Peter gingerly adjusted the sling around his cast to better cushion it from the bumper of the car ride. Outside, the first real December snow was falling gently. Christmas, though still weeks away, was in the air. And he would be home for it.
It had taken two full weeks before he'd shown signs of recovering from a serious bout of pneumonia, and while he still felt anemic, his eating and sleeping habits had returned well enough to finally come home. This prospect excited him for more than one reason—Caity, who had come down with a cold and was given a few days' leave from work, had no idea he'd been released.
The rest of the Pevensies were already at the Millers' house when the hospital car came to a stop. Peter simply gazed out the window, fingering the cool metal in his injured hand. Somehow, he'd managed to make the entire journey without losing his dogtags. Then the moment passed; he thanked the driver for his services, shouldered his army bag, and climbed out. Dr. Miller had said the front door would be unlocked for the evening.
Compared to the wintery outside, the interior of the house seemed to glow with warmth and happiness. Lucy tiptoed over to hug Peter, her incurable energy for once let out in silence. Their father, at last back on both feet, clapped his good shoulder, while Edmund settled for a dignified, and in fact regal, nod. The little group turned and entered the living room.
Susan smiled as she lit a small candle, which she handed off to another dark-haired girl. Caity was just finishing her festive arrangement when she realized others had come in to join them. Her cane dropped to the floor. She would have run, had there not only been four steps between herself and Peter.
Somehow she managed to tightly embrace him without jostling his arm. And not caring who was watching, they met in a passionate kiss that had waited since their parting months ago. Caity was laughing and crying and bursting with joy that had erupted from nowhere, unable to contain herself until something cool was pressed into her hand.
"These belong to you, as I won't be needing them anymore," Peter murmured to her. "I promised to come home."
Caity beamed at him. Amid the happy noise that frolicked about the room, she thought she heard another noise. It might have been more laughter, but maybe, just maybe, there was a distant roar joining the celebration…
Fin!