A/N: Yipeee!! Chapter Five, ready for you to read. And REVIEW too! I was mistaken, this isn't going to be the last chapter…I will be adding one or two more chapters to this story. Till I update next (and I'm really REALLY sorry for this late update), please do R&R!

Chapter 5: A Twist in the Tale

It often so happens, that when the body is thrown uninformed into a state of calamity, the mind begins to account for why is has happened so, and what can be learnt from such a situation. Such was the case for Susan.

As she ate, she mulled over the events of that day, which had been one like never before. It had started out ordinarily, like any other day – she had spent a few useless hours in university, being forced to listen to things that she already knew. She had gotten on the train to make yet another boring journey back home, with her faithful and annoying nerdy companion bugging the daylights out of her. But that was where the ordinariness of the day had ended.

Jill's visit at the station was only the tip of the iceberg of surprises that her siblings had had in store for her. First the cake, then the presents, and to top it all off, the Narnian style decorations…it was much more that what she deserved, or so felt Susan.

The dismal look that had graced her face mere hours back was now replaced by a glowing smile that lit up her eyes. She flashed her dimples at each member seated at the table, giving them her silent thanks once again. This was not just any other ordinary birthday celebrations – it turned out to be a new chapter in the novel of her life.

"What are you staring at me for, Su?" asked Edmund, invariably with his mouth full, spraying Lucy with a shower of droplets of tomato soup.

"Edmund!" exclaimed the sisters in unison. He guffawed in reply.

"You honestly have terrible table manners, Edmund Pevensie," snorted Jill in disgust. "No wonder you could find no suitable bride for you in Narnia! Who would want to marry a person who sprayed while he spoke?"

Peter, Susan and Eustace broke down into peals of laughter at the expression of pure disgust on Lucy's and Jill's face, as well as that of wounded pride on Edmund's.

"It's late now," observed Peter suddenly, his gaze on the old grandfather clock placed in the dining room. The flickering of the candlelight reflected on its polished wooden surface that matched that of the dining table.

"We have to catch the morning train tomorrow," he continued dreamily, staring only at the pendulum of the clock.

"Jill, Eustace, you will be taking the eight o' clock train, and then the rest of us will take the eight thirty train. Have you all got your tickets with you?"

They all nodded. Nobody wanted to worry their parents, especially after they had all been so understanding in letting them stay overnight at the professors'.

"Fancy some salad, anyone?" asked Eustace, breaking into their thoughts. "There's hardly any left."

"You can have it, Eustace," teased Jill. "We all know that's what you really want."

He grew red in the face. "No!" he protested loudly, all flustered. "I wanted to know if anyone else wanted…I mean, there's hardly any remaining, so...I mean…" he broke off, looking angrily at Jill for misinterpreting his words.

She noticed his expression and gave him an impromptu hug, one she would regret as well as rejoice for the rest for her life.

"Relax, Scrubb!" she grinned while rubbing his back soothingly. "I was only teasing!" His face grew even redder while he was caught up in her embrace, but surprisingly enough, he seemed to like it. Was this…love?

"Do you think we should break them up?" asked Edmund with mock concern. He and Peter pretended to think deeply. "Nah!" they sang at the same time. The unintended loudness in their voice made the two break up, and they refused to meet anybody's eyes or each others, choosing instead to stare at the floor and bracing themselves for the teasing that they knew would come. And come indeed it did.

"Oooh, Eustace!" wolf-whistled Edmund. It seemed that he was the one having a kick out of the night. "Experiencing our first time at love, are we? And Jill…I heard someone tell me about a bride I could never have…." He trailed off, looking on as the heat spread across her cheeks.

Susan made a timely intervention. "Cut it out, Ed!" she scolded. "Give the two sometime. I know it must be difficult discussing this in front of all of us….embarrassing even. It may have been just a hug, but I could see right from the beginning that there was something between the two of you. Do not let the playful nature of my two crazy brothers-" Here, she glared with all the regal airs of Queen Susan- "come in between the two of you."

Jill gave Susan a grateful look and mouthed her thanks. Being a tomboy with no sisters and no girls as friends, Jill had formed a deep bond with Susan seeing as their virtues were much the same. Susan, in turn considered Jill another sister, like Lucy. What fate that such deep bonds of friendship were forged in few hours.

"Errrm….will you come out and walk with me, Eustace?" stammered Jill. Eustace nodded. Seeing as they were done with dinner anyway, the elder Pevensies helped clear the table for fear of incurring the wrath of Mrs. Macready upon them, whilst the younger two headed upstairs to bring down the sheets, quilts and pillows that they were going to use to set a makeshift bed. Upon Susan's request, it was decided that all seven of them would lie down together (Lucy was particularly sire that they would not fall asleep this night) and so Edmund and Lucy, with much shushing, were bringing down the needed bedspreads.

Meanwhile, a painted moon hung in the ink black sky as a bashful Eustace and an equally shy Jill walked hand in hand in silence in the gardens. Suddenly, he turned towards Jill and pointed upwards at one lone star that twinkled on, brighter than the rest of the stars combined.

"See that star?" he whispered softly. Jill nodded silently, shivering involuntarily in the cool night air. He motioned for her to sit down upon the dry grass and threw his pullover over her. She smiled.

"I know that it is Polaris or Polestar, the brightest star of the northern sky," he began, his voice taking on a dreamy quality. "But since we left Narnia, I have always imagined it to be Opunaema, the lady of destiny. Maybe it was her who blessed me enough that, despite the arrogant brute I was before, I found a friend like you."

And without thinking, without warning, he cupped her face between his hands and placed his lips upon her rosebud ones.

A/N: Ta-Da! That's the end of this chapter. I love the Jill/Eustace pairing! Hope you liked it too. But whatever it is you felt, please do tell me by REVIEWING!
Chocolate Sundaes with hot fudge and chocolate chips topped with cookie crumbs for all those who do review!

Oh, and I'm very very thankful to all those who have favorite this fic and have added it to their alert list. But please do leave reviews too! I would love to know what you think and fell about this fic. Any corrections? Errors? Bad vocab? Review and let me know!

NO FLAMES, though.

In the name of Narnia!
SashaWPevensie