Drops of rain cascaded from the sky, mixing with the salt tears on Rachel's face. She had remained silent throughout the entire funeral. A quiet stream of tears fell continuously from her eyes. The weather seemed to reflect her sadness.
The world was crying with her.
The funeral had been a big ordeal. Fans of her husband's books had shown up in droves to pay their respects. Flowers and candles covered the scene where so much wreckage had been. Her home had become a shrine to an author, who in the words of radio correspondents, had "been taken too early."
He would never be forgotten. That's what they all said.
It was a lie.
They could all forget. She never would.
Half of their beds would never be vacant and cold. They would never feel the ghost of his kisses or his touch. The echo of his laughter wouldn't haunt their hallways.
Rachel stood alone now, facing the clean marble of the tombstone.
Beloved author and husband, it said. It didn't do him justice. He was so much more. Underneath this inscription was a lion, the exact same that was on the train, a symbol that had almost become her husband in his death. Flanking him were his siblings.
Rachel fell to her knees. The mud splattered her face and arms.
She held her belly and cursed God.
"How could You?" she wailed to the sky. "How dare You take him from me!" She screamed and cried herself hoarse.
She felt a warm hand grip her shoulder. She turned. Her eyes locked with Mrs. Pevensie.
The older widow lowered herself to the ground next to Rachel.
"I cursed Him too, when He took my husband from me," she said quietly, staring at the headstones of her children. "And now He has seen it fit to take my children as well." Tears slid down her face and mingled with the mud.
"But you know, these things are not for us to decide. He never gives us anything we cannot handle." Rachel turned her face away.
"Does it ever stop hurting?" she asked.
"No," was the response. "But that is because he will never truly be gone. Peter will always be a part of your life. And I know you would have it no other way. Nor would I."
Rachel and Mrs. Pevensie sat in silence for a while, two widows consumed with grief. Time passed until the sun had rolled beyond the horizon and the moon took its place. The rain slowed to a drizzle.
Mrs. Pevensie stood up and held out her hand.
"You are not in this alone," she whispered. Rachel studied her for a moment, then let Mrs. Pevensie help her up.
"Thank you," was all she could think to say.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Despite the fact that her life had collapsed around her, the world continued to turn. She lay awake again, listening to the clock tick, and willing her body to go to sleep. She wanted to fall asleep and not wake up. Life had no point now, she decided. No joy. She walked through her days as a ghost, earning sympathy from strangers, but also their isolation. She was alone in the darkness. Her family tried in vain to pull her out.
Sleep finally claimed her. It began fitfully at first, but then changed. The scene morphed from dark, foreboding woods into rolling green landscape complete with old, beautiful trees. Rachel was standing barefoot in warm sand. A wave from the crystal blue water behind her tickled her feet, startling her. Though she had never been here before, she knew exactly where she was.
Narnia.
The sound of a horse caused her to turn. What she saw took her breath away. Peter, dressed from head to toe in scarlet and gold with a jeweled crown adorning his head, swung off of the chestnut horse he rode. Behind him was a marvelous lion, enormous is size and commanding in stature. She knew at once who it was..
Aslan.
The lion's face seemed serious as it studied Rachel and her approaching husband.
"Hello wife," he greeted. Rachel ran to him, throwing herself into his arms. She chanted his name like a prayer, over and over again.
"Rachel," he said seriously. "We only have a few minutes. I've been allowed to see you because you are giving up. This is something you cannot do. Though it may seem hard right now, there is a reason for everything. Your purpose is to live Rachel. Not just for yourself, but for our children. You cannot give up."
She felt her eyes well up. "But why?"
"Shhh…" he wiped her eyes, "No more crying love. It's time to move on."
"Why can't I stay?" she asked.
"Would you deny our children the right to live? You are living for them now Rachel, you cannot give up."
"Them?"
He smiled. "Twins, a boy and a girl. Don't worry, I will never leave you. I will be there for them just as I will always be there for you. Be strong. I will see you again."
"Peter," she began as his image and the world around her began to waver. "Peter!"
He kissed her gently, "Be strong," he repeated. "Be strong."
The world she lived in came back as she opened her eyes. Be strong, he had said. She sat up slowly.
Time to live, she decided.
And she got up.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
It started off slowly. It still hurt, but she smiled through it and went on with life. Everyday she woke up, it stung a little less.
She was peeling potatoes with her mother one day. They peeled in amicable silence. Rachel was beginning to show now, her belly protruding under her blouse. She was certain that she was having twins, a fact that her family found amazing, especially when the doctor had confirmed it. The bigger her children grew inside of her, the stronger she became.
"Mom?" she asked, cradling her belly, "I need you to tell me something."
"Yes?" her mother pushed aside the bowl she filled and reached for a knife to begin chopping the peeled potatoes.
"That day you and Peter went to lunch, what did he say to you?"
Her mother stopped chopping. "He said that you were the only thing he ever remembered wanting on this earth. He said that you made him a better man than he ever thought was possible and that he would love and cherish you until the world stopped spinning and forever after that. And that I didn't need to worry because he would always take care of you…" her mother broke off, a small tear running down her face.
Rachel stepped back from the counter and wiped her eyes. "He said that?"
Her mother nodded. "He did, and I knew that you guys were going to be ok." A silence settled over the kitchen again.
"He's still taking care of me, you know," Rachel stated.
"I know honey. He promised he would," at that moment, one of the babies kicked. It was the first time it had ever happened. Rachel felt her lips form their first genuine smile in months.
It was going to be ok.
And it was.
7 months later, Rachel was a mother to the most beautiful children she had ever seen. They were just as Peter said, a boy and a girl. Their hair held the curls of their mother but somehow both children's eye shone a brilliant blue. They were two little pieces of Peter she would always have with her.
Peter Jr. and Lucy were the joy of their mother's life. They lived up to their namesakes, blossoming into energetic, opinionated and genuinely sweet people. They grew up with nothing but love, spoiled by their grandparents and their aunts and uncles, including Steve and Susan. Soon, they were joined by cousins on both their mother and father's side. So while the Pevensie family lost three children, they gained five grandchildren. Susan had transformed into a better mother than anyone could have predicted. She and Rachel had become extremely close.
When the twins were old enough to go to school, she and Susan embarked on a project together. Using the notes from Peter's old office and going off of Susan's personal experience, they decided to finish his book series. And so, the Magician's Nephew came to be published. They also wrote a story commemorating the death of their family members, The Last Battle. The last two books of the series catapulted to success.
Most importantly, they brought Rachel peace and Susan to terms with her past. They often talked about Narnia, and the certainty that one day they would be there with their loved ones. They just had life left to live.
Throughout her life, Rachel made sure her children knew all they could about their father and his siblings. She told them tales of Narnia, and even discovered a book Peter had left behind, with illustrated short stories of experiences Peter had with his siblings while ruling Narnia. The children delighted in the tales, and years later, passed them on to their children.
And so, 65 years later, Rachel found herself a grandmother, aunt, soon to be great grandmother and loved in everyway. She was sitting at home, flanked by her family. Her parents had passed away, as did Susan. Steve, who never had been far behind her in anything, passed away soon after. She sighed contently.
"Mom?" Peter asked.
"You ok?" Lucy finished. The twins had a habit of finishing each others sentences.
She smiled at them. Her youngest grandchildren were slumped on her lap, fast asleep.
"I'm fine, but I think these little ones need to get home." Lucy rose and removed her child, followed closely by Peter.
"Good night mom," they waved as they left. She watched them ago, face still tingling with their kisses.
Yes, she decided. She had lived a good life. Nearly 85 wonderful years.
She tucked herself into the bed she and her husband had once shared. She had never been with anyone else. Her friends and family had tried to set her up with scores of men. It was all in vain. No one held a candle to her husband.
She drifted off into a contented sleep. The veil of the world rolled back and for the first time in more than 60 years, she saw her husband.
"You did good honey," he spoke, reaching for her hand. "Are you ready to go?"
"Do you mean I can join you?"
He nodded. "It's time."
Beside Peter was the Lion. It appeared to be smiling at her.
She reached for his hand. The moment their fingers touched a warmth coursed through her, igniting both their bodies in a golden glow. Aslan blew warm air across her skin. She looked down at herself and gasped.
She was young as they day she had married. Her silver tresses had reverted back to chocolate brown and the wrinkles of her skin had ironed themselves smooth. Peter smiled at her.
They walked hand and hand down the beach, all the way to Cair Paravel. Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Steve smiled and waved at her. Behind them stood her parents, as well as Peter's parents. She was struck by how much he resembled his father. She waved at them then turned to her husband.
They kissed, together again.
Forever in Narnia.
A/N: And there you have it folks. I hope you enjoyed it! Please drop a last review and many thanks to all of you who gave your feedback!