They say the top three conversation mass people, mostly the ones meeting at just a bus stop, get involved in were: things ("What's that you see over there?), places ("So where have you been today?"), and weather ("Raining, isn't it?).

Why on Earth could he, Edmund, sitting in her living room, facing her and his own little sister , not pick out one? Just one topic, one conversation starter that would get everything going, get the gears in place…

Ask her out.

Ask her out.

Stop screaming, stupid mind!

Think, Edmund, think!

For Aslan's sake! He's always been the 'talkative,' the Just One, whom Peter often remarked of how difficult would it be to make him shut up.

Now, in front of Anna, he didn't know what to say.

Oh, why did he have to ridicule Caspian when the guy was chatting to Susan?

Who knew talking to girls was this arduous?

No, scratch that, who knew being in love was arduous?

Peter's so right about everything. Amazingly right

"Erm…it's—ah," how many expressions of the voice could he insert? "A pretty sunny day, isn't it, Anna?"

'So I guess you picked the weather choice,' said his mind, 'No surprises there, the pragmatic Ed.'

Then he casually sipped the orange juice she had served, pretending to be cool as a cucumber.

But, no questions, hot and nervous deep inside

Anna's tinkling laugh filled the room, as Lucy almost threw up the juice she's drinking at her brother's baby attempt to 'get a girl talking.'

"Yeah, it is," she smiled, pausing for a few seconds before saying the sentence he had never dreamed in a million years to hear. At least, for now. "I was wondering…Edmund?"

"Yes?" he leans in close, ignoring Lucy's—who's getting on his nerve more and more this strange morning—giggles, his voice failing to hide what was far from being lackadaisical, what he aimed at.

The delicate hand holding the glass tightening the grasp, her voice half-true-half-dare, Edmund held his breath as Anna's face, somewhat grinning playfully, moved inches closer to his, "...Are you trying to...ask me out?"

They say the 3D's of down emotions include: drowsiness (Edmund's a perfect example, especially when you tried to wake him up on exam days), desolation (When Father left…), and depression (Love).

Susan Pevensie was confused as to how it was possible to feel all the emotions at once.

Everything, the surroundings, blurred around her as she, in Caspian's arms, said sobbing words to two of the most important men in her life, goodbye's to her brother, and, if you could call it that, a second hello, to her love.

"We're…we're not leaving 'right away,' Peter," she managed to say, Peter turning back and smiling at her softly.

He patted her hand, "No, Su, no…why would you think so!" then he snapped his fingers in just a second like he always did when he had another one of 'The Peter Great Ideas.'

"And, to stop your crying there," joked Peter, "Why don't we talk about more pleasant things?"

"Such as what?" Caspian asked, as he and Susan settled down in their chairs at the dining room once again.

"A Wedding!"

"A Wedding?" Susan's eyes widened at Peter's words. "Oh, but you don't mean—"

Caspian smiled at Susan, taking her hand and inserting the ring he had been meaning to give her for the last few days, "What do you say, my love?"

Susan's hands felt weak in Caspian's, weakly excited yet nervous. "A wedding is so…so grand a thought to me, Caspian," shaking her head, "At first, I'd never dreamed of meeting a guy like you…then the proposal…and this!"

Peter beamed from across the table of his sister's happiness.

Yes, this confirmed it. He had made the right decision after all.

"I'd rather it be a quiet one in our backyard…" said Susan, as if in a daze, "And, of course, we could stay here for more days on planning and inviting guests…"

Her voice seemed to drift on and on, the guys staring at each other, not knowing where to begin.

"Oh, no."

Suddenly Susan's train of thoughts stopped, her face down, Peter asking worriedly, "What's the matter, Su?"

She looked up at her brother meaningfully, "I was thinking…of how everything has gone fine for us so far, then…"

"Then I remembered that our parents are not here to give me away."

"WHAT?" then, as he's never done before in his life, Edmund choked, rather ungracefully, on his beverage, "What did you say?"

No. Not possible. She's too sweet. Too sensible to be this sort of person!

No way, no freaking way.

Seeing his startled-for-the-millionth-time face, Lucy and Anna both burst out laughing. Loudly.

"Joking, Ed," huffed Lucy, "Joking!"

That little fraudulent sister!

It's all a trap, he told himself. A typical Lucy, girlish trap.

The trap they probably were working out behind his back in between the orange juice serving.

The next thing Edmund knew, Anna's fist was punching his shoulder, not playfully, yet strangely feeling like one of his friends at school doing it.

"Hey," she grinned at him again, "Sorry, Ed, just helping Lucy here."

"Er…erm, that's ok, Anna." If wordless was what he felt before, he didn't even know what to describe how to react now.

'I mean,' went his mind, 'Anna punches people? Like, the guys'-hey-what's-up buddy punches?'

Anna's pretty brown eyes shone at him, "Just so you know, I've never actually been on dates…but, well, they're kind of unnerving…"

Dates? Unnerving?

Was he talking to the girl of his dreams or listening to Peter's dating disaster stories?

No, this was all about him and him alone.

She continued as if she didn't notice his semi-shock reaction, hands gesturing in the air, "…Truth is, I'm not really that kind of a romantic girl. Guys see me like this—and they, well, run."

Almost choking on his drink once more, Edmund summoned enough courage inside to ask in an incredulous voice, "Like what? I don't see what's wrong with you…you're a nice, pretty, uh, girl, best friends to my sister, during the times we've been here so far."

'The pretty, uh, girl,' sighed, "Sorry. Got carried away…you'd laugh at me so bad for, being a girl," she put up air quotes, "And telling you all this on a first, what, meeting, which is not even a date, but, being your sister's friend and all, I'm the—"

"—Tomboy," added Lucy helpfully, Anna shooting her a look.

Edmund did not resist the urge to scratch his ears. "What?"

"See, I have brothers, too, but they're away right now," explained Anna, "I grew up with them, played sports, hiked, and, you know, practically watched they dated."

"So you know—" The coin was finally dropping on him.

She nodded, "Yeah. I do," shaking her head, "I'm more sports than makeup…and…you get it."

Lucy laughed, "It's fun being with Anna." She knew this before! She so knew this…

Her brother ruffled his hair again, "Oh well," he said, "I was about to ask you to—er—that bar down the marketplace, but…since, it's like this…would you like to go hiking with me?"

Now both the girls in the room turned to stare at him, Lucy almost mouthing, 'Clever trick,' at him, Anna's eyes widening, "Hiking? You serious?"

Edmund was the one grinning this time, "Hiking, yes, Anna," he confirmed, "Want to come?"

She gave him her hand mockingly, "Enchante, mister!"

Why, of all the girls, did he fell in love with the unlikely tomboyish Anna?

What luck!

A/N: Sorry for the little bit of Susan/Caspian. Am figuring something out soon…

Focusing on Ed's couple at the moment, hee hee. We have two main couples in the story now :).

Thank you again for everything, for I can never say this too many times for my lovely readers,

Your ever humble fanfic writer :)