A/N: Zis is it, my friendssss. Ze train crasszzzhh!!
Chapter 3: Family or Friends
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"Come on, Susan!" Peter laughed as Edmund chased him down the hall to their sister's bedroom, "We have to catch the train. They'll be there in half an hour!"
Edmund shouted, "Oi, Pete! You're forgetting about something!"
Edmund meant that Peter should do something about the flour he threw on his face. The poor younger brother looked like a ghost. He was finishing off the biscuits he was baking for dessert tonight but Peter had to come in and have some fun with the flour.
Peter laughed cruelly back, "Really? Refresh my memory."
Edmund spat and smiled. Peter had to laugh again, doubling over at the hilarity. (When you think about it, it's not so hard to put yourself in Peter's shoes. Just imagine, dark haired and dark eyed Edmund with his already pale face covered in white flour and smiling, showing off his teeth.)
Susan walked out of the room and stared at her brothers: Peter laughing his head off and leaning against the wall for support, and Edmund looking very much dumb. She smiled knowingly and ushered Edmund to come in, "Come, we can dampen a towel and clean you up."
Edmund followed and Peter did as soon as he recovered from his previous 'condition.'
"So, are you coming, Su?" Peter asked. Susan went inside the bathroom while her brothers waited out. They heard the sound of running water before their sister came out again holding a damp towel in her hand, "No."
Edmund and Peter stood stunned.
"Why ever not?" Peter asked, folding his arms over his chest.
Susan rolled her eyes as she helped wiped flour off of a spitting Edmund's face, "Because, Peter, I have to meet the girls."
Peter threw up his hands, "The girls?" he said exasperated, "You'd much rather meet your friends than your own family?"
"And what are you getting at, Peter?" Susan snapped, dropping her hands with the towel still clenched in her fist. Edmund began drying his face on his sleeve.
"Ed, you know better than that!" Susan retorted. Edmund jumped and stared at his sister, "What's wrong with wiping my face on my sleeve?"
Susan rolled her eyes again, "Anyway, Peter, I'll meet you here for dinner. It's not like I'll never see my family again, right?"
Peter set his jaw, "Susan, you knew they were coming today. The least you can do is meet them. Just apologize to your friends that you were late because you had to meet with them."
Susan huffed, "Peter, honestly. Aren't you through with telling me what to do?"
Edmund furrowed his brow, "Why should you have a problem with that?"
Susan glared at him, "Why shouldn't I?"
"You didn't have a problem when he was High King!" Edmund blurted out.
Susan placed her hands on her hips and held her younger brother's gaze, saying nothing. Edmund stared challengingly back.
"Come on," Peter said quietly as he ushered his brother out the door.
---
Edmund walked down the street aside Peter. It was a rather wet afternoon and it drizzled just a bit. Peter cautiously glanced at his brother, "Ed?" he asked, mist forming from his mouth as he spoke, "Are you all right?"
Edmund smirked bitterly, "Excellent."
The brothers parted ways to give space to a man rushing towards them. Peter said after, "You're worried, aren't you?"
Edmund nodded, looking down at the ground when he felt Peter pull him into a one-armed hug, "Everything will be all right, Ed. You'll see."
The younger brother smiled, "Once a king or queen of Narnia-"
"-always a king or queen," Peter smiled back, "There's still hope, Ed."
Edmund squared his shoulders and heaved a sigh. There was still hope. Maybe he'd talk to Susan again tonight and try to make things Pax between them.
---
"Train to Bristol coming in five minutes!"
The speakers went off the second time. Edmund glanced at his watch, breathing mist as he spoke, "Five minutes, Pete," he smiled excitedly, "They're coming in five minutes."
Peter smiled and ruffled his brother's hair, "So they are. And I wonder how Eustace is doing. Haven't seen him in a while."
Edmund grinned, proud for his cousin. He scuffed the toe of his shoe on the tiles of the station platform, "I'm worried about the taste of those biscuits."
"Which ones?" Peter asked playfully.
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, when you make biscuits, Ed, it's either you bake or you burn."
Edmund punched his brother in the arm, "You'll eat your words when you eat my biscuits!" he teased.
"I see someone's confident," Peter laughed, "I suppose I can't wait."
Edmund smiled and looked down the rails on either side.
"So, Ed," Peter said, attempting to pass the rest of the five minutes by, "How's that sore knee of yours?"
"Coming along well," Edmund replied, "Not as bad as yesterday, at least."
"That's good," Peter nodded and then the brothers heard the sounds of the engines of a train coming in. Peter grinned, "Here they come!"
Edmund smiled but as soon as the slightest sight of the black train came to view, Peter's grin froze on his face and he stared wildly at Edmund.
Things strangely then moved slower and Peter opened his mouth and yelled something, but what Edmund heard wasn't Peter's voice. It was a Lion's roar, and a deep voice saying, Welcome Home.
Edmund felt a great jolt and he shut his eyes.
A flash of Gold.
Everything went black.
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A/N: Next, and last, chapter will be up soon. Thanks for reading!