

"Will we find Prince Caspian?" I had asked him in the hospital as we waited in the waiting room for a doctor that could attend my injury. Peter had turned to me.

"I'm not sure whether I should tell you that."

"Why not?"

"Because I wouldn't want to change something if you go back." And exactly those words were what sealed my fate. In my eyes but also in his.

"If I go back." I reminded him.

Now sitting on the couch like we were strangers, even though I knew him so much better than that, I couldn't help but wonder, what was going to happen to me if I didn't make it back. I was supposedly dead and trying to make my relatives understand why I'm back and where I was in the past four years was a hard task, if not impossible. But somehow I knew that if we crossed that bridge it would be inevitable.

"What are you thinking about?" Peter's soft voice pulled me out of my reverie and I had told him what was on my mind before I could even blink. I had to remember that the bond between the two of us was different than the one I remember. But it was so hard to keep the Peter I know and the Peter I'm sitting with apart. Because they're one and the same. But I'm the only one that knows this.

"You shouldn't worry about that. We will find a way to tell your relatives what happened. But since we don't know ourselves it's best to leave that for another day. After all, we need to see if Lucy and Edmund might know something. Maybe even remember you." I nodded. Why they couldn't remember me was a question itself. But I did know it had to do with the fact I was dead.

"What about Susan?" I asked about Susan again. "She was in my class." Peter raised his eyebrows at that.

"That might be something, although I'm not so sure." I frowned at that.

"Why not? I'm sure she knows who I am, what happened to me." Peter nodded.

"Susan and I aren't really on speaking terms." Peter sighed and rested his elbows on his knees as he bended forward. The cup still in his hands. The tension in the air was thick, but it mostly was between Peter and the subject Susan. I put the cup on the table and put my hand on his arm.

"What happened?" Peter looked at my hand before his eyes trailed up my arm. I could see my reflection in his eyes, he was that close. A shiver went up my spine and I felt goose bumps cover my skin. The attraction between the two of us was old for me, but that didn't mean that this Peter was used to it. I slowly retracted my hand but didn't look away. Instead I found myself being pulled closer to him by an invisible force. I wasn't the only one though. Peter was moving closer as well, we were like magnets. Being pulled to each other, our attraction towards each other was sizzling with energy. I didn't know how or when but somehow we were this close that I could feel his breath on my lips. I felt the pit of my stomach tighten.

Someone else though, had the worst timing and I found myself pulling away again, putting some distance between us again. I felt remotely stupid, what was I thinking? I couldn't just go and kiss Peter Pevensie. Again. This was a different Peter, a Peter that hadn't kissed me yet. As Peter got up and walked to the front door to see who was knocking, I let out a deep breath.

"Oh dear." I mumbled and I put my palm against my chest. My heart was fluttering like crazy. I wondered if he could hear it.

"Peter!" I heard a male's voice at the door and I got up on my feet, seeing Peter's back but that's it.

"Evan, what are you doing here?" Peter asked. I heard Evan groan.

"You forgot, didn't you?" He said exasperated. "You were supposed to tutor me tonight." I heard Peter sigh.

"Right, Evan. Sorry, there was a family emergency." Peter lied. "I should've called you but it slipped my mind."

"Happens to the best of us mate." Evan said and he slapped Peter on the shoulder. I never thought Peter was weak, I knew he was a fairly strong lad but seeing him stumble because of a pat on the shoulder made me wonder whether he was still the same when it came to strength. But then I saw Evan and I realized that every person would stumble.

Evan was tall, at least 6"4 and muscled. All in all he was buff and not someone you would want to have a fight with. As he chit chatted with Peter his eyes suddenly fell on me. I hadn't realized that Peter had moved and Evan was able to see me.

"Who is this pretty gal?" Evan exclaimed as he looked me up and down, with obviously no shame. I felt a blush on my cheeks and took a step back. Peter rolled his eyes in exasperation and stepped away from the door letting Evan in. The dark haired, blue eyed held out his hand and I took it gingerly.

"The name is Evan Creeley." He said and he pecked the back of my hand gently. So besides being good looking he was also charming. From the corner of my eye I saw Peter scowl. "I can only assume the name is just as beautiful." I smiled without being able to stop.

"The name is Ana." I told him. "Nice meeting you." "

"The pleasure is all mine." Peter closed the door and I quickly dropped Evan's hand. I entwined both of my hands looking at Peter, hoping he would say something.

"I understand why Peter forgot about his prior engagement." Evan said knowingly. He nudged Peter on his arm amused. "If I were you I would've forgotten it too, but do not worry. A gorgeous gal like Ana can surely wait an hour while you tutor me." I shrugged and looked at Peter.

"Evan, about that. I'm sorry. I think cancelling would be better." He said pointedly giving Evan a look even I wouldn't dare to object to.

"If that's what you want, who am I to object." Evan said, his mood still the same. He smiled at me and gave me a small wave before walking out the door Peter held open.

"Call me next time." Peter reminded him and Evan nodded.

"Of course, wouldn't want to disturb ya." I smiled shaking my head as Peter tried to get rid of Evan.

Evan surely was persistent, but I suppose Peter wasn't someone to trifle with. I, however, remember objecting to many things that involved Peter. I made my way into the tiny bathroom and looked into the mirror. I still couldn't grasp the fact that the girl in the mirror was me. Of course I hadn't changed that much, but there was something different. My brown doe like eyes were still the same. I still had the short small nose, basically every feature was the same. But there was something that changed something, like the way my hair adorned my face. It was longer now, reaching halfway my back. My skin was still the same. Slightly tan, with a hint of yellow.

"Sorry about that. Evan has the tendency to be a bit...overwhelming." Peter said and I turned around. I smiled.

"It's alright, he seemed like a nice person." Peter gave me a careful stare.

"He is alright." I bit my lip at the obvious jealous tone. Who knew, even in this world, this Peter got jealous quickly. I looked at Peter through the corner of my eyes. He was leaning against the door, his eyes were staring at the ground and I quickly walked towards him.

"So we're meeting Edmund and Lucy tomorrow morning." Peter nodded.

"We're picking them up from the station." I nodded. "I will wake you up." Silence engulfed us and I could hear both of us breathe. It felt nice. I reached out for his hand.

"Ana, what happened back there?" Peter suddenly asked. I retracted my hand quickly. I knew he was talking about the almost kiss in the living room before Evan showed up. I wondered what to say.

"Don't worry about it Pete." I said. "It was nothing." I was lying to myself and hated it, but I knew that it was the best thing to do right now. Peter gave me a calculated look, I avoided it and moved out of the bathroom. Peter grabbed my wrist and pulled me to a stop.

"Ana."

"Peter." I sighed and turned to him. He seemed utterly confused. He let go of my wrist.

"Where we friends?" He asked and I looked at him curiously. "Back in Narnia I mean. Were we friends?" I smiled.

"Something like that."

A/N: Let me know your thoughts :D