Author's Note: Chapter 2 up! Finally, I've been prompt at updating. Hearty thanks to garnetred, Clear Plastic, claire henry and LucyCrewe11 for the reviews on Chapter 1. Love you!

And to claire henry: This fic IS placed in England, just 1940's because the Pevensies have to grow up, right? Can't be stuck in 1940 forever!

Yes, I'm done with my increasingly long A/N. Sorry, and here's the chapter for you to R&R!

Chapter Two: Communicate

The grand ballroom in Professor Kirke's ancient mansion was decorated in a way that was extremely uncharacteristic for a man who had crossed the age of seventy. Large scale paintings and tapestries were hung in the background, depicting various magical scenes from a place that just had to be Narnia. Of course, the decorations weren't permanent…they were just there to add splendor to the mood, meaning to the theme and instill a festive spirit into all those gathered there.

Who were gathered there to felicitate Susan Pevensie on her forgotten twenty-third birthday.

A hot and dusty Peter stood grinning widely, standing beside and equally dusty Edmund and a well-dressed Lucy. Lucy's face broke into a bored grin the moment she saw the expression on her elder sister's face. "Cat got your tongue, Su?" asked Lucy mischievously. Susan could only nod her head in response.

Jill sauntered into the ballroom and chuckled at the scene before her. Susan was just looking so…lost. She walked over to Eustace and tapped him lightly on the hand. "What have I missed?" she asked, her navy eyes sparkling. "Oh, nothing…just Susan's absurd yells as Pete and Ed brought, sorry, dragged her here and her that look of utter surprise that you see on her face right now."

Susan found her voice. "What did you…I mean, how…uhm…." she stuttered. "Peter, were you the one who attempted to mug me back at the station?" asked Susan, an amused expression entering her eyes. Peter laughed and went over to throw a comforting arm around her shoulders. "Oh, I wasn't alone," he said, unable to keep the laughter out of his voice. "Ed was my…what do you say? Partner in crime."

Susan was grinning widely by now. But beneath her smile underlay a tinge of sadness far greater than what she had anticipated. The professor spoke now. "Susan, we are so happy, not to mention relieved that you came. Jill told me that it was quite a fight you put up there at the station."

Susan smiled sheepishly. "I didn't want to come at first, professor," she admitted. "But as you can see, my friends and siblings get pretty adamant, not to mention rowdy, and insist in getting their way at times. I'm just so glad that I didn't resist too much this time."

"Didn't resist too much?" asked Peter in wonder. "You kicked me so hard, had you not been my sister, I would have punched you right back!"

Susan pretended to look wounded. "Aww, Peter! Suppose it wasn't you, am I not supposed to know the basics of self-defense? I can't just be some poor, helpless, delicate little girl, hapless at the mercy of the 

evil crowds lurking in England!" She threw the back of her hand to her forehead in a dramatic gesture and pretended to swoon. Eustace pretended to catch her. Everybody burst into loud peals of laughter.

"Alright children," came Aunt Polly's quiet, musical voice. "We have much to do, and your parents expect you back tomorrow evening," she reminded them. Susan threw Ed a look of confusion. She mouthed the words 'We're spending the night here?'

Edmund gave her a nod affirming her queries. "How did mother allow this?" asked Susan to Edmund, inching slowly towards him.

"You reeeeaallllllly want to know?" he asked her, raising his eyebrow in surprise.

"Yes please, Ed", replied Susan, turning serious.

"Susan." A large puff of air escaped his lips as he let out a breath. This was not going to be easy. "Have you realised that you have…kind of…well, you've been alienating yourself from us, ever since we first left Narnia? You underwent that one crazy phase when all you did was preen in front of the mirror all day long, party away the nights and wearing stuff that…" he shuddered at the memory.

Susan nodded sadly. "I know this must be hard for you, Ed," she said softly, trying to comfort her little brother. "But we all have to grow up! I have responsibilities to assume and people to take care of! I cannot continue playing these baby games all day, you know?" Her voice went up an octave and she looked defensive.

Edmund shook his head. A multitude of feelings crossed his mind: guilt, for bringing out the topic when it was her birthday, after all; unhappiness, for his sister was still denying all that was real; and annoyance – all their efforts to help their sister raise from her perennial gloom and help her celebrate a birthday that she herself had forgotten about was going to the drains.

"Forget it, Su," he said shortly, and stalked off in the opposite direction to cool off. He went over to Peter, who, along with Jill, Eustace and Professor Kirke was discussing the various defense techniques that they had employed in Narnia while caught by surprise – a discussion fueled by Edmund's and Peter's 'abduction' of Susan.

"Pete, she's just not accepting the fact that Narnia is real. That we were once rulers there. It's still a childhood game for her, Peter. This whole thing has been in vain. I'm so fed up, I…" Peter looked up in surprise at Edmund's outburst. This was not like him, and Peter was beginning to get afraid if Susan's grouchiness was spreading to his other siblings as well. But before he could speak, Lucy was there by his side, her omnipresent smile gracing her angelic face. "It's not like that, Ed," she soothed her steamed older brother. "She needs her time, you know. Leaving Narnia was hardest of all for her – she left her heart there, too," she reminded him. Edmund nodded mutely. He still didn't see why she had to make it so hard for them.

"Peter, Edmund, Lucy, Jill, Eustace, Diggory," she said, her eyes twinkling mysteriously in the candle-lit room. "Shouldn't we be giving the birthday girl her treat?" The enthusiasm level of the room increased drastically. "Come on!" hushed Lucy, giggling and clutching an equally excited Jill.

"Where's Susan? Peter, I give you the job of blindfolding her again and getting her to the dining room. Will you be able to manage or are you afraid of another…ah, attack?" teased the Professor. Peter grimaced. "I'll be able to manage fine, Professor," he replied quickly. His siblings laughed hysterically at the thought of the High King fearing his sister, and he glared at them.

"Hey! Peter, is it you again?" yelled Susan at being blindfolded yet again. "Why is this getting to be a routine with you?!"

"The others, hearing her shrill voice in the dining room laughed some more and shuddered to think of Peter's predicament lest Susan's temper flared. After a surprisingly less amount of time, he entered with the promised blindfolded Susan, who was groping wildly around the place.

When she was released, all she could do was gasp. And let out a weak cry of happiness. All lights had been turned off, and the room was lit by the soft glow of the twenty-three candles present on her large cake. The girls (Aunt Polly included) held a huge bouquet of lilies and azaleas in hand, which happened to be Susan's favourite flowers. A huge pile of presents were stacked upon the far end of the long dining table. The cake, which was placed centrally was three tiered and looked so pretty by candle light.

"Happy Birthday, Susan!" yelled the group for the second time that day. "Come blow the candles, Su! And don't forget to make a wish!" reminded Lucy. Slowly, like as though in a dream, Susan walked forward to blow the candles on her cake. "Thank you so, so much, everyone," she said, smiling gratefully at them all. "I can't believe the amount of work and coordination that this would require, as well as the time and money…and that too, for me…" Susan was unable to go on.

But what she didn't know was that this was just the tip of the iceberg, and there was a lot more to come.

Authors' Note: Yes, that's the end. Will update as soon as possible! Meanwhile, to increase the speed of my updates, do REVIEW. Yes, REVIEW!! Brownies with hot fudge and a sundae for all reviewers!
(If your mouth was watering while reading that particularly tempting dish, you just HAVE to review!!)

-SashaWPevensie