Disclaimer: If I owned Chronicles of Narnia, I wouldn't have the student loan debts I have. (read: I don't own Chronicles of Narnia, I don't make money from this. I am merely a fan.)

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Susan held the ring in her right hand. She looked from it to David then back to the ring. She slipped on to her left ring finger.

"I will marry you." Susan spoke with tears threatening to pour from her eyes. The moment she said this, a loud roar sounded. She looked around but it did not appear that anyone else had heard it.

"You will?" David's eyes widened. "Oh Suzy Q! You won't be disappointed!" He walked over to her and hugged her tight. At that moment, Susan regretted her decision.

Outside their private room, a loud crash and clang of toppling plates, glasses, and cutlery made Susan practically jump out of her skin. Susan turned and glimpsed through the crack in the curtain and saw a streak of brown hair and black suit rush around the corner toward the back exit. At first, she thought of Caspian, but Susan shook her head, blaming her imagination and guilt.

"You okay?" David turned her head with the soft touch of his hand. She was looking up into his eyes now. Not trusting her voice any longer, she only nodded.

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David dropped Susan off back home. She invited him in for a nightcap, which he accepted.

When they walked into the mansion, they saw Eustace waiting in the study just to the right of the entrance and foyer. He was sipping a clear beverage and going through some paperwork. He looked up when he heard noise in the foyer.

"Is that you, Cousin?"

"Yes, Eustace." Susan walked into the study followed by David. He kept his hands in his pockets and a smug look on his face. David knew Eustace did not like him and he could only imagine what he will do when he hears of the engagement.

"Did you have a good time?" Eustace glanced up for the papers strewn on the desk.

"We did at that. I think your dear cousin has something to share with you, Eustace." The look of victory dancing in David's eyes warned Eustace of what Susan was about to say.

"David asked me to marry him." Susan spoke softly then stuck out her left hand flashing the ring at Eustace. "I said yes."

Eustace saw the forced smile Susan was sporting but said nothing at the moment about it. Instead he rose from his seat and hugged his cousin when he really wanted to whisk her away back to Narnia, or at least somewhere else away from David.

"Congratulations." Eustace spoke without so much as a nod to David.

"You know what Suzy Q, I think I'll take a rain check on that nightcap. I'll call you tomorrow." David kissed her cheek and showed himself out.

When Susan and Eustace heard his car pull away, the tension left the house and Susan could breath again. She flopped down into the nearest chair and kicked off her shoes, closed her eyes, and rubbed her temples.

"Suzy Q?" Eustace grimaced.

"Don't start, Eustace." Susan sighed.

"By the way, I was told to give this to you." Eustace handed Susan a thick envelope. Susan took it and examined the seal. It was Narnian. In fact, it was the seal of the four kings and queens of old.

"What is this?" Susan's voice cracked when tears finally came pouring.

"I don't know what's in there, honestly." He sat back down at his desk and sipped his drink. "Would you like a water as well, Sue?"

"Please." Susan didn't take her eyes off the envelope.

Eustace picked up a pitcher and filled a glass with water and ice. He placed the small glass to Susan's waiting hand.

"Open it." Eustace urged.

Susan sipped her water, set the glass down on a coaster on the table next to her, and carefully broke the seal. When she peaked inside at the contents, she decided to just sit on the floor and dump everything out. Together, she and Eustace sorted through the materials: three equally thick sets of folded papers.

"Letters?" Eustace's brow furrowed in confusion.

"Letters." Susan nodded. Another deep sigh left her lips as she unfolded the one on top.

Dearest Sister,

I don't think I have to tell you how much I care for and love you. You were always there for me and never denied me anything, even after I was tempted by Jadis. Our time in The Golden Age of Narnia will always be the highlight of my memories. I think fondly, and humorously, of the voyages and hunts we would go on together. The time we spent, just the two of us, bonding, meant a lot to me—more than I can put into words.

Dearest Susan,

Please know that as I write this, I only speak with the sincerest intentions. As always, I wish to help you as you helped me so many times. I wish you every bit of happiness in the world (be it England, America, or Narnia). That being said, I hope you will reconsider your engagement to David. With hope, all things are possible. Do not marry just to settle down; marry for love and happiness.

Susan couldn't read anymore of Edmund's letter and folded it once more. She opened the next.

Susan,

I won't ramble on about various memories. I will just get right to the point. David is not right for you. Take my word for it. Please reconsider…

Susan folded Peter's letter with an annoyed and baffled sigh.

Darling Sister,

Oh how I miss you! I watch over you every day. I'm glad that you have chosen to live with Eustace. He's changed so much since you've last seen him, hasn't he?

As I watch over you, I see how you too have grown. But I can also see the pain in your eyes. Please don't grieve for us. We are in Aslan's country! It is the most beautiful land—more beautiful than our beloved Narnia if you can believe it. I think the pain I see in your eyes only comes across when you're either with David or speaking about David. And a different kind of pain exists when you're silent. Are you constantly reflecting on our times in Narnia? Are you not happy with Eustace?

Susan skimmed over the bulk of this letter and jumped to her sister's final thoughts.

I won't tell you not to marry David; I know you're not in love with him. So please, do a favor for me and yourself: don't live a life of regret. You have to live for all of us now. Do what makes you happy…and I can see that that is not David. I only say these things because I love you. I wish I could be there to help you through this, whether or not you decide to follow through with the marriage.

I think fondly of you all the time and I will always be keeping an eye on you…as often as Aslan will allow. Know that I love you and support you in whatever you choose to do, but I also plead that you heed my advice and the advice from our overzealous brothers.

Love always,

Lu

"Um, Sue? I think you should finish reading Peter's letter." Eustace handed the bulk back to Susan.

"I can't read anymore. My vision is blurry from tears and my eyes are sore and tired."

"Fine…I'll read it to you." Eustace cleared his throat and read:

You may think the world of David, though your eyes say a different story. I saw the hesitation before you accept the ring…that gaudy bauble on your left hand.

Now I must prepare you; what I'm about to say may sound unbelievable and a ploy. But I'm telling you because you have not managed to see it for yourself, either due to naiveté or lack of care. David is not as faithful to you as you would like to think. When he claims to be at the gentlemen's club, he's off looking for, to put it mildly, anything he can get. If you take nothing else into consideration, please know that you are not first in his heart either; he just has a way of hiding it from you.

I know who is first in your heart; I know he's always been. Don't lose hope. Remember, with hope and trust in Aslan, all things are possible.

Love,

Peter, The Magnificent

PS

How can you say 'yes' to a boy who calls you 'Suzy Q'?

Eustace folded the letter and set it back on top of the others.

Susan fingered through the other objects that were in the big envelope, most were artifacts and jewels that belonged to the late kings and queen of old.

"What am I supposed to do now, Eustace? Die alone? I'm never going to see Caspian again, so what's the point."

Susan rose to her feet and ran to her room up the stairs, third door on the left. She slammed it shut and leaned against the door.

"I can't marry Caspian and the one guy who does propose my siblings are still chasing off!" Susan reflected on the letters. Then she remembered what Peter said about David being unfaithful. She almost wished she would have read the rest of the letters. But Peter would have no other reason to say that particular reason causing Susan to remember some things she may have chosen to repress.

One time she found a tube of lipstick on the floor of the passenger side of David's car. It was a deep shade of an orangey red. Susan rarely wore red lipstick, and when she did, it was a blue-red.

Another instance was when she had called of David at work as surprise. She had brought him lunch. When he emerged from his spacious office, he was adjusting his clothing (pants, shirt, and tire…the who thing).

These two instances alone added weight to Peter's argument.

"How could I be so stupid?" Susan shook her head as she changed into her nightgown and house robe. She didn't bother putting on slippers before heading down to the study.

She didn't bother acknowledging Eustace who still sat on the floor, reading the letters. She walked blindly over to the bar and poured a glass of whiskey. She downed the contents without taking a breath and poured another.

Eustace watched his cousin act abnormally. She never drank except the occasional glass of wine or champagne. He knew she despised the smell of whiskey, so he decided to tread very lightly over what he was about to say.

"Susan, maybe you should read the rest of these."

"No. I've disappointed them and I've lied to myself. I feel so guilty for saying yes to David…that cheating bastard." Susan's words began to slur together and she downed another glass of whiskey. "I'm a failure. I'm nothing without them and these letters just prove it."

"I think that's enough of a nightcap for you, Cousin." Eustace stood up and walked over to Susan, taking the freshly filled glass from her hand. He noticed her eyes were bloodshot from crying, and her cheeks were red from the alcohol.

"Do you love me, Eustace?" Susan asked absent-mindedly.

"Of course, Sue."

"What would you do if you woke up and I was gone?"

"C'mon, Susan. Let's get you to bed."

Before he had time to think, Susan passed out from emotion and whiskey and he caught her. He carried her up to her room and placed her in her cool bed of cotton sheets and crochet blankets. He swept away the remaining tears on her cheeks and kissed her forehead. Before he left her room, he crack the window to allow some fresh air in hoping it would have some soothing effect on Susan.

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Susan sat straight up in bed. A loud noise woke her from her drunken sleep. Groggily, she walked over to the open window and opened it all the way. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. She didn't remember how she got back up to bed, figuring Eustace helped, and she couldn't remember why she tasted sweet liquor on her dry lips.

As she walked back to her bed she heard the same loud noise that woke her in the first place, this time it caused her some dizziness and she fell to the floor.

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A/N #1: So here ends chapter 2. Please review; they really do inspire me to keep writing and therefore updating quicker…plus, reviews make me smile.

A/N #2: Follow me on twitter for teasers and other news about my fanfic antics. The link is my homepage in my profile.

A/N #3: I try to post the chapters as soon as they are done. I do my best to proof them; however, if you notice errors, do not hesitate to inform me (but in a constructive way). I am only human.