Please heed the tags below - reposted from AO3.

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences (occasional swearing)
Fandoms: Chronicles of Narnia - C. S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia - All Media Types
Relationship category: Multi
Characters: Peter Pevensie, Susan Pevensie, Edmund Pevensie, Lucy Pevensie
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence; Spare Oom; Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies; Original Character(s); Talking Animals; Pevensie Next-Gen; Magic; original male character/original male character; Alternate Universe-rthverse; Original Character: Trans; Background Homophobic Behavior; LGBTQA Safe

Not really a content warning but as this is set in April 1998, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and its anticipated sequel would be very much on the minds of many people, including those who are predisposed to things like magical talking animals. So, there are some conversational references to Harry Potter. If you'd rather avoid any discussion of the first novel altogether, then it's best to skip this story. I've deliberately made one young person trans, who is happily accepted as such, just so it's clear where these characters (and their author) stand.

Also, this got so complicated, I ended up creating a family tree to keep them all straight (except a lot of them aren't straight). The link is on my Dreamwidth account.

April 1998

The odd dream startled him awake. Scott was still out cold and sleeping so soundly, he was snoring a little. Theo knew, though, he wouldn't be able to nod off again.

Damn. Sundays were supposed to be for sleeping in.

He shrugged into running clothes that didn't stink too much, ran out to get the morning papers and croissants, made coffee the way he liked it, and put food in the bowl for the cat that would loiter in their garden. Scott was superstitious of cats and always wanted to be sure they left kibble out for it and never threw things at it - it was pretty adorable.

Theo stretched his legs out, determined to enjoy the April sun in the garden, his pastry, and the second cup of coffee, and dove into the sporting pages, puzzles, crossword, and book reviews, in that order. Scott always said he was an ignoramus for never bothering to read the rest of the paper; Theo also couldn't find anything on the television if it didn't involve a ball, a bat, or a horse.

"I like my little foxhole and won't apologize for it," Theo said to the cat who had decided to drop by for a visit. The cat stared at him, swished her tail, ate a few bites from the dish at the back gate, then dashed away at the sounds of Scott stumbling about the kitchen.

"I'm out back," Theo called.

They'd met at Uni, dated on and off, both gotten jobs they loved, in fields they wanted to be in, and had stayed over at each other's places so many times, and annoyed their flatmates so much, they finally pooled monies and belongings and taken a garden flat in Islington. Six months in, and it had been going really well.

Scott shuffled out in his slippers and sweats, croissant balanced on top of his cup; Theo took his feet off the chair so Scott could sit.

"You…"

"Yes, I fed the cat. She was just here and you scared her off."

"It's a he." Scott stared at the garden shrub where the cat was crouched and staring back at them. Theo heard a faint mewl.

Scott pulled his eyes away and gulped down most of the croissant. "You were up early?"

Theo shrugged. "Just odd dreams. I knew you were knackered and wanted to make sure you got your beauty rest."

Scott looked again at the cat and blew on his coffee. As Theo had made it and it had sat for more than an hour, it approximated the sludge Scott preferred.

He waited until Scott had drunk half his cup and become alert enough for a conversation. As it seemed he was going to continue to avoid the subject, Theo would have to wade into it. "You going to tell me what is happening today that you've been dreading all week?"

Scott's mouth quirked into a wry and embarrassed smile. "I shouldn't even try, should I?"

"You aren't as smart as I am."

"Better looking, though."

"For which I am deeply grateful to your outstanding genetics and rigorous fitness regimens." In fact, Scott was gorgeous. "What's got you in a twist?"

"Well, speaking of diving into the gene pool, it's a family birthday party. One of my younger cousins. Mum is her godmother and I'm honorary godfather, so..."

Scott shrugged and sipped his coffee. The reason for Scott's dread though, was not evident, at least not to Theo.

"How old is she?"

"Ten?"

"If she's not read it, she'll love Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. If she has read it, promise her the sequel. It comes out in July." He'd been working marketing and sales for the release for Bloomsbury. "I've got some bookplates the author signed."

Scott nodded and looked back over to where the cat was hiding.

Theo leaned over and squeezed his arm. "I'd love to meet the rest of your family and thank them for the wonderful person you are. But I can't tell if you want me to come for support, or don't want me to come because it will be painful and awkward."

He'd met Scott's mum, Emma, a couple of times. It had been lovely and exceedingly normal, which was itself remarkable because it often wasn't when your son brings home his serious boyfriend. Theo's own father still wasn't speaking to him though his mother, at least, no longer cried when he rang her up. Scott's brother, William, was as straight as he and Scott weren't, but he had been fine, too. They were a nice family and Scott had a good relationship with them even if he bitched about his mother's internet habits and his brother's vegetarianism and devotion to generally accepted accounting principles. He'd not met Scott's father but the man sounded like an absolute tosser. Scott's parents had split over ten years ago and everyone was very happy with him out of the picture. Scott had enormous books of photographs of what Theo had figured was a big, extended family.

He'd also gathered that at least some of the extended family knew Scott was out as well. It hadn't seemed to be an issue. Scott was being invited to a child's birthday after all - Theo's own sister still called him a pervert and refused to let him see his nephew and nieces. But bringing the boyfriend to a family party might be too big a step.

"If you don't think you're ready…"

Scott shook his head. "No. That's not it. They're fine. Every last one of them will be thrilled. They've been clamouring to meet you based on Mum's enthusiastic reports."

"So you're fine, they're fine. What's the problem?"

"I'm not sure you'll be fine after you meet them."

Theo scoffed. "I deal with authors and illustrators, Scott. And agents, who are simply the worst. Your mum is charming and Will is alright. I think I can manage…"

Scott shook his head. "Really. Just stop, You have no idea what you're saying."

"Explain, then."

"The family is huge. There are more of them than there are hoodlums at a football match."

"I get on fine with hoodlums and I love football."

"They're absolutely cracked."

"Your brother is as un-cracked as they come, Scott. And your mum…"

"Have you ever worked with Julia Walker?"

Theo didn't follow. "The author?"

"Yes."

"No, Walker's not with Bloomsbury. Oxford Press, I think. I've heard of her, of course. The Commoner Royalty series, right? All about the Pevensies?" The Sun still went after them.

Scott stared at him with a very weary expression.

Wait.

"You're... "

"A member of the Commoner Royalty in the flesh. Hiding in plain sight as an ordinary Jones under my mother's married name. Sir Peter Pevensie is my grandfather. And, well," Scott waved a hand. "There's a lot that comes with that."

Theo stared at his boyfriend, trying to decide if he was hurt. "You never said anything. You could have told me."

"I'm sorry, Theo. Truly." Scott wilted. "It's just such a conversation ender. Hello, I'm Commoner Royalty. I'm related to MPs, war heroes, KBEs, DBEs, noted humanitarians and activists, and holders of scores of honourary degrees and awards. Family members short-listed for the Nobel Peace Prize twice. And good god the animals - zookeeper, paleontologist, breeder of world class herding dogs, international show jumper. They live on every continent on the planet, speak a dozen languages, have had species of animals named for them or have done the naming, and every bloody family party is the U.N. crossed with a Greenpeace rally, James Bond, Question Time, and a union election. Possibly a riot as well. I'm a catastrophe by comparison."

Theo almost spit out his coffee. "Scott! You got First Class Honours, broke school records in track and swimming, and are now a photo preservationist at one of the greatest museums in the world. You could have been a fashion model or an Olympic caliber marathoner."

"Whatever. That hardly measures up in the Pevensie family."

"Your brother is a vegetarian accountant."

"He's a very good accountant and has a side gig administering microloans to women-run businesses in East Africa. And, that's my point. They don't measure achievement the way others do."

"What do you mean?"

"It's hard to describe. It's never about education or money in the House of Pevensie, or well, never only about them. It's this odd mixture of patriotism, politics, protest, sport, and service. Also, religion, sort of. Doing selflessly unto others without hope of reward that somehow, nevertheless, always flows in. It's all about finding a calling and excelling at it. They never half-arse anything."

Scott let out a disgruntled breath. "I don't measure up is all."

"Well, you certainly do, but I agree it sounds exhausting. I would be honoured to attend your family birthday party and trumpet praise of you to your nearest and dearest."

"You would?"

"Absolutely. I think it sounds fascinating."

Scott let out a deep breath. "Thank you. And I apologize for not saying anything. They can just be utterly overwhelming."

Theo suspected this sense of not measuring up was coming from Scott alone and not his family. "You're too humble and self-deprecating. I'm delighted and proud to be your plus one and if anyone says otherwise they can sod off and I'll tell them so."

He could see the tension ease out of Scott's shoulders. Scott glanced again at the cat who had half-emerged from the holly bush and then mouthed something Theo didn't catch.

"It's this afternoon, four o'clock. I'll ring Alice, she's Anne's mum, and tell her we're coming. I'll ask her if Anne has read that … what was the book?

"Harry Potter. All about a boy wizard going to a magic school."

Scott's eyes widened. "If they've not already read it, we'll need another three copies. Maybe more."

"I can go by Waterstones. And I've got bookplates at the office." He wondered what the dress was for a family birthday party with the Pevensies. "Should I wear a suit, or..."

Scott laughed. "Fuck, no, Theo. I'm sorry if I gave the impression you'd be elbow deep in MBEs at a garden party or a tony club. When I said cracked, I meant it very sincerely."

"So where are we going?"

"Rainforest Cafe, in Piccadilly. And to be clear, it's not for the ten-year old. They all love it. Bring some earplugs. A lot of cash for the gift shop. And running shoes if we have to flee the scene."

Not what he'd expected, to be sure.

"Why the quick means of egress?"

"Sometimes my Great Aunt Lucy tries to steal things. Really, I'm amazed they still let her in. She's been getting arrested for civil disobedience since the '40s. Great Uncle Edmund isn't much better."

"Isn't he the one…"

"On the Privy Council, yes. I'll give you the rundown, but they're all nutters. Julia's mother is my great aunt, Dame Susan Pevensie Tebbitt Walker, who the papers refer to as Damned Susan and they speculate that she murdered her second husband and replaced him with her first, who was also murdered. At some point, someone will pull you aside and explain why otters are evil. Or demand your opinion on the Chagos Archipelago. There will be a sword fight. And this is among the adults, mind you. It's bedlam, Theo."

"My deepest regret is that you've been keeping this to yourself rather than sharing the bedlam with me."

Scott laughed. "You're a savage."

"Only in bed and on the pitch."

Scott leaned forward for a coffee-flavoured kiss. "You are taking this remarkably well. Again, I apologize. I should have confided to you sooner."

He pulled back with a sudden frown. "Oh shit. You said you had an odd dream. What was it?"

"Well, funny that. Last night, I did dream about that cat." He pointed at the cat still lurking under the holly.

"Did he talk?"

As if hearing his name, the cat poked his head out of the shrubbery.

"Talk?" Theo had an odd sense of foreboding and deja vu. "Well, yes, as a matter of fact. It was the oddest thing…"

"You!" Jumping to his feet, Scott threw the last of his croissant at the cat who scooted away with a hiss. ""Yes, you. Leave my boyfriend alone, would you?"

Scott sank back in his chair. "Sorry, mate, but you have to come now."

"Because of the cat?"

"The Cat," Scott corrected. Theo wasn't sure how, but he could tell it was capitalised. "Fuck. I'm so sorry, Theo. We are so fucked."

Learning that Anne's mother, Alice, was named for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and that Anne and her brother and two cousins had come from the States, Theo picked up four copies of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - it wasn't even going to be released in America for another six months.

Instead of wrapping papers, Scott dug out squares of brightly coloured fabrics from the closet that Theo had assumed were napkins. "If you use paper, it will start an argument about conservation of old growth forests. We just reuse the fabric squares and pass them around."

"They're really beautiful," Theo said. "I thought they were fancy napkins."

"Oh, they can be that, too. One of my aunts has an import business bringing in textiles from her family's town in Kenya to support the women-owned businesses that Will is the lender to." Scott paused. "That's part of another complicated backstory on Grandmother Mary's side."

Theo thought he remembered something about peculiar circumstances involving Sir Peter Pevensie and his wife and decided that was a bit of history he'd research himself.

He'd not heard Scott's call to Alice but the news obviously was spreading because, within minutes, the phone started ringing. He heard Scott repeat, at least five times, "Yes, Theo is coming. Yes, he dreamt about the Cat last night."

Cat was still being capitalised.

Emma, Scott's mum, was the sixth or seventh caller. From Scott's responses, she was complaining again about the line being busy and why didn't they have two lines like normal people - because we aren't on the computer 18 hours a day like you are, Mum. Theo heard the repeated thing about the Cat and then Scott said, "Thanks, Mum. That's a terrific idea. Hopefully everyone will keep them on and not switch them up."

"Name tags," Scott explained as he carefully crossed out his name on a previously-received birthday card and wrote in Anne's name. "Yes, we recycle cards, too." The card had a picture of Darth Vader on it. "Anne will love it. She wanted to be Princess Leia for the longest time. Now, she's more interested in galactic subjugation. It's horrifying the family."

With the next call, Scott was up to his elbows winding textiles around the books and tying them up with yarn. Theo picked up the line instead.

"Hello? Baker and Jones residence."

"Scott! It's Helen!"

"Hello, Helen. So nice to speak with you but this is Theo, Scott's flatmate. Scott is busy right now wrapping Anne's birthday gift."

Scott rolled his eyes expressively.

There was a squeal of delight so loud Theo had to move the phone from his ear. "Theo! We're so excited to meet you! Dad! It's Theo on the phone!"

He could hear tussling for the phone at the other end and several voices, some very young, clamoring for a turn. A much older, male voice came on. "Hello, Theo, we're so delighted you can come. I understand that …"

"Edmund, don't!" There were sounds of the phone being torn from someone's hand - likely the hand of the august Right Honourable Edmund Pevensie - who Scott had said under no circumstances should Great Uncle Edmund be called "Sir," protocol be damned.

A bubbling woman's voice came on. "Hello, Theo. I'm Miriam." Scott had said to, by all means, call Edmund's wife, Lady Pevensie. "Don't listen to them rattling on about the Cat. It will be lovely. We have a private room at the restaurant so it won't be unbearably loud when the lion roars. We're so happy you're to join us and Anne will love Harry Potter. Ta!"

"What is it?" Scott asked as Theo, feeling a little dazed, carefully put the phone back in the cradle.

"How do they do that? Share all that information? So fast?"

"If I said, 'magic,' would you believe me?"

"No."

Scott took the phone off the hook after that and went for a run.

As four o'clock approached, Theo wondered if maybe Scott was getting cold feet given that he had showered and dressed but had made no effort to put on his shoes or gather up the gifts.

"Aren't we going to be late?"

Scott smiled and reached for his shoes. "I know you're probably eager amidst what might seem to be my procrastination. Time is, however, a nuanced concept in my family. There are at least three philosophies. Time is, simultaneously, an arbitrary and fluid construct, a tool of oppression by our capitalist overseers, or something to be rigorously adhered to because failure to do so is unspeakably rude."

"So where do you come down on matters of timely arrival?"

"Well, the Walkers - that's Great Aunt Susan's family - arrive early to sign liability waivers and offer a large cheque for the inevitable damage to the premises. Grandfather and Grandmother will arrive within 10 minutes of the Walkers but their actual appearance will be delayed by 45 minutes because they stop to chat with everyone, pose for pictures, and learn of abuse perpetrated upon an individual by the power of Her Majesty's government that must be redressed on Monday morning. Or, there's a dinosaur skeleton. Possibly both."

Theo had been cautioned to not mention Godzilla or King Kong. While Jurassic Park was a safe topic, he should be ready for an exhaustive discussion of tyrannosaur eyesight.

"Being on Sir Peter's side of the family, Mum, Will, and Uncle John, Aunt Walta and my immediate cousins will arrive at some point during that 45 minute timespan and one of them will be responsible for retrieving Grandmother and Grandfather. This is not as onerous as it sounds as someone usually will buy you a pint or, when we were younger, some crisps or a milk bar. Grandmother can always be counted upon for at least a Mars bar in her backpack."

"And so it is within this time span that you typically arrive?"

"It is. The Clark and Wong families, that's Great Aunt Lucy and her family, will be a full hour late. Though my younger second, third, and removed cousins on that side might come with someone else earlier because they get impatient waiting for Aunt Lucy to find her shoes and strays."

"And your Great Uncle Edmund's family?"

Scott sighed and began lacing up his own shoes. "It depends on how successful Aunt Miriam and Ed Junior have been in herding the cats and if Ed's brought the border collies to help." Scott rose. "If you wouldn't mind collecting the gifts and card, I need to pull my camera gear together and have a few words with the Cat in the garden before we go."

The concluding chapter, Herding the Cats, follows.