John toddled down the stairs of the house, having just woken up from his nap. As Aleisa had suggested, he was spending the night over at his Nana's house while his parents had a day to themselves. It was the day after Christmas and the little boy didn't think much of it, other than he got to spend time with his Aunt Lucy while his grandparents and Uncle Ed were out running errands.
"An' Lucy?" he called, sleepily rubbing his eyes as he made it to the first floor of the house. He was tiredly clutching his stuffed lion toy that his parents had gotten for him this year. It was his favorite and the boy hardly went anywhere without it now.
"John? Is that you?" a response came from the kitchen. He looked over towards the doorway to spot his aunt walking in as she wiped her hands on a dishtowel. Lucy grinned at her nephew and opened her arms, inviting the sleepy boy towards her. John easily trotted into them and allowed her to lift him up and place him on her hip.
"Did you have a nice nap?" she questioned, smoothing down his bedhead. She thought it was comical that John slept like his father. Like the dead and looking worse for wear when they awoke. John silently nodded and rested his head on her shoulder, holding his lion closer. Lucy smiled fondly at the toy, seeing it as more than just a toy like the rest of her siblings. John didn't know the significance of it just yet but she hoped that one day she would get around to telling him stories of Narnia.
"Are you hungry?" Lucy inquired, walking back into the kitchen.
"Uh huh." He answered, perking up at the prospect of food. Lucy giggled at his reaction and set him on one of the dining chairs while she headed for the fridge.
"Well let's see here. Oh, I think I spot something that you will definitely like. How does some leftover pound cake sound?" she asked, grinning deviously at him from over the door. John's eyes lit up.
"Yes! Yes!" he cheered fidgeting excitedly. Lucy laughed at his reaction and pulled out the plate and grabbed a couple forks before planting herself beside him.
"Cake for lunch?" John asked in confusion, expecting something else. Usually when he was offered some dessert there was an actual meal to go along with it.
"For today. And what mommy and daddy don't know won't hurt them right?" Lucy suggested. John grinned and nodded.
"A seecet" he whispered in excitement. He loved it when the adults asked him to keep secrets, it was all very exciting. Lucy chuckled before sticking her own fork into the cake.
"Our little secret." She winked in agreement. John beamed before tearing into the dessert. He liked staying with Aunt Lucy.
...
Peter sat at home, looking over some of the papers on his desk in the back room. Aleisa had gone to see the doctor this morning, but insisted she would be fine on her own knowing what a busybody her husband was. Peter reluctantly agreed and once she had been gone for a few minutes he contentedly got to work looking over contracting projects he would be starting in a few weeks. The sound of the front door caught his attention and he quickly put down the papers, swiftly making his way towards the living room. Before he could reach it, a blur that was his wife slammed into him, wrapping her arms around his neck squealing in excitement. Peter had to brace himself against the wall to contain Aleisa's energetic greeting.
"So, I'm assuming that everything was good news?" he grinned in amusement. Aleisa let go of him and beamed, hopping up to plant a kiss to his lips.
"Yes. We have another little Pevensie to look forward to." She announced. Peter shouted in glee, lifting his wife and spinning her around, sending Aleisa into giggles. He set her on the ground and pulled her into a much longer and more affectionate kiss than their first one. She hummed in pleasure, enjoying the feel of her husband. Pulling apart he led them over to the sofa in front of a warm fire and pulled her in to snuggle against him. She wormed her way underneath his arm and placed her head on his shoulder.
"So, when is he or she due?" he asked resting his forehead against hers.
"The Doctor said the due date would be sometime mid-August." She informed him, smiling contentedly. She wrapped an arm around her midsection unconsciously and Peter placed his hand over hers.
"I can't wait." He assured her, pressing a loving kiss to his wife's forehead. Aleisa grinned and snuggled up against him once more.
"When do you think we should tell John he's going to be a big brother?" she inquired curiously. Peter frowned and thought about it.
"Probably once he comes back home tomorrow. I would want him to be aware of it for as long as the rest of the family is." Peter supplied thoughtfully. She smiled and placed a kiss along his jaw, causing him to shiver. She beamed, secretly proud that she could still have that effect on her husband.
"Meanwhile we can use the alone time to have our own little celebration." She hinted coyly, barely allowing her lips to run along the base of his throat. Peter held back a groan and tightened his grip on his wife.
"I agree." He whispered huskily, tilting his head down to stare into her eyes. Aleisa smiled and kissed him on the lips.
"A night reading by the fire will be greatly appreciated." He added cheekily. Peter grinned impishly as his wife gaped and smacked him across the chest.
"You tease. That's so not what I meant." She scolded, beginning to giggle. Peter rose a brow in feigned confusion.
"Oh? And what is it that you meant?" he inquired, rubbing his nose along her own. Aleisa hummed and slipped out of his arms.
"Why don't we go upstairs and find out." she mused and began making her way towards the staircase, glancing back at him over her shoulder. Peter sighed dramatically as he stared up at the ceiling. In an instant, he was up on his feet, chasing after her. Aleisa shrieked in surprise before dashing up the stairs, her husband hot on her heels, both of them giggling like children.
...
"Mama!" John cheered as he rushed towards his mother who had barely walked in the door of the house. Aleisa was just fast enough to catch her little bundle of energy before tossing him into the air, getting him to giggle wildly. Peter flinched as his son thumped into her arms and gave her a nervous look as he glanced at her stomach. Aleisa rolled her eyes at how quickly Peter was jumping right back into over protective worrywart.
"Oh, come off it. He barely ways anything, I'm fine." she scolded him in amusement. Peter chuckled sheepishly.
"Sorry dear." He pressed a kiss to her cheek before taking John as she slipped off her coat. John grinned and buried his face into his father's neck, more than pleased to be back in his parent's arms.
"Well hello you two, enjoy your time alone?" Edmund chimed from the living room, grinning widely as the family walked in. Peter glared at his brother but before he could say anything Mrs. Pevensie swooped in to smack her son on the back of the head.
"Oh hush Ed, stop teasing your brother." She scolded. Edmund chuckled sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Hello Mum." Peter greeted, leaning over for his mother to press a kiss to his cheek before embracing Aleisa in a warm hug.
"I hope John wasn't any trouble." Aleisa told them as she and Peter found an empty space on the sofa to sit.
"Oh he's no trouble at all. Besides I love having him here." Mrs. Pevensie cooed, smiling down at John who had wandered over to retrieve his lion from the floor.
"No what is it you two have to tell us?" Edmund inquired, watching his brother and sister in law curiously. The both stared at him in confusion.
"What makes you thing we have something to say?" Aleisa countered. Edmund grinned while Lucy and his mother watching them in curiosity.
"Your face looks like its gonna bust." He chuckled pointing at her. Aleisa blushed and ducked her head to hide her wide smile.
"So what is it?" Lucy asked, very interested in what the news was. The couple looked at one another before grinning back at the family.
"We're expecting again." Peter told them softly, grinning wide as he did. The whole room erupted into cheers of congratulations.
"OH this is wonderful! I'm going to call your father and Susan right away." Mrs. Pevensie informed, pausing to kiss their heads before dashing off into the kitchen. John looked up from his spot on the floor, confused as to what the all the shouting was about.
"What?" he asked, not wanting to be left out. Aleisa smiled softly at her son.
"Come here baby." She called, opening up her arms. John held fast to his lion and eagerly settled into her arms.
"John, mama is going to have a baby." She gently told him, watching his reaction for understanding. John frowned and looked at her in confusion. He looked over to his father for elaboration.
"You're going to be a big brother, little man." Peter informed, ruffling his son's hair. Johns eye's lit up.
"Like daddy?" he asked in excitement. Peter chuckled.
"Yes, like daddy." He agreed in amusement.
"Where's baby?" John asked, looking around for the newcomer. The adults chuckled.
"The baby isn't here yet. It's going to grow in mommy's tummy for a long time before they come." Aleisa explained. John frowned and looked down at her flat stomach. He didn't really get it but trusted his parents enough not to question it.
"A baby sister?" he asked, wanting to know all about this new person. Peter grinned.
"We don't know if it's a sister or not. We have to wait for the baby to get bigger." Peter told him, picking his son up and holding him.
"Do you want a sister?" he asked curiously. John nodded eagerly.
"Yes!" he insisted. Everyone grinned at how excited John was to be getting a sibling. He squirmed in Peter's arms to be let down. Once he was on the ground John walked over and kissed his mother's tummy, causing to Aleisa to tear up and grin.
"Hi baby, come soon so we can play." John told the hidden person and hugged his mother tightly. Aleisa laughed and rubbed her son's head, pleased he was taking this so well. Peter wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in for a sweet kiss on the lips.