Kathleen couldn't believe her eyes. Yet at the same time, she could.

While tutoring Eustace, one of his overly shared complaints of his cousins was of their love of a country called Narnia. From the second-hand storytelling, it seems as though Edmund and Lucy were once Kings and Queens of the so-called land. That they were friends with talking animals, fauns, and a Prince. Even though Eustace had made it seem that his cousins had gone insane, one thing had stood out to Kathleen, and those were the details. They were always the same. If it was truly a lie, details would change with every telling, or not be shared at all, yet not with Narnia. Kathleen could sometimes hear Edmund and Lucy speak of it when she was with Eustace. They would speak about how they miss their friends and adventures. And Aslan.

Whenever she heard the Pevensie's first speak that name, she had a sense of warmth, as though she was reading in front of a warm fire on a winter's day.

Edmund had not seen Kathleen, he was staring straight and the back of the man's head that stood in front of him. He seemed very determined. Kathleen knew that Edmund was not of age yet and has not got the proper papers of Enlistment. That must mean he was going to use his uncle's document papers as his own, and if he gets caught, well Kathleen would rather not think about it. She would also rather not think about Edmund in the War. The very thought made her stomach squirm.

She noticed that it was his turn up next. She squeezed her bag strap tightly as she had an idea. She rocked on her feet back and forth before speed walking to the door, hoping that Edmund had yet to have seen her. The unfortunate fact was that Edmund had seen the girl walking quickly, and grew slowly suspicious, but he had not given a chance to give her a second thought or figure out who she was, he was called up next.

Meanwhile, Kathleen darted her eyes around the courtyard for Lucy. Once spotting her, she jogged quickly to her. Lucy, seeing the concern on her face was about to ask her if everything was all right, but Kathleen didn't give her a chance to speak. "I found him. Edmund," speaking made her realized how little she was able to breathe, "He's in line for Enlistment."

Lucy's eyes widen and sighed, "Again?" She shook her head calmly had her way to the building, leaving Kathleen in shock. Again?

She watched Lucy go up the stairs and quickly caught up to her, "Wait," she said as soon as she was at the young girl's side. "Could you possibly, not tell him that it was me who spotted him? I wouldn't want to give him another reason to dislike me." She gave her a pleading smile.

Ever since the soup incident, he never really spoke to her. He would make an effort beforehand, but since she ruined his shirt with vegetables and broth, she noticed the efforts stop. Then again, she would find a way to excuse herself out of the house before she could actually see him. She thought that maybe the shirt belonged to his brother or even his father. She thought that he hated her for messing up something that could have been sentimental to him. So naturally, she figured that if Edmund found out that she was the one who ratted him out to his sister, he would find another reason to hate her. That hurt her more than she likes to admit. She now just admired Edmund from afar, and even though tutoring Eustace was mentally draining, his home became her favorite studying sessions of the week. She had never talked to Edmund alone as much as she talked to Lucy. Mostly was just awkward smiles when they see each other, but Kathleen likes to dream that he gives her the same shy glances that she gives him. Yet sadly, why would a supposed King fall for a dreamer?

Lucy's eyes went wide, "Oh no! Edmund doesn-" but Kathleen cut her right off.

"Please, just let me do it the next time I see you." Kathleen practically begged.

Lucy smiled and nodded, "All right, until the next time."

Kathleen let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, "Thank you!" She went in to hug Lucy but then was stopped by the box of groceries between them. They smiled and laughed lightly. She apologized and said goodbye to Lucy and gave a mental good-luck. She walked by the wall of the building, slowing down when she saw the young woman and soldier from the train, talking softly to each other by a brick pillar. The young woman noticed Kathleen and seemed as shocked as she did. The soldier turned around and had the same look.

"Are you following us?" he asked with a laugh.

"I was about to ask the same thing." said the woman with a warm smile.

Kathleen gave a kind smile, "A-As I recall, I left the station before you did."

"Indeed, you did." said the soldier in realization.

"What are you doing here, if you don't mind me asking." said the woman politely.

Kathleen stood a little straighter, "Oh, I was just, um, waiting on a letter. Yourself?" She said a little too quickly.

The young woman shared a sad smile, "I was just getting information on my next location. I'm a nurse for our men who are thinking of Enlisting. My shift is actually going to start soon."

Kathleen nodded absently as she heard a male voice echoing behind her.

"'Squirt?' He barely had two years on me."

"Right," said Kathleen, turning back slightly, looking for the voice. Once she found it, she snapped her head back to the young nurse and soldier. "I actually have to get going as well. I'll see you later." Without another word, Kathleen hastily made her way away from City Hall and straight home.

One thing that made living in England so likable was that everything was so close together. Everything was either a short walk, bus, or train ride away. Normally, Kathleen would walk with no problem, but seeing as she would have to walk past Lucy and Edmund, she decided that this particular day would be perfect for the bus. When she got to the bakery, she noticed her mother on the counter, reading one of the many cookbooks they kept upstairs.

When she saw walk in the doors, she looked surprised, "You're here early, sweetheart. Everything all right?" she said looking back at her cookbook.

"Yeah, I just decided to take the bus today."

Her mother took off her glasses and look at Kathleen. "Honey, you know we can't afford to take those everywhere. Only when we really need it."

Kathleen nodded and put away her bookbag in the back of the shop, avoiding her mother's gaze. "I know mum. It was only this once. Promise." She looked around the hangers in the back, searching for her apron.

"Katie," her mother said in a warning tone.

Kathleen stopped searching for a second and sighed. She left the back of the store and returned to the front. "I promise mum, it was a one-time thing."

Her mother put her glasses back on, playfully raised an eyebrow, and turned back to her cookbook once more. "Speaking of which," her mother said from the front desk, "there is something I've been meaning to ask you." Her voice was slow and careful like she was getting ready to strip off a band-aid.

Kathleen went to the back again. She knew what her mother wanted to talk about. She probably knew before her mother did. She pretended that she didn't hear her and resumed her search. The band-aid will have to stay on for a little longer.

Her mother sighed and continued to read through the cookbook.

Once Kathleen had finally found her apron, she went to the kitchen counter and began to take out a pan and ingredients for her favorite recipe. Her mother heard the noise and made her way to find her daughter organizing supplies for what seemed to be an apple pie.

She began to laugh, "All right sweetheart, what did you do?"

Kathleen didn't take her eyes away from her cooking pan. "Nothing bad," she said as she began to put her hair in a bun. After she was positive all her hair was out of her face, she went to the sink and began to wash her hands with her mother in tow. Her mother just stared at her until her daughter finally gave in. "I just-" she huffed, "I may have stopped Eustace's cousin from Enlisting on the way back from my session with Toby." She waited for a response when she didn't hear any, she turned to her mother to find her in thought.

"Is he the handsome one that lives with the one that always is complaining?" she said seriously.

"Mum!" Kathleen shouted accusingly.

"What?" she said innocently, "Is that the one or not? I was just asking."

Kathleen could feel the smile growing on her lips, but she held it at bay. "Most likely."

"And you're going to bake him apple pie to 'apologize"?"

"Yes."

"Do you think he'll forgive you with a pie?"

"I can hope."

"Are you ever going to actually talk to him without there being another person in the room?"

Kathleen shook her head, "Probably not."

Her mother screwed her lips to one side then asked if Kathleen would like to be left alone so she could bake in solidarity. Kathleen flashed a wide grin to her mother. Her mother smiled and left her daughter in the kitchen alone but only for a second. She retraced her steps and looked back at her daughter. "Anything from the post?"

Kathleen lifted her drooping head to her mum. "No. Nothing yet," she could see her mum start to be discouraged once again, "But that's a good thing! It means that they're well." She gave her mother an encouraging smile, "Both of them!"

Her mother gave her a forced smile and went back to the front of the store. Most times, Kathleen has been the one to lift up her mother's spirits, but with each passing day and with no news of her brother or father, it had gotten difficult for her mother. On Kathleen as well, she had to have her mother believe that her hope was still as high as the clouds, but lately, it has been as low as the morning fog.

Kathleen splashed her face with warm water, dried her face with a towel, and began her dish. She had been helping her mother in the back with pastries since she could say the word. When she was old enough to understand that heat expands dough, her mother and father taught her everything there was about the kitchen while her brother learned about the money. While her father and brother were still in England, the shop was owned by the family. Not that it isn't now, but it's not easy running a shop with only two people. Kathleen's mother refuses to hire any other employees, being the fact that they wouldn't be able to pay them. At some points, it seems as though her mother was training her to take over the bakery. Now, let's not be mistaken, Kathleen loves her parents dearly, but baking is not her passion. Dance is.

Kathleen had been dancing before she had been baking. Her brother would always play music on his bugle horn as she danced. It surprised everyone when they discovered that the three-year-old of the bakery shop had perfect rhythm. Unfortunately, dancing was only allowed as a pass time in the home. The bakery was the first priority.

Her father use to say that it would be more beneficial if she quit her ballet classes and worked those nights in the bakery instead. She had been having this mental battle for weeks now. The two things she kept dear to her heart, fighting for total control. She knew that that was what her mother wanted to discuss, but Kathleen just couldn't bring herself to talk about it. She wasn't ready to leave her passion behind. Not yet.

She had spent another full cooking session thinking. That was one advantage of it, cooking allows Kathleen to think. The better she got at it, the sooner the situation of the day approached. At first, it was three hours to bake a pie and think, but now her thinking time was only one hour and ten minutes.

Another day, another dead end in the head.

She began to box her pie and announced to her that she'll be back shortly. Once they had said their loves and 'see you later' Kathleen thought some more.

If I go, stop by and give Mrs. Scrubb the pie, that will give me more than enough time to apologize to Edmund, go over with Eustace the plan for our next session. Go home, make two loaves, then finally, go to rehearsal. Perfect.

When Kathleen found herself at the Scrubb home, she found her palms sweaty again. Just go in, say hello, and apologize to Edmund, he deserves it. She took a deep breath and knocked. She didn't have to wait long. A few seconds later, Alberta Scrubb opened the door, slightly surprised.

"Kathleen Lewis! What a surprise! Come in, come in!" she ushered me inside the house, "We're excepting you until the day after next."

Kathleen turned to Alberta, "Yes, I know. I just wanted to give Eustace a heads up on the curriculum. I know he enjoys having a head start." Kathleen put her feet in the third position, with her left leg slightly behind her right. Both feet pointed outwards. "I brought an apple pie. I know it's unfair of me to drop in unannounced." She handed Alberta the pie and offered a small smile which made Alberta smile back.

"Oh, nothing to matter, dear! Go on if you like. Eustace is upstairs."

Kathleen said her thanks and made her way upstairs. She first made her way to Eustace's room out of habit, but soon realized that neither Eustace nor Edmund was there. She knew that Edmund slept there as well due to the cot by the window, and also the rare times Edmund would come in during her and Eustace's sessions was only to grab a book. In the likely event that Edmund was not in his shared room, he would be in Lucy's.

She continued to make her way to the end of the hallway and stopped suddenly when she heard voices.

"What's so fascinating about that picture anyway? It's hideous." That complainant's voice belonged to Eustace, without a doubt.

"You won't see it from the other side of the door." That voice was Edmunds. She smiled at his quick remark and decided to make herself known.

"Speaking of the other side of the door." Kathleen stood in the doorway of the pure white room.

"Kathleen!" Lucy exclaimed, "You're here!"

Kathleen found herself sighing deeply, "Indeed I am."

"Why?" Eustace said disgustedly. "Don't you have other children to teach?"

Kathleen looked at him plainly, "What? I can't visit my favorite student and bring my famous baked apple pie, fresh out of the oven?" She could tell that he couldn't believe her entirely. He simply rolled his eyes and stared unmerciful at the painting.

Kathleen looked at the painting as well, but not before she gave Edmund an awkward smile and nod, in which he returned.

"Edmund, it looks like the water is actually moving," Lucy said dreamily. Taking a few steps into the room, Kathleen had to agree. The artist did a magnificent job.

Kathleen could hear Eustace grumble at her side, "What rubbish," he began, "See? That's what happens when you read all those fanciful novels and fairy tales of yours."

Kathleen, who was now standing on the opposite side of the room aimlessly shook her head.

"There once a boy called Eustace, who read books full of facts that were useless," Edmund said as if it was a nursery rhyme. Kathleen couldn't help but smile

"You know Eustace, I'm sure if you gave fiction books a try, there are bound to a be few that you'll enjoy," Kathleen suggested. "I could give you some recommendation. Maybe you'll find a little bit of yourself them." she turned her head to the back to the painting, "I know I did."

Eustace seemed as though he ate something raw, "Ah, come now! This is what I'm talking about! It's people who read fairy tales like yourself, are always the sort who became a hideous burden to people like me," he paused and all Kathleen could do was clenched her teeth together, "who read books of real information."

Kathleen took a deep breath. She'd be lying if she said that Eustace's words didn't hurt, but she had to keep calm because, at the end of the day, he was still one of her students. She was about to calmly confront Eustace to make sure he didn't actually mean that, but Edmund had a different approach.

"'Hideous burden?!'" Edmund began hotly, which made Eustace stand right up from where he was sitting. "I haven't seen you lift a finger since we've been here." he continued firmly, in a way that Kathleen actually admired. She never has seen anyone confront Eustace for his rude behavior. Not even his parents. Of course, there were times where she wanted to do it herself, but if she did that, then she could find herself without a job. Eustace tried to make a run for the door, but Edmund slammed it shut with his hand. "I have the right mind to tell your father it was you who stole Aunt Alberta's sweets."

Kathleen found herself stepping back towards where Lucy was standing. She found herself wondering if they should do anything, but as she turned to the painting where Lucy was so transfixed, she was able to find out why.

The picture of the water was indeed moving. The ship that had been in the background was making its way to the middle ground of the image. And not only that, there was water weeping and wind coming from the frame, as if it was a window having hairline cracks.

It seemed Lucy was just confused as she was. "Edmund," Lucy called to her brother softly, "The painting."

How? Was the only thing that came into her head? The boy's argument was still echoing in the room.

"I found them under your bed," Edmund said as the water's movement became more dramatic. "And you know what?" The ship was now making its way to the foreground of the picture. "I licked every one of them."

Kathleen could now see the individual splashes of each wave.

Eustace retched out, "Ohh! I'm infected with you!"

Kathleen couldn't take it in. "Boys!"

The slight panic in her must have gotten their attention, but yet it could be that the water literally splashing out of the frame and hitting the girls in front, catching everyone by surprise. Soon the water began to pour out of the frame, creating its own waterfall.

Eustace began to catch on to the events of the room, "What's going on?"

Kathleen agreed in wanting to know. She began to avidly stare out the water. "But how?" she asked in the open room as she placed her hand in the falling water.

Eustace continued to panic in the back of the room, "... or I'll tell mother!"

As Eustace called out for Alberta, Kathleen looked at the faces of Edmund and Lucy. They both had euphoric look in their eyes and a joyous smile on the lips. She almost believed the possibility that she would never have a chance to go to such a place the two cousins had described when thinking they were alone. The probability of her actually going to this magical world seemed slim, but the calmness and happiness that Edmund and Lucy shared told her that her dream was about to come true before her eyes. She was too amazed by what was happening. So much that she didn't hear Eustace claim to smash the painting. Her one chance to enter a world of her dreams.

The two Pevensies and tutor did their best to get the painting out of Eustace's hands. Once it was off the wall, the water began to rush faster. From where she was, most of her head was being silenced by the water coming out. It was difficult to fight while holding one's breath. She didn't know how much water ended up in her lungs, and she rather not think about it. As Edmund and Kathleen on one side and Lucy on the other, they began to fight with Eustace for the frame. Once the children finally got it off of Eustace's hand, a loud boom came from the frame they once held, forcing them to drop it. In a matter of seconds, the water had reached their waist, and it only raised from there. The water seemed to have a current of its own, causing the children to lose their balance one by one. It seemed where the painting was dropped was the source of the pull. Kathleen's first instinct was to climb on top of the bed for the few inches of elevation and breathing room, but that was easier said than done. She was still coughing from the water that entered her nose as the water was soon at the ceiling of the room. By the next second, all four children were submerged underwater.

Though, it wasn't quite simple as a room being completely flooded. Sure, their vision underwater wasn't perfect, but Kathleen swears that books and chairs were floating about from Lucy's room. Some type of light was seen from above where the ceiling should be. The water had calmed down enough to where the children were able to swim up. The strange thing was that the room was higher than it was before. As Kathleen swam up, she also realized that the objects in Lucy's room had faded away. She tried to swim as fast as she could to the surface, knowing she couldn't hold her breathe for much longer. When she finally broke the face of the water, the first thing she noticed was that she was no longer in Lucy's room. She was in the middle of the ocean. Next was that Lucy, Edmund, and Eustace were there as well.

Not only that, but there was a large ship. And it was coming straight towards them.