A/N- Since I had neglected the story a couple of chapters before for so long, I decided to treat everyone with some back-to-back chapters. Enjoy, my loves!

"No." He heaved a sigh while unclasping her hands. "You're mad if you think I'm going to marry you."

Her eyes flash dangerously as she stood back. "She left you Caspian. She left you for another man."

Caspian smiled, "Ah. Yes, you sisters are quite alike."

"I had no choice! Aslan said my time was done!" She snapped.

He stroked his beard, "Aslan. We've had little time to discuss him. You said he came to you in a dream saying that Lucy needed you? Why on Earth…"

Susan stomped her foot in annoyance, "Who cares what's going on with that lion? I want to discuss us. I've missed you, you know?"

Caspian shook his head, "Oh no. I've had enough of you Pevensie girls. If I'm going to take another wife, it'll be far from likes of you lot."

"You don't wish to have this?" Her hand reached to the top of her dress, her fingers were tracing patterns on her chest.

"Don't be absurd, there's nothing there."

Susan made a move to smack him but Caspian artfully dodged her hand and laughed. "I'm sorry Susan but I love her. I've been a real prat, as your brothers put it, to her but I swear to make it right once I find her."

After she closed the door behind her (rather forcefully,) she marched through the hallways to her room. She was not going to give up that easily. Susan loved her sister, she really did but she wasn't blind of deaf to hear what everyone was saying about her.

Sure, she was the most beautiful of girls. She could not deny that as she flipped her hair back but it was Lucy who was praised for kindness, for her innocent, for her heart that held no dark spot for anyone not even the Devil. Susan was envious she did not garner such a reputation, when they spoke of her all they said was she was a looker but the conversation ended there.

Her hand instinctively went to her abdomen; she rubbed it for several minutes. Just a short few weeks ago, it held a child there. Her child. When she had confronted George, he drove her to the clinic himself and had the child aborted much to Susan's detest. If she kept it, George would leave her and the baby to fend for themselves. How was a woman, soon to be labeled a harlot with a bastard child, being able to survive alone? No would help her. Besides, as much as she loved that child, she was certain she would have more children once they were married.

But something went wrong. Susan's throat and chest ached as the memories came back. The blood was everywhere, she was supposed to not feel a thing but she feel him prod deep in her, in a instance, she felt empty, almost numb. They had killed her baby and she let them. The doctor then gave a sort of yelp. Susan was trying to prop herself up but the aiding nurse gently pushed her down. The procedure was to be done in thirty minutes, but it took nearly two hours.

It had turned out the doctor had done some damage as he put it lightly. She would no longer be able to have children, he had basically torn her insides up and with much difficulty, and he was able to stop the bleeding. The idiot didn't even apologize. She ended up staying overnight.

The next day, George had come to pick her up and was silent the whole drive. When they were a block from their residence and at a red light, he turned to her, "Look at the bright side. We never have to deal with whiny children."

He laughed and patted her knee. She forced a small smile that shattered her heart, "Yes. We are better off."

Caspian poured himself a shot of whiskey and retired for the day in his favorite leather chair. He was facing the large window and gulped down the entire content of glass. It burned his throat but it felt good. He replayed the memories over in his mind at least five times a day since she left. If he had just opened his arms for her, perhaps…perhaps she would still be here.

He was a prick for treating her like that but truthfully, he never had an example to abide by. He knew it was no excuse. Right now, she was probably writhing under Charles… the thought made him throw his glass across the room.

He couldn't stay there any longer. He shouted for his adviser and by morning, he was setting sail in search of his Queen.

Peter frowned as Caspian's council confronted him. He was going to have to lead the army to take control of the occupied territory. As much as he cared for Narnia, he thought he was officially retired from such things again. He looked sheepishly over at his brother, who was at his wits end when they gave the official document announcing he was third-in-command. He never looked happier.

He clasped Peter on the back, "We're at it again! Just like old times, eh?"

Peter rubbed the bridge of his nose in tension, "Let's get at it then." He looked over at Jonathon, "Have you assembled the men?"

He bowed, "Yes, your majesty. They are at the camp, training."

Peter nodded, "Good. And when did you say they will arrive at our boundaries?"

"In ten days time, sire."

"Shiite! I want to march by dawn. I'm going to entrust Edmund to get all the men in ranks. Jonathon, I want you to get the kitchens to start preparing meals. "

Edmund looked up at him in amazement, "Like a real King."

Peter rolled his eyes, "I'm only looking forward to getting home to my girlfriend, and I just hope to return to her in one piece."

She and Charles have ended their relationship on amiable terms. They were only friends, great friends considering he had offered to care for her and the child well after he was gone.

"I won't take your refusal. I have no one to leave it for, consider this as an apology present." He patted her hand gently, "I humor myself thinking such as old man as myself can be with someone as young as you."

Lucy's eyebrows widened, "Old? Why, I don't see a wisp of white hair on your head!" It was actually a lie.

Charles allowed himself to chuckle before taking on a more serious tone. "Have you had the milk I brought you? Have you been eating well? You're not working too hard are you?"

"Charles one may think I'm dying!" Something flashed in his face and Lucy instantly realized she had crossed the line. She reached out and held his hand, "I'm sorry. I forgot."

He pulled back his hand in a hurry, "What have you to be sorry for?"

She had forgotten he had not told her the story of his late wife. "I only mean- that is – you know it's getting – "

He ran a hand through his hair, "No doubt Caspian told you. A toothy grinned was plastered upon his face. "Ah. My Maria, I haven't thought of her for awhile. I must apologize to her later for my rudeness. Oh Lucy, she was very pretty. She had dark hair, so black that one could say was blue. Her eyes were like honey, so sweet and pure but I must say her best attribute was her smile."

It was blatantly obvious he was in another world right now but Lucy listened nonetheless. She could feel his longing radiate off him, he was so sad…Lucy could even cry for him.

"Her smile was like a ray of sunshine that will break through the darkest of clouds. I could come home from a day of plague deaths and catch a glimpse of her smile and it was if it never happened. Then…the thing that we had wanted for the past seven years had finally occurred! She was with child! Oh Lucy you should've seen her! I've never seen such a woman glow, but I'm afraid it was short-lived. She grew so ill, my little Maria. I fear her tiny state was no match to carry a child. I tried to give her the medicine to get rid of it but when I even suggested it, she slapped me so hard I had to make sure I had my teeth!" He laughed a little but continued, "She made me promise that whatever happened, the child came first because it was ours. She fell gravely ill at six months, too early for me to even save the child. All I could do was watch her as she labored in pain. A stillborn that she yelled out, "Christina," with her dying breath. She didn't even see the child and she already knew it was a girl. I was proven there that a mother's intuition is the strongest force in the world. I buried my life the same day." He ran a hand over his tired face, "I-I should be off to bed. It's late."

Lucy watched as a quivering Charles went up the stairs. Somehow Lucy knew this island was where he and Maria lived. This house could've been there house. She silently looked at the kitchen; it was if she could see the figure of a tiny Maria cleaning the dishes…

"She was a good woman." Lucy gave a start. Aslan was next to her and as majestic as ever.

"Aslan, it's great to see you!" Aslan bowed his head in response.

"She was a healer, like Charles but she took a different approach. She used the Narnia has a source of healing unlike her husband who has taken the use of artificially manmade medicine."

"She looks very nice. I think we would have got along."

Aslan chuckled, "She said the same to me."

Lucy's eyes widened, "You've talked to her?"

"Yes, but I will say no more on that topic," he looked down at her belly. "You carry very special people in there."

Lucy quickly placed a hand there, "People? As in more than one? Am I having twins?"

Aslan nodded, "Yes, little one. No, I will not tell you their gender, that's for you to figure out on your own."

"Oh." She stroked her stomach thinking she could somehow figure out by just that. Then she realized she didn't care what they were, as long as they were healthy.

"They are the best of both worlds. They hold your valiancy, your kindness, and love, while they take on their father's passion for power and leadership." Aslan walked closely by her, his great mane grazing her abdomen softly. She felt a surge of power.

"What was that?" She asked in astonishment.

"Protection. Despite how much I trust you Lucy, I can't trust a pair of tricky stairs!"

Lucy blinked. She laughed and threw her arms around Aslan. "I didn't know you make jokes!"

"There's a lot you do not know, little one. Ah, yes. I fear I no longer can call you, 'little one' seeing how you will be having a pair yourself."

She blushed modestly; she opened her mouth but closed it.

"Yes? Go on."

She twisted the ends of her hair in pure nervousness, "It is only about…Caspian."

Aslan's eyes lightened, "You've only just reminded me. Good-bye."

He disappeared with Lucy yelling a small, "no!"

Caspian threw his head back; he loved the feel on sun on his face. It had been entirely too long since he was cooped up in his castle. He had missed the outdoors; he missed the game and the gardening (which he isn't too eager to admit.) He looked up at the captain and nodded at him. He was letting him know he was going in to rest.

He pushed opened his doors and locked them slowly behind him. He cracked his neck once or twice before turning around. He knocked himself backwards when he saw who was waiting for him.

Aslan's eyes were oddly twinkling at his startled expression. He stepped forward on one leg and bowed. Quickly regaining his composure, Caspian bent down in retaliation.

"Your Ma-"

"Aslan, if you will."

"Aslan, it is honor to see you but if I may be so bold to ask? Why are you here?" He looked nervously around.

"I've little time. I want to know if you understood why Susan, Peter, and Edmund had been sent here."

Caspian fiercely shook his head, "No. I have to understand why."

Aslan sighed in defeat, "Sometimes the easiest is the hardest because we choose to take the road with the entire toss and turns rather than the straight one."

"Er-"

"I did say I have little time. Your majesty, I daresay I'd love to see you soon. I bid you a good-day."

And just like that, he was gone.

That night as Caspian lay in bed, trying to catch even a wink of sleep, Aslan's words kept replaying in his mind.

"Sometimes the easiest is the hardest because we choose to take the road with the entire toss and turns rather than the straight one."

"I did say I have little time. Your majesty, I daresay I'd love to see you soon. I bid you a good-day."

If he thought any longer, he was sure his eyes would bulge right out of his eye sockets. He angrily huffed and straightened himself in his bed. He was now facing the ceiling which its small chandelier was rocking back and forth.

Then it clicked.

Edmund and Peter were sent to demonstrate their kinsmanship once more to Narnia. To show that Narnia didn't have one king, but three and that side by side, they will bring prosperity and livelihood to Narnia. Susan was sent to him to prove that he wasn't in love with her as he had fancied. It was proven when he had objected her advances. He was in love with Lucy. The Lucy he for so long viewed as a prize, just a woman rather than someone to receive his affection. He placed his palm on his face. He shouted it in his mind to prove it.

I love her.

I love her.

I LOVE HER!