Chapter 14-True Feelings

Peter was staring out the window, wishing it would rain so that his tears could blend in with it in the reflection. Glancing at the mantelpiece again, he noticed he had roughly ten minutes before the doctor would arrive to come examine Lucy. He had to be there to see it. Susan had "ordered" him to be. He wanted to curse Susan and her straightedge ways, but knew that she had logic on her side, a little more than he did at the moment. He was hotheaded at times, but she was just plain…

His head snapped up as he heard footsteps coming from the direction of the kitchen. In the dim lighting, he saw a shadowy face, but he recognized the uniform from the other day. Caspian. Peter didn't smile as Caspian came further into the room, his hands behind his back and his head bowed, almost like he was being led like a prisoner to the gallows.

Peter observed the strange behavior and then Caspian was no more than three feet away from him when he looked up. Peter noticed the clear tear stains that had formed along the prince's cheek.

The elder Pevensie swallowed and gave an unmistakable dirty look in Caspian's direction, much like the one he had given him before in the girls' room.

"Peter," Caspian breathed, "I cannot tell you how deeply sorry I am."

"Then don't." Peter snapped.

"Please, hear me out." Caspian pleaded, "I was confused. Lost, even. I tried to follow what you were trying to tell me, but I kept getting mixed signals from you. At times, you seemed upset. At times you were passionate. At times you wanted me to go to Susan. At times you advised me not to. I was perplexed, but then I realized, right then and there when I told you that I was going to talk to Susan that you did not want her and me to be together at all. You hated that, and I can tell that you always did. You were angry not just at me, but at her as well."

Peter was quiet, and didn't speak. Caspian's words were true. Peter still didn't smile. He wasn't as hopeful as he had been an hour ago.

Caspian took a seat on the stool in front of the chair as he said, "Peter, Susan…I should have realized from the first time I saw her here that it wouldn't have worked. She has moved on. She has him, that…James." He said his name with such disgust that Peter cracked a small smile at that, "And…well, I…"

Caspian glanced at Peter for a moment and the blond didn't move at first. He was wondering if Caspian was admitting what he thought he was admitting. He couldn't be sure, until he looked at his dark eyes. He was once again lost in them and couldn't escape them.

Caspian must have felt the same pull, the same dead end path in Peter's own eyes as he searched for a faint scent of a smile. Peter gave him one, reluctantly at first, but then realized when Caspian flashed his teeth, that it was real. Peter made his more real too and then, Peter pulled himself off the chair and embraced the prince. What he hadn't intended in his hug was the prince losing his balance and falling over onto the carpet.

Peter was now on top of Caspian and he couldn't help his heart beating quicker and quicker. He then glanced at Caspian's chest and put his hand to the prince's heart, realizing that the prince's was beating just as fast as his was. With his other hand, Peter lifted up Caspian's left hand and crossed it over onto his own heart.

Caspian looked up at Peter as he said, "it feels as if our hearts are moving at the same pace."

Peter nodded silently. He hadn't really spoken since Caspian had almost admitted his feelings. He decided to make his official.

Slowly and deliberately, Peter moved his hand away from Caspian's heart and cupped the edge of the prince's beautiful tanned face. Caressing his cheek, Peter admitted, "Caspian…I've missed you terribly."

"And I you, Peter." Caspian replied, smiling up at the blond.

"But I've missed you more than just a friend misses a friend." Peter continued, "I've missed you like a lover misses their other half. Caspian…I love you."

Caspian paused for a moment and Peter's heart suddenly beat hard against his chest, wanting to escape at any moment. But then Caspian said, "I know. I knew from the first moment we embraced that you had changed and for more reasons than the ones you gave."

Peter asked more hesitantly, "Do you accept my feelings for you?"

"I accept them." Caspian said softly as he lifted his head slightly. That indicated what Peter thought it did. Leaning over the prince, Peter's eyes closed as he touched the prince's face. Their lips met and for the first time since Caspian's arrival, Peter felt more euphoric than ever. He had admitted his feelings and Caspian had returned them. He couldn't believe it. He never thought Caspian would ever admit to him, but after the mixed signals he had given him, there was no doubt that there had been tension between them. It was hard for Peter to admit his romantic feelings for the man he loved, but it seemed so much easier for Caspian that he felt silly not admitting them earlier.

The kiss started out small, but then grew larger and larger as Peter moved around passionately on top of Caspian. He almost forgot his surroundings and suddenly broke the kiss as he looked around, panic-struck.

Caspian glanced at him in a puzzled way. "Peter…?"

"We need to go somewhere." Peter told him, getting off of him for the time being. "We can't stay here. At least not with my brother and sisters in the house. We need to go somewhere where they won't find us."

"Now?" Caspian asked.

"Yes. We'll leave now. We'll take the Underground to Hyde Park. You said you wanted to look around, right?" Peter said.

"Well, yes…"

"Then what are we waiting for?" Peter demanded.

Before Caspian could answer though, his answer came at the door. Damn! Peter thought. I had completely forgotten about the doctor. Glancing at the mantelpiece, Peter saw to his disappointment that it was exactly four o'clock.

A/N: Yes, I know this chapter's short, but I'm sure you've been waiting long enough for it to happen. I'm happy it finally came,