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Hey peeps! Welcome to the seventh chapter!

I got the "I'm not made of stone" thing from chapter six out of Juno. Here's the actual quote.

Juno: I can't believe there are saps that cry at this.

(they see Bren crying a little)

Bren: What? I'm not made of stone.

Cool, huh? I'm actually thinking of stopping it after this. Once again, it will be up to you guys if I do or not.

You have to give me ideas, because I'm starting to run out of them. Hey, I'm only human.

Anyway, this one will be set four years later, when Leo and Lily are old enough to talk.

R&R please! From what I saw this has been long awaited so I won't keep you guys waiting any longer.

Enjoy!

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Chapter Seven

The One Time We Can Just Relax (Four Years Later)

Winter had arrived in Narnia. Snow covered the ground in a blanket which looked almost too beautiful to play in. The trees currently possessed icicles, which, as Lucy would often warn Lily and Leo, if you stuck your tongue to them it would be nearly impossible to get it off.

A gusty December wind blew outside right now, and Christmas was nearly upon them. All over Narnia you would have seen animals in their caves, decorating their trees or lighting fires to keep themselves and their families warm.

Cair Paravel, in honor of Christmas, shone bright gold against the white sky. And inside it was warm and the mood was happy.

The Kings and Queens were all walking around the castle, examining the Christmas decorations. Edmund carried Lily on his back in a piggy-back sort of fashion while Leo walked with Susan, holding his mother's hand. Caspian, Lucy and Peter took the time to admire the castle.

"Lilygloves and Trumpkin really did a good job this year," said Peter, gazing up at the bright gold decorations.

"I know," said Lucy. "It looks brilliant."

"Uncle Ed," said Lily, hanging off of his back. "When will Father Christmas come?"

"Soon," said Edmund, smiling at Lily's curiosity.

Lily had a certain fondness for her uncles, particularly Edmund. Edmund liked having her around too, and he didn't even get annoyed when Lily insisted on pulling his hair and giggling when he yelled "Ouch!" Edmund usually faked the "ouch", because the one time he yelled for real Lily ran to her Aunt Lu and cried into her dress that her Uncle Ed was angry with her and that she didn't mean to hurt him.

"Let me see her," said Peter to Edmund. Edmund let Lily down and she went to Peter.

"Come here you," said Peter affectionately, lifting his niece up and giving her a kiss. She giggled shrilly.

"Dad," said Leo, looking at his father. "When can me and Lily be Kings and Queens like you and Mum and Aunt Lu and Uncle Pete and Uncle Ed?"

"When you're grown up," smiled Caspian. "You can be a king. Right now you're a prince, and your sister is a princess."

They kept walking down the hall.

"Aunt Lu," said Lily. "Are you ever going to have a baby?"

Lucy smiled and put her hand on her round stomach. She had met a fine prince from one of the neighboring lands two years back, and his name was Julius. She had married him a year later, and would give them a son.

Right now he was visiting his family, and he had told Lucy she could be with hers for the day.

"In time dear," said Lucy. "In time."

"In time for what?" Edmund whispered to her.

"Christmas, hopefully. Twilight said it would be around that time."

Lucy smiled. She couldn't wait to be a mother.

Lucy had watched Susan and Caspian take care of Lily and Leo when they had been babies with rapt attention, for she had so wanted a child of her own. She had even helped with the twins whenever she could. Edmund would often joke that Lucy was more involved with them than Caspian and Susan were.

But as she looked down at Lily and Leo, how could she help it? They brought as much joy to her as they did their parents, if not more.

Edmund grinned. He was happy that his sisters were living their dreams. Susan was married to Caspian and she had two beautiful children.

Lucy was also married, and would give birth to a son very soon.

Edmund himself had met a very nice girl that he would be marrying soon. Her name was Lyric and she wasn't with him today.

Today was sort of a family day. They had specifically asked whoever they were marrying (or married to) if they could visit with their families. Julius, Lyric, and Mirabelle (whom Peter was married to) graciously agreed, since they were all from different countries in Narnia.

They would all be at Cair for Christmas, since that's the decision they had come to. It worked for everyone.

"Oh look!" said Caspian, picking up Leo and putting him on his shoulders. Peter did the same with Lily as they stared at the window.

Snow was beginning to fall outside.

"Here," said Peter, giving Lily to Susan. Susan took her daughter and held her up.

"Look at the snow," said Susan to Lily.

"Mum," said Lily. "Where's the snow come from?"

Peter, Edmund, and Lucy looked at Susan, all expecting the same answer.

"Well," said Susan. "It's Aslan celebrating winter. He makes it snow to let everybody see that Father Christmas is coming soon."

Even Caspian blinked in surprise. Susan beamed at them all.

"Really?" said Lily.

"Yeah," said her mother. Leo joined them at the window.

"Hey," said Susan. "Do you want to go play in it?"

Lily and Leo's eyes both lit up and they nodded.

"Come on," said Susan.

She led her children outside, with Peter, Edmund, and Lucy following. Caspian came up to Susan and put his arm around her waist.

"I'm surprised," he said. "You didn't say anything logical or professional."

"Well," said Susan. "I think everyone was a little bored of it and I'm not going to force it on our kids."

Caspian laughed as they walked outside.

"It's okay. I like it when you're logical. It makes you look cute."

Susan giggled and kissed him.

"Oh, you. Come on, we have to watch Lily and Leo."

They walked outside to the scene below. Lucy was sitting quietly on the steps, smiling as Edmund and Peter had an entirely soft-landing snowball fight with Lily and Leo, who were throwing deformed snowballs like there was no tomorrow.

"Mum! Dad! Look at us!" cried Leo. "We're winning!"

"Look at Uncle Ed!" giggled Lily. Edmund had given a great, fake "Ouch!" and fallen in the snow. Peter had soon done the same.

Lily ran to her Uncle Ed.

"Uncle Ed!" said Lily. "Did I get you?"

"Yeah," said Edmund, laughing and wiping snow off of his face. "You got me. You win."

"Yay!" said Lily, and she danced around her uncle, singing "I win, I win, I win, I win..."

"Oh really?" said Edmund, picking Lily up and tickling her. Lily gave a loud shriek of joy as she wiggled in Edmund's grip. She had been quite unaware that Uncle Ed knew she was this ticklish. But then, he was a grown-up.

Leo, meanwhile, ran to Uncle Pete and sat on him. Peter gave a great "Oof!"

"Ha ha!" yelled Leo. "Mum, Dad, look at me! I'm king of Uncle Pete!"

"Ow," came Peter's voice.

"I'm coming!" called Caspian. He grabbed Leo and ruffled his hair.

Susan watched happily as her husband, brothers, and kids played with each other. Her eyes strayed toward Lucy.

She was...crying.

Instantly Susan's motherly instincts took over, and she sat next to Lucy. As her sister tried to calm herself down, Susan put her arm around Lucy.

"Lu, what's wrong?"

"I'm sorry," said Lucy. "I want them so badly, but I'm afraid."

"What are you afraid of?" said Susan. "At least you're sure you're having one! I was sure I was having one and ended up with two instead."

"I know," said Lucy, giving a half sob, half laugh. "It doesn't take much for a pregnant woman to cry."

She sighed and wiped her eyes.

"What if something goes wrong? What if-" She gulped.

"Don't say it," said Susan. "I know what you mean."

Susan looked into her sister's face. For once she could give advice on something she knew all about.

"You don't think I was scared too? I was absolutely terrified from the moment I found out to the moment Lily and Leo were born."

"But what if something really does go wrong?" said Lucy.

"You never know what will happen," said Susan. "You have to believe nothing bad will happen."

Lucy gave a watery smile, then began to cry again.

"It's okay," said Susan, hugging her. "Don't worry. We'll be there to help you."

Then Lucy put a hand on her stomach with a small gasp.

"What's wrong?" said Susan. "What is it?"

Lucy looked up at Susan with joy in her expression.

"He's moving. Here, feel."

She put Susan's hand on her belly, and before long Susan's eyes widened and she almost drew her hand away.

"Wow."

"What?" said Lucy. "You know how it feels."

"Not from this point of view, I don't! Oh, I have to feel it again."

Susan put her hand on Lucy's stomach again, and Lucy smiled.

"Thank you, Su. I feel better now."

"Do you?" said Susan. "He's putting up quite a fight in there."

They both laughed and watched Peter, Edmund, and Caspian now chase Lily and Leo.

Christmas was going to be marvelous.

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That was a little mushy, wasn't it? I'm sorry, it's just that a member of my family had a baby recently and I'm still very excited about it.

There's going to be a next chapter, of course! I have to include Christmas, even if it's June now.

So stay tuned!

Peace and seashells,

QuirkyChameleon

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