i don't own any of this except the fic, the chronicles of narnia and its characters are accredited to its author

London, july 1944

Lucy, the youngest Pevensie, was softly brushing her hair in front of the bathroom mirror while humming a song she heard on the balls performed by narnians back in the day, it had been roughly a couple of years since the last time they went back, and although she missed their days of battle and adventures; she understood that her siblings were past it. Susan briefly mentioned finding home in the states on short lines at the back of her letters, a fine young man who she saw her future with, the older sister never stopped writing letters to fill them in on her 'quests' on the other continent, unlike Peter.

After slightly dozing off to her own thoughts, she quickly stood straight looking at the large round clock on her wall and realized it was almost past two, hurriedly, she picked up her leather briefcase while trying to close her alcoves door with one foot. She stumbled her way down the stairs as she went through the itinerary on her mind one more time; alright, pick up Aunt Peony and help her organize her things on the guest room, buy some carrots and apples... oh! and of course! find time for supper.

The dark haired pevensie hasn't been the same since the last time they came back from the lone islands, it seems after his incarceration with Prince Caspian and the fight against the giant sea serpent in the dawn trader that things took a turn for Edmund, the usually guards up and world knowing Edmund turned into a daydreaming and easily displeased and annoyed one. He's become quiet and thoughtful, almost like wondering if what happened was real, which, given that they've been to narnia and ruled those lands for many years, was strange.

After taking the tube to get to the Airport and give Aunt Peony a warm welcome, she told her they'd make a few stops before arriving home. Aunt Peony wasn't blood related to them but was a very close friend of Helen Pevensie, her mother. Aunt Peony was a sweet lady slightly taller than average, on her mid forties, shoulder length brown hair with some highlights and a few grey hairs framing her face. Following her vacation in Santorini she had to stay in london for a couple of weeks before going back home, and the pevensies offered their guest room as an option, delighted she was to see those kids again and give them souvenirs from her trip.

When Lucy finished buying some things for dinner she found Edmund 'taking a walk' with his bike on his side, still with a lost look in his eyes.

She raised an eyebrow and asked her brother with an accusatory voice "Where were you and exactly why didn't you help me pick up Aunt Peony?"

He looked taken aback from that sentence, eyebrows raised and jaw slightly hanging, confused but also surprised to see his Aunt behind his sister, he still recollected some memories of playing with her whilst his mom took care of feeding the youngest.

"Aunt Peony! it's been decades right!" he exclaimed while showing a small smile and going in for a hug just like Lucy had, when she finally found her in the sea of people at the airport. Trying not to laugh at his joke that only Lucy understood, for them, it really has been a couple of decades since they've last seen her.

"Decades? oh young people these days," she exhaled while laughing at the absurdity "i might not understand your jokes but i do understand you still like souvenirs right?" the expansive lady inquired as she went to stop a cab "let's go now if that's no issue, no more errands Lucy?".

The teenage girl smiled while nodding "all done for now, id like to see if you brought sweets" as she playfully flowed her hair on the afternoon wind, walking towards the back seats of the cab.

~~

After paying the cab and getting all the luggage upstairs, Lucy and Edmund agreed to prepare some tea and biscuits while Eustace helped their aunt unpack her things, he'd grown a couple of inches and finally went through puberty, now standing taller than Edmund.

When the tea was ready and the biscuits were served they walked towards the living room to share with the others.

Aunt Peony was already sitting at a small sofa surrounded by gift bags and boxes, enjoying once again the cool cloudy london weather, waiting for the pevensies to receive their gifts.

They both looked at each other and smiled knowingly.

Some hours passed and between the jungle of boxes and wrapping paper Lucy, Edmund and Eustace were gathering their recent acquires, some being kept like treasures (small ship figurines inside bottles, sweets and elegant handbags) and some not so much ( matching sweaters of sunburnt round bellies, essentially to look like dads who fell asleep on the sun)

But there was one souvenir that stood out the most to Lucy, a big iridescent sea shell that looked oddly familiar, she brought it up to her ears to listen but there wasn't the usual sound of what people call 'the sea' coming from the shell, it sounded more of sand and wind. She asked her Aunt where she bought it from but the older woman answered that a gentle man hurriedly gave it to her, she thought it was beautiful so she accepted it, thinking it looked fitting for a young girls bedroom decor.

She kept it with her everyday, no matter the chore, she got this sense of urgency from it, it gave her hopes of seeing the lands of narnia again but didn't mention it to Edmund, both her and Eustace know that the dawn trader was his last chance to go, she didn't want to throw salt on an open wound.

--

Edmund stealthily looked towards his sister's presents, he had seen the shell, good heavens who in this house hasn't, she kept it with her while having breakfast, while doing the dishes, even while brushing her teeth. The excuse of " it just looks so pretty" just wasn't cutting it for him.

He knew there was something strange happening with it, and he sensed that the shell might have something to do with Aslan, communicating in odd ways was a habit of his, but this was his chance to get his plan on going, and he wouldn't fail this time.

this is my first fic in about 6 years, i'm ExtrEmelY rusty so excuse me if i made some mistakes, also english isn't my first language so \••=••/

i'm also about to move countries and start college soon so this might take some time! at least my house isn't burning am i rite?