It was a beautiful Saturday morning in Finchley, and the Pevensies were having a wonderful picnic at the park. It was wonderful for them all, but not for Susan. She hadn't touched her chicken and salad. She toyed with it with her fork. She didn't it. She didn't feel like eating. Her thoughts were somewhere else.

"Susan, Dear," Mrs. Pevensie said, "Aren't you going to eat?"

"I really can't, Mum," she said without looking up.

"Come, Dear, that's not the way to behave. Your generation is crazy over boys," Mrs. Pevensie said in a scolding manner.

"Mum, please," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Everyone fell silent, for awhile, except for the two boys who were playing Frisbee, not too far off. It was amazing to see the two them getting along, that Mrs. Pevensie still wasn't used to it. She still couldn't convince herself that these were the same boys that she had raised. The boys who would always fight and bicker, when they were children, growing up. These were the boys who never got along, as brothers, which she thought was quite normal for most families. Helen Pevensie never thought she'd live to see the day when Peter and Edmund would get along well. They were getting along, just fine.

Meanwhile, Lucy sat opposite her sister, watching their brothers' game. As she turned back to her food, she gave a gasp of surprise. She noticed a young man climbing up the little hill. He was holding what appeared to be a single stalk of rose. She recognized him from the way he walked, and his dress. He was dressed as a prince. But Susan's back was turned to the man, so she didn't notice him coming up behind her. Only when Lucy covered her mouth did she turn her head to look. The young man offered her the rose, and offered her his hand to help her get up. But she did not need the hand. She jumped up, in surprise, as if someone had jsut tickled her. She let out a squeel of joy, as she saw who it was. She took a step back.

"Caspian!" she said, laughing, "You're here!"

She pulled him close to her in a tight embrace. She thought she had lost him, but now, he was here, with her.

"Won't you stay and have lunch with us?" she invited, as she motioned for him to sit.

Caspian sat down on the grass, and ate.

He said, "Hmm... I guess a little picnic on a beautiful day wouldn't hurt, would it?"

Meanwhile, Edmund suddenly stopped, and looked in their direction.

"Pete, look who's here," he said, pointing in the direction of the hill.

Surprisingly, Peter didn't react like he did the other day. This time, he was more congenial towards Caspian. He even invited him for a game of Frisbee.

"Would you want our guest to suffer apendicitis, Peter," their mother joked.

"Sorry, Mum," he said with a smirk, "I just thought I might be a little more friendly towards him, after having been so mean."

"Alright," Helen Pevensie replied, "but remember, Peter, it is bad manners to make our guest leave his meal, in order for him to join you. Let him finish first."

"Yes, Mum," he said, then, turned back to Edmund.

They resumed their game.

Moments later, after they had finished their meal, Susan and her prince took a stroll around the park. Peter called to Caspian, inviting him, once more, to a game of Frisbee.

Susan and Caspian turned in Peter and Edmund's direction. She was a little bit irritated. It showed in her voice as she said, "Can't you see that Caspian and I are busy?"

Edmund replied, "Oh, come on, Susan! Don't be such a kill joy! You can talk, later!"

Caspian looked over at Susan. Smiling, he said, "I think I'm quite interested in their game. If it's alright with you, I could join them."

Susan smiled, then, nodded. She turned to her brothers. She said, "Alright, Caspian can join. But only if I could play against the three of you. You, Edmund, and Caspian will be one team, and I, Lucy, and Mum will be another. The team who can't catch it will be penalized."

"Sounds like a good game," Edmund said.

"I second the motion," Peter added.

"That's settled, then!"

Peter and Edmund taught Caspian how to play Frisbee, and they all had a great time. They spent all that day at the park. Susan and Caspian lay down on the grass, looking at the clouds, and yet looking at nothing in particular. They held each other's hands.

"So I guess you'll be leaving, tonight, won't you?" Susan said, looking at him, tenderly.

"Tonight? No, not tonight. We can still have tonight."

"But Aslan," Susan began, but Caspian cut her off. He kissed her.

"I guess you can say I can disregard Aslan's instructions for me, just for you."

"You would sacrifice your own honor, just for me? Caspian, how could you?" she said, surprised.

"My allegiance lies with Aslan. My sword and my life are His, as well, but my honor is my own. And my heart and soul belong to you."

She snuggled closer to him, and closed her eyes. She smiled, and muttered, "My Caspian." She was oblivious to her siblings' teasing. Peter and Edmund teased them, "Susan and Caspian, sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G! First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Susan with a baby carriage!" They laughed, until they got teary-eyed from laughing. Lucy also did some teasing of her own. She sang, "She's been dreaming of a true love's kiss, and a prince, she's hoping comes with this... That's what springs ever-afterings so happy... That's the reason why we need lips so much, for lips are the only things that touch... So to spend a life of endless bliss, just find who you love through true love's kiss."

That night, Caspian slept once more at the Pevensies, to spend his last night with Susan, before he returned to Narnia. This time, after dinner, he went to bed early. Everyone had wondered why, but they all conlcluded that he had just been tired from the day at the park. They all were. They enjoyed themselves. As soon as everyone went to bed, Susan went into Lucy's room, and sat on the edge of her bed, as she always used to do before turning in, herself. She also used to tuck Lucy in.

As Susan sat on the edge of her bed, Lucy looked up and asked her, "Tell me, Sue... What were you and Caspian doing, last night?"

Susan looked at her sister in shock.

"You knew? Why you little--"

"Don't worry, Sue. You're secret's safe with me."

"I can't believe you were spying on me! Was that what you were doing there, with the rocking chair, the whole time?"

"No, I wasn't spying on you! I put the chair there, so Peter or Edmund couldn't come in."

"Really?"

"Really, Sue. I would have to die before I gave out your secret. I'd never betray you, Sue."

Susan relented, but she had to explain to her that she was still too young to understand, and that she would be able to understand, someday. As she returned to her room, she heard Caspian's soft tapping from the other room. She responded back with two taps. Susan went out into the hall. They kissed passionately. They embraced. Then, looking up at Caspian, she said, "Weren't you supposed to be asleep, already? I thought you were."

"I was just pretending to be," he said, a mischievious smile playing on his lips. They kissed, and both she and Caspian entered her room. Once they were in her room, Susan closed the door, and locked it. She pulled Caspian close to her, and let him cover her mouth with his, as he had done the first night. As they climbed into bed, Susan said, "This wouldn't be the first time I did this. But you're the very first man I ever did it with."

"And you're the first woman I ever did this with."

Susan awoke to the sound of birds, chirping outside. She opened her eyes, and saw the golden sun streaming in through her window. She looked around, and saw Caspian in her bed, sleeping beside her. By now, she had full knowledge of what they had done, since they had already done it twice. She was ready to take all the consequences of those actions. She woke Caspian, gently.

"Caspian, get up," she said in hushed, hurried tones.

"Why? Must I leave, now?"

"No. Here. Put your clothes on, and hide under my bed."

"But why?"

"Just do as I say! Hurry!"

Caspian slid underneath Susan's bed, just as the door to her room opened. Susan had forgotten that her mother had the keys.

"Susan, Dear," Helen Pevensie began, "Are you ready for church?"

"In a minute, Mum," she said.

"Oh, and that friend of yours... What's his name?"

"Caspian."

"Yes, that's it. Caspian. Wake him up, and tell him to get dressed and ready. He's coming with us to church."

As soon as Mrs. Pevensie left the room and closed the door behind her, Susan signalled for Caspian to come out. She breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank goodness," she breathed, "For a minute there, I thought we would get caught! Mum is going to kill me, if she or Peter ever found out!"

"Just what is this 'church' that your mother spoke of?" Caspian asked, curious.

"It's a religious practice that we have, here in our world. Every culture and every people has a different way of celebrating this religious ceremony."

"And I am to come with you?"

"Why, yes, of course," she said, "Now, get out of here, get dressed, then, meet the rest of us downstairs for breakfast."

"I am at your disposal, my Queen," Caspian said with a bow. Susan chuckled softly.

"Don't make me laugh, my Love," Susan reminded him, "if you don't want Peter or anyone in the house to know about this." She shooed him out, rummaged through her closet for her Sunday dress, and got ready for breakfast. Caspian, Peter, Edmund, and Lucy did the same.

A little bit later, it was time to go and she ran outside, to leave with their mother, Lucy, Caspian, Edmund and Peter. They got in the car and drove to church. When they got there, Susan found them a seat on the pew in the very back. As the minister spoke, she felt herself drifting off to sleep. Caspian slipped his hand into hers. Susan had never been one for church. She lay her head on Caspian's shoulder and fought to stay awake, staring ahead with blank eyes.

After the service, the whole Sunday afternoon was spent in lunch, talking, and gossiping. Everything was a mess at the Pevensies, since Edmund and Lucy were beginning to be silly and tease each other again, while Mrs. Pevensie was chatting with her neighbors over tea in the garden. Peter spent the rest of his day mostly by reading. He had come to learn to appreciate reading, when they were in Narnia. Now, he just couldn't stop, which was a surprise to Mrs. Pevensie, since she knew that Peter didn't care for books.

Susan and Caspian found the most quiet place to stay in. They went into her room, and once there, they surrendered their selves to each other, heart and soul. They made love to each other, passionately, in the heat of afternoon sun. After they had made love, they talked about a lot of things. Things regarding Narnia, and things regarding Finchley. Caspian laughed out loud, when he heard about the story of Mr. Tumnus, and how he had thought that the word spare room, which he actually thought was Spare Oom, was a city, and that wardrobe was a country. They talked about Peter, Edmund, and Lucy. They talked about boarding school. Susan looked into Caspian's eyes, and tears began to form in her own.

"You can't stay, Caspian," she said, choking.

"Why not?" Caspian asked, as he wiped her tears with his thumb.

"Peter, Edmund, Lucy, and I go back to boarding school, each Sunday night, to prepare for Monday's lessons, and we go home every Friday. And I have to go, Caspian. And so do you. You're needed in Narnia. I'm sorry."

Caspian wanted to understand. He couldn't. But if boarding school meant so much to her, Caspian decided it was a sacrifice he should make, just for her. He had to say goodbye to Susan, once more, and she to him.

That evening, Susan, Peter, Edmund, and Lucy left, to return to boarding school. Mrs. Pevensie, aware of Susan and Caspian's feelings for each other asked Caspian if he could accompany her in taking Susan and Lucy to the school. He could see Susan off, and they could say goodbye. The evening went as planned, after attending the evening service. Caspian said goodbye to Susan, at the gate. He embraced her tightly. They kissed, and Susan cried some more.

"Farewell. I must be gone," Caspian said, assuming the courtly voice that he was known for.

"Bye. When will I see you again?"

"I'll be in your dreams. You'll be in mine, as well. Don't worry. Everything is going to be jsut fine. We'll see each other again."

Narnia. Caspian stood on the battlements, surveying all that vast land that stretched on the horizon. A soft breeze blew, making the trees and grass sway in the wind. Suddenly, Caspian felt a hand slip into his, and heard a familiar voice. Sweeter than any voice he had ever heard.

"You know," Queen Susan said, "Cair Paravel has a better view than this."

"No, I have a better view."

"Whatever does that mean?"

"I see something even grander and more majestic than Cair Paravel. Queen Susan the Gentle. Queen Susan of the Horn. Like the radiant Southern sun."

"I thought I'd never see you again," she said against his mouth.

"Didn't I tell you we'll see each other again?"

Caspian said, in his mind, May your wisdom grace us until the stars come raining down from the heavens. He had claimed Susan as his queen. Then, he added, May your love grace us until time ceases to exist.

And there, they kissed, with the setting sun adorning the evening sky. The stars came out and painted the sky. But to Caspian, the most beautiful sight was that of Susan Pevensie of Finchley. And to Susan, the most beautiful sight was that of King Caspian X.