It was late April when Susan awoke with a start. She had moved out of her family's home over a month ago and now lived with her aunt and uncle in the room that Lucy and Edmund had found the painting that had come to life, taking them and their cousin into Narnia. The painting was gone, destroyed after Eustace had died because it reminded Aunt Alberta too much of her son's wild tales he had once shared with her. Susan and Philip had had no contact since the night of their accident except for a letter delivered by a solicitor of Mr. Montrose's with a check for an exorbitant amount of money and a note wishing her a safe delivery and a healthy baby. The letter was as impersonal as the solicitor, having been typed up rather than hand written, the only thought put into it was Philip's scrawled signature at the bottom.
She and Robert had continued to see each other nearly daily. As her pregnancy grew closer to an end, Robert became increasingly protective of her, much to Susan's irritation most days. She finally exploded at him one day when he refused to let her pick up a spoon she had dropped during tea.
"I am perfectly capable of picking up my spoon!" she had yelled at Robert, who was crouched below her frozen, his hand extending towards the dropped spoon. "I'm capable of taking care of myself without you constantly telling me what I can and can't, should and shouldn't do! I've ran a country for goodness' sake! Why, if you were my lord regent I would have you locked up in the tower! Thrown off the side of the castle! Flung into the Eastern Sea!" she had continued to rant as she stormed out of the room. Robert had stood, his face similar to a deer standing in headlights, flabbergasted at Susan's reaction. I only told her she didn't need to bend over that far, he had thought confusedly.
"Don't worry, dear," Aunt Alberta had said soothingly as she stirred her tea. "It's just the pregnancy. She'll be back to sorts once she's had the baby."
"Unless she's anything like Alberta here. She never quite recovered from her pregnancy spouts of emotions," Uncle Harold had chuckled, thumbing at his wife.
"Somehow, I don't think that rant was just because of her being pregnant," Robert had said slowly as he returned to his seat.
Despite the fact that she had considered him to be too overprotective, Susan found herself thinking more and more of Robert each day, the nurse's words continuing to echo in her head as they had from the day she had spoken them to Susan. Since he had told her he loved her, it was becoming harder and harder for Susan to not think about that day, to not remember the kiss they shared. Everywhere she went, if she was alone she wished Robert was with her. Everything she did, if he wasn't there she wished he was doing it with her. When she thought of the future, of the child she would soon be able to hold in her arms, her thoughts drifted to having Robert sharing her life with her. It was that late April night that she had dreamed Robert was the father, protecting her and their baby before waking suddenly. Susan sat up slowly in her bed, wincing at the sharp pain in her abdomen. She pulled on her robe, tying the belt tightly as she slipped into her feet into her bedroom slippers. Walking slowly down the hallway, she knocked on her aunt and uncle's bedroom door. Uncle Harold appeared at the door, opening it a crack, as he asked sleepily, "What is it, Susan?"
"I think it's time," she answered.
The cheering from the crowd began to hurt Susan's head, her wide smile she wore beginning to strain her cheeks. Caspian and his wife stood in front of the four Pevensies, waving to the crowd. Susan scanned the front of the crowd that was before them and spotted a familiar face. Georgie was standing in front of her throne which was seated off to the side of the dais where hers and her siblings' sat. The young woman's eyes were full of love and hope and were staring hard at her younger brother. Looking to her right, she saw that Edmund was staring back at Georgie, a wide smile on his face. The two might as well be alone in their own world rather than seated in front of thousands, she thought wryly. Turning back to the crowd another face caught her eye. Princess Laira was standing in front, clapping happily for the couple. But she too was focused on someone else. Peter, Susan thought as she glanced at her brother who was sitting next to her. Peter noticed the movement and looked at his sister.
"What?" he asked softly. Susan smiled widely and shook her head. "What?" Peter asked again, this time more insistently. Susan leaned closer and said, "Princess Laira looks nice in that dress."
"Oh, stop it, Su," he said, chuckling as he straightened.
"Isn't it wonderful?" Lucy said from Susan's left. Susan leaned towards her sister and said, "Yes, it's very nice."
"Just think, soon I'll be married and maybe then after I'll be the one standing before the kingdom announcing that I'm expecting! How wonderful!" she marveled, getting lost in her thoughts. Susan looked at her sister, horrified, and snapped her fingers in front of Lucy's glazed over eyes. Lucy focused again and turned to her sister. "What?" she asked.
"I'm telling Peter your engagement is going to be for five years," Susan said firmly.
"You wouldn't dare!" Lucy hissed, outraged at her sister.
"Speak of having babies again and I'll make it seven!" Susan threatened.
Hours later, fourteen hours later to be exact, Susan laid in a hospital bed with her back propped up on several fluffy pillows, exhausted from her delivery. A squirming newborn rested in her arms before her, cradled on her drawn up knees.
"Hello my little prince," she cooed as the baby opened his eyes and looked at her. "That's right. You're a prince of Narnia." The baby moved a tiny fist against Susan's finger as she ran it over his hand, counting his fingers on one hand then the other. "If we were in Narnia now, you would be paraded throughout Cair Paravel, so that your subjects could see you and there would be celebrations for days," she explained to him, smiling as his hand wrapped around her finger, squeezing it. "That's quite a grip you have! Your uncles would have been proud and wanted to put a sword in your hand as quick as they could. I have no doubt you'd be the best in the land, better than they ever were!" she laughed quietly. Susan could see remnants of her family in the baby and was immediately grateful that she couldn't see any of Philip's features. His hair was dark like Edmund's, his eyes clear blue like Peter's, and his nose was shaped just like she remembered Lucy's was when she was born. "I've had a lot of adventures with your uncles and aunt, but I know that you're going to be my greatest adventure yet," she whispered, her eyes starting to tear. "I wish they could have been here with me. Not for the delivery part, mind you. That was dreadful. You really gave your mother some difficulty, my little prince. Which makes me believe there may be more similarities between you and your Uncle Edmund than just your hair." Susan looked up when she heard a soft knock on the door of her hospital room. It opened slowly and Robert stuck his head in.
"May I come in?" he asked, a wide grin on his face.
"Of course! Come meet the newest Pevensie!" Susan exclaimed, waving him in. She gently moved the baby so she was cradling him against her as Robert walked in. He carried a single pale yellow rose in his hand, which he laid next to Susan as he sat on the edge of her bed. "It's nice," she said, smiling slightly at the flower.
"I thought you would like something simple rather than me going over the top with flowers and such," he teased.
Susan looked at him, her face blank as she said, deadpan, "It's as if you don't know me at all." Robert chuckled then stood and leaned to kiss her on the forehead. A shiver went down Susan as she felt his lips pressed against her.
"I thought you might say something like that. Which is why I came prepared," he said slyly. Going to the door, he opened it and walked out, returning seconds later with a large arrangement of brightly colored flowers and an oversized teddy bear wearing a blue ribbon.
"They're lovely!" Susan exclaimed happily as he set the flowers on the bedside table.
"I think I know you better than you think," he said, winking at her. "Now, I think it's time you introduced me to that baby of yours, don't you agree?"
"Yes, of course," Susan said. "Robert, this is my baby. Baby, this is Robert."
"Can I hold him?" Robert asked hesitantly.
"Sure. Just be careful," Susan warned as she passed the baby to Robert. "Watch his head. Put your hand there. Good," she said, instructing him on how to hold her son. Robert sat again on the bed, smiling warmly at the baby boy in his arms.
"He's perfect, Susan," Robert said softly, smiling up at her. "Does he have a name? I'm guessing not since you introduced him to me as 'Baby.'"
"I've been thinking about it," Susan said.
"Come up with any good ones?" Robert teased.
"Aunt Alberta wants me to name him after her son," Susan said nonchalantly as she straightened her blanket.
"And his name was...?" Robert asked unsure if he really wanted the answer. From the little he knew of Susan's aunt, he knew she was a little eccentric and odd about some things. Susan giggled and replied, "Eustace Clarence Scrubb." Robert's eyes widened in horror, causing Susan to laugh even harder.
"You wouldn't dare," Robert said.
"Of course not! But if Aunt Alberta asks, say we considered it very carefully," Susan teased.
"We?" Robert asked, confused at his inclusion.
"We." Susan said firmly, smiling warmly at him.
"Have you let Philip know about the baby?" he asked, quickly changing the subject. Susan snorted and replied, "When would I have let him know? I just had the baby a few hours ago."
"True," Robert said, looking down at the baby, who had began squirming. "I think he wants his mother back." Robert passed the baby back to Susan, who quickly took him back in her arms.
"Besides," Susan added as she gently stroked the baby's face, smiling at him. "Philip doesn't want anything to do with the baby. He's already paid me off with what I like to refer to as "hush money" and I am perfectly alright with that arrangement."
"Susan," Robert began, his voice mixed with anger and sadness.
"No, it's okay. I just hope you won't have the same attitude about the baby as Philip did. I need someone's help and," Susan started, her voice cracking with emotion as she spoke.
"And what?" Robert whispered, urging her on.
"And I want that someone to be you. Not him," Susan whispered back. Robert smiled widely and squeezed her knee.
"Then I guess we had better name this kid before he gets too attached to us calling him baby," he said jokingly.
"I was thinking Edward. We could call him Ed for short. We used to call Edmund that sometimes; it would be nice to have someone to call Ed again," Susan said.
"Why not name him Edmund then after your brother?" Robert asked. Susan shook her head.
"I don't think I could do that. I think it would be too hard to have another Edmund around, especially since this little one looks so much like my brother," she explained.
"Well, Edward sounds like a perfect name. What about a middle name?" Robert asked. Susan took a deep breath before replying.
"You can say no if you want," she prefaced, her voice sounding nervous.
"Susan, I'm sure I'll be fine with whatever you pick. Besides, he's your son; you can name him anything you want," Robert said, his voice skeptical at Susan's nervousness.
"I was thinking George," Susan said softly, unable to meet Robert's surprised stare.
"George? Why?" he asked.
Susan looked up and said, "After your brother. You told me he saved your life once and, even though I'll never meet him, I'm very glad he did. Because it meant that you were brought to me," Susan said, her eyes tearing up. Robert's seemed to do the same before he cleared his throat and nodded.
"That sounds nice. Edward George," he said, smiling softly. "My parents will like that. George is a family name, going back to my great-great-grandfather. I have a cousin who was named after him too. There actually are several family members named George," he added, chuckling.
"Edward George. How do you like that?" Susan whispered to the baby, who seemed to understand her question and waved a tiny fist at her.
"I think he seems to like it very much," Robert said softly. Susan looked up and saw the tenderness in his eyes that she knew he felt towards her, her heart nearly skipping a beat as she suddenly remembered their kiss from so long ago, of their near kiss that day on the beach. And now, more than anything, she wanted to feel his lips on hers again. The feeling overtook her so suddenly she found it nearly hard to remember to breathe.
Susan managed to escape the crowded Great Hall hours later. A lively party had broken out soon after Caspian's announcement, all of Narnia excited to celebrate Narnia's newest prince or princess. She stepped into the hall and closed the door behind her. Although she had regularly walked this way dozens of times since she had been here, it was rare that she stood and looked at the art on the wall. There was a particular painting she liked that hung at the end of the hall, one which she wanted to see again. Walking down the quiet hallway, her shoes clicked against the marble floor, echoing as she moved. When she reached the painting she was looking for, she stopped and stared up at it. It was large, larger than many that hung in the hall, and framed in gold. Staring back at her were four children, dressed in beautiful Narnian clothing, each wearing a shining crown and a wide smile. As she thought every time she saw this painting, she hoped whoever had saved this painting had been commended.
"It amazes me whenever I see this painting that four children saved this beautiful country," a voice said from behind her.
"Twice," Susan smiled as she turned to see Caspian standing next to her. He chuckled and nodded in agreement.
"Twice," he agreed. Susan turned back to the painting, scrutinizing the smiling faces that peered back at her.
"It's funny. I never thought we'd be here," she admitted.
"Here? In Narnia? You lived here for years; how would you think you'd never be here?" Caspian asked, confusedly. Susan shook her head and replied, "That's not what I meant. I never thought we'd be where we are in our lives. Peter's engaged, Edmund's... well, he's practically engaged. Lucy's in there talking about all the babies she'll have. I guess I just never saw them married and having children. I only saw myself in that position, and now here I am, the only Pevensie who's not getting married."
"Susan, I'm sorry," Caspian said quietly. Susan turned to him, her eyes shocked.
"Whatever for?" she asked.
"For not, well, I guess for not being what you wanted," he said softly, avoiding her stare. Susan placed her hand on his arm and said, "Caspian, you're a wonderful man and king. No woman could have wanted anything more. But you and I, we weren't meant to be. I see that now. I see what you and your wife have and I know, maybe I've always known, that you and I would never have had that love that you two share. You're both very lucky." Caspian smiled warmly at Susan and pulled her into his arms.
"Thank you. You've always been a good friend to me, even with our distance from each other," he said.
"Ahem," a bright voice came from behind them. They drew apart and saw Caspian's wife standing in the hall, a wide smile on her face.
"Dearest!" Caspian exclaimed, his voice tinged with fear. Susan giggled at the scared look on his face and exchanged a smile with his wife.
"It's okay, Caspian," his wife laughed. "The High King was looking for you. Apparently there's some sort of Narnian tradition of tossing the expecting father into the ocean?" Susan laughed, knowing there was no such tradition and was most likely a joke Peter and Edmund had hoped to play on Caspian. Caspian's face drained of its color as he stormed off towards the Great Hall.
"Do you think he'll be okay?" she asked Susan, who laughed and shook her head.
"There's no Narnian tradition, but I'm sure Peter and Edmund will get him nonetheless," Susan replied.
"Poor Caspian," his wife laughed. Susan turned serious for a moment and looked at the glowing woman standing next to her.
"I want you to know how happy I am for you and Caspian. This baby means the world to my siblings and me and we really couldn't be more thrilled," she said.
"I know," Caspian's wife said. "And you're wrong," she added, grasping Susan's hand in her own.
"What do you mean?" Susan asked.
"You'll be getting married and having children. You and your siblings will all be getting married and having children," she replied knowingly.
"How do you know? I have no one..." Susan trailed off as Caspian's wife tapped her temple with one finger.
"The stars see everything," she answered cryptically before turning and walking back to the Great Hall.
Susan stared at her, dumbfounded, before hurrying after her, calling, "But you're only half star!"
Susan came home at the end of the week from the hospital. "We're here Edward," she whispered as the car stopped in front of the house. Uncle Harold got out of the car and walked around to Susan's side to help her out. As she stepped out, she carefully tucked the blanket Edward was wrapped in closer around him. Although it was late April, there was an unusual chill in the air.
"You go along Susan. I'll just get the bags from the trunk," Uncle Harold said, placing a kiss on her head before motioning her along. She walked up the cobbled path to the front door which suddenly opened as she neared it.
"You're here!" Aunt Alberta sang out as she stepped out of the door, ushering Susan inside. When they had stepped in, Susan was surprised with cheers of "Welcome home!" A large banner hung over the mantle in the living room that read "Welcome Baby Edward." Susan noticed that all the flowers she had received from various family members and friends of the family (none that were actually friends with her, but those who had been friends with her parents and siblings) had sent to her while she was in the hospital. Robert was there with his parents and were the ones who had cheered when Susan walked in the room.
"What is all this?" she cheerfully laughed.
"Oh, just a little welcome home party for you and the baby!" Aunt Alberta said as she took Edward from Susan's arms.
"Here, let me help you with your coat," Robert said as he moved forward. Susan allowed him to help and followed him to the entryway as he went to hang the coat up.
"This is all your doing," she stated quietly, a grin on her face.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Robert said, feigning innocence. Susan took his hand in hers and gave it a firm squeeze.
"Thank you for this," she whispered. Robert squeezed her hand back, letting it go to wrap his arm around her waist.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," he repeated as he led her back to the living room. Uncle Harold walked through the door, lugging several large suitcases and a travel bag.
"Here, let me help you!" Robert said, moving his arm away from Susan as he grabbed two of the suitcases from Uncle Harold.
"Goodness Susan! Are you trying to kill a man? What on earth did you pack in here?" Uncle Harold cried as he dropped the other suitcase and bag.
"Well I didn't know what I would need while at the hospital! I wanted to make sure I had the proper things!" Susan exclaimed.
"Susan, you were going to have a baby, not attend a fancy party every night," Robert chuckled, earning him an annoyed glare from her.
"Better be careful son," Mr. St. James said as he walked into the entry way, followed closely by his wife and Aunt Alberta. "Keep up that teasing and she might give you the smack you deserve one day," he laughed.
"Ah, and then we'll know if it's love!" Mrs. St. James said, winking at Susan and Robert.
"Mother!" Robert hissed, his face turning pink. Susan felt her own face flush before she noticed Edward's face peeping out from Aunt Alberta's arms. She moved past the crowded room to take the baby from her aunt's arms, cuddling him close.
"He is simply darling," Mrs. St. James said, coming up behind Susan and carefully touching the baby's face.
"Thank you," Susan said softly as she smiled down at her son. A thought entered her head and she quickly turned to face the others in the room. "I have something I'd like to ask you all," she said before turning to walk into the living room. She sat on the sofa and waited for the others to do the same. Once everyone had been seated she smiled widely and said, "Thank you all so much for doing this for me and Edward. You all mean the world to me." She turned to her aunt and uncle and said, "Aunt Alberta, Uncle Harold, you both have been so supportive of me throughout this and I know we've only gotten close since... Well, since the accident. But you both have become like parents to me. I want you both to be Edward's god parents. I know you're family, but I figured this will make you both even more important in his life." Aunt Alberta burst into tears when Susan had finished, Uncle Harold looking as though he may as well. Susan suppressed a laugh; her aunt and uncle's sentimental ways never ceased to amuse her. She turned to Robert's parents and smiled warmly at them. "I know we haven't known each other very long, but you've both been such wonderful people to know. I hope you'll stay a part of my son's life," she said.
"Of course we will!" Mrs. St. James exclaimed happily, standing to place a kiss on Susan's head and hugging her. "You're a very special young woman, dear," she whispered in Susan's ear before sitting back down. The baby began to fuss suddenly and Susan moved him closer to her as she stood.
"I guess it is getting late. I suppose I should go get him fed and put down," she said.
"I'll come help," Robert said quickly as he stood.
"I- I think- Oh, well alright," Susan stuttered, surprised at Robert's eagerness.
"Thank you all again," Susan said as she turned when they reached the living room door.
"That was really nice of you," Robert said as he held Susan's bedroom door open for her.
"What was?" Susan asked as she walked in.
"Asking your aunt and uncle to be god parents. Telling my parents you wanted them in your son's life. It was really nice," Robert explained. He walked in and shut the door, walking to Susan's bed and sitting. Susan stood motionless, staring wide eyed at him. He's on my bed. What's he doing on my bed? I think this is very very bad, but I don't think I want him to move, Susan thought frantically. Edward squirmed in her arms, letting out a loud wail and bringing her attention back to the reason she had come upstairs in the first place.
"Well he certainly has his uncle's impatience," she muttered as she walked to her bed.
"And his mother's set of lungs," Robert chuckled.
"I meant what I said to your parents," Susan said as she checked the baby's diaper. "I figure you'll be involved a good deal with the baby, and me, and I think maybe they should be. Since they're your parents. It would be nice."
"I agree," Robert said softly as he brushed a piece of Susan's hair behind her ear. She felt her back stiffen, a warmth flooded her inside as she turned to look at him, surprised at his gesture. He smiled slightly and apologized. Susan hesitantly returned his smile before turning her attention back to the baby. Knowing it was feeding time, she suddenly felt awkward around Robert.
"I um, need to feed him," she said.
"Oh, right. Do you need any help?" Robert asked brightly. Susan bit her bottom lip nervously and replied, "Well, you see, it's kind of a one person job. New babies, well, they nurse."
"Oh! Of course!" Robert exclaimed, jumping off the bed quickly. "I'll um, I'll just be outside if you need anything. Any help," he said as he hurried to the door.
"Again, one person job," Susan reminded him warmly.
"Right, right," Robert said, walking out the door and closing it behind him. Susan looked down at her son and smiled.
"He's going to be such a good father for you," she whispered. Edward answered by giving her another loud wail.
"Hello there, Susan dear," a soft singsong voice called late one evening, months after Edward was born. Susan rolled over in her bed, shocked by the bright light coming from the mirror over her vanity. She knew the voice she had heard.
"What are you doing here?" she asked angrily, her voice barely louder than a hiss.
"Why, I've come to greet you and your new son," the light said as it began to take on shape. Her white blonde hair formed first, followed by her white face and limbs and finally her body, which was clothed in a sparkling white dress. The only color to her were her red lips and her deep black eyes, sharply contrasting with her skin.
"Jadis," Susan sneered. "You should be dead."
"Oh, but I am, stupid girl," the White Witch replied nastily.
"You dare to insult a queen of Narnia?" Susan asked, her eyes wide in fury.
"A queen of Narnia? I see no queen of Narnia. Only a foolish woman who has pretended for so long that she wasn't a queen that she has, in fact, forgotten what it means to be a queen. But your son," the White Witch added, her eyes widening in glee.
"You stay away from my son!" Susan cried.
"I could make your son into the greatest king Narnia has ever seen. Something your brothers never let happen," the White Witch said in a soft evil voice.
"You stay away from my son," Susan said, her voice equally as soft and evil. The White Witch grinned slyly at the change in Susan's voice.
"There's the little queen coming back now. Pity it wasn't sooner," she said. Susan saw in the mirror the witch held something in her arms, Susan's heart racing in terror as it began to take shape. Her son was cradled in the witch's white, cold arms.
"No!" Susan screamed as she sat up in bed. The room was dark, her mirror empty. Susan felt drenched in a cold sweat and shivered against the coolness of the room. Gasping, she jumped out of bed and hurled herself across the room to Edward's crib, peering into it to see her sleeping son. He's alright. It was only a dream, she thought as she reached in and ran her hand across her sleeping son's face. Her eyes widened as her hand made contact with his skin; it was icy cold. Quickly picking him up, the baby woke crying and his skin returned to its normal temperature. "Shh, shh," she cooed as she hugged her son tightly, rocking him gently in her arms. Oh, Aslan, she thought. Please protect him.
"Lucy, don't you think you're a little too old for stuffed toys?" Edmund asked one night as the four Pevensies were huddled in Susan and Lucy's room. It was Christmas holidays and they had all just returned home from school. Edmund picked up the ragged stuffed lion that sat on Lucy's desk.
"Put him down!" Lucy cried, jumping off her bed to rescue the lion.
"Shh, Lu! Keep it down or Mum and Dad will have a fit that we're all still awake!" Peter hissed. Lucy snatched the lion from Edmund and hugged it close.
"I don't play with it anymore, Edmund. I just like to have it around," Lucy whispered indignantly. Edmund smirked at his sister and chuckled.
"She sometimes sleeps with it," Susan called softly, giggling at Lucy's look of horror on her face.
"Susan!" Lucy wailed. "Why would you say that? I only do that because I think it looks like Aslan!"
"Oh, Lu, don't worry!" Peter said cheerfully as he put his arm around his youngest sister's shoulders. "We all know that's always been your favorite toy, even before we all went to Narnia. But, should I let you in on a little secret?" he asked, a twinkle in his eye.
"Yes, please" Lucy eagerly replied. Peter leaned down to whisper loudly, "Edmund still has an old teddy bear hidden beneath his bed that he sometimes pulls out on stormy nights to cuddle." The two girls and Peter laughed loudly, forgetting to keep their voices quiet, as Edmund turned bright red.
"I'll get you for that!" he yelled, running at his brother and knocking him onto Lucy's bed. Peter laughed as he tried to push Edmund off of him, saying, "Get off of me! You'll never best the High King!" The two brothers wrestled to the floor, neither hurting the other, while their sisters stood by and laughed. A creak down the hallway alerted Susan that her parents were up and she hissed, "That's it! We're done for!" The two boys froze, Edmund's hand on the scuff of Peter's neck, Peter's arm holding back Edmund's arm.
"Oh, where's a wardrobe when you need it?" Edmund said as he scurried to stand up.
The next morning Susan climbed the stairs to the attic where she had stored most of her belongings from her old house. There was a particular box that she was searching for amid the mountain of boxes that were stacked in there. Eyes widening at the sight of them, she sighed and determinedly pushed up her sleeves. "This may take all day," she muttered as she pulled open the first box, grunting as she saw it was filled with kitchen utensils. An hour passed before she sat back on her heels, wiping sweat from her brow. "Twenty-two boxes and I still haven't found it!" she cried softly as frustration began to set in. Light shone in through the small attic window, illuminating the dust specks that floated around the air. A feeling pulled her towards it as she glanced around a stack of boxes to follow the light's path. It ended on a single box that sat alone against the box mountain. Susan moved to the box, a sense of hope filling her, and pulled open the top, revealing exactly what she had been looking for.
When she had climbed down the attic stairs, she happily walked back to her bedroom and immediately went to the crib. Edward was laying there, awake from his nap, and waved his tiny fists at the sight of his mother. "Hello, little prince. Did you wake up?" she cooed, tickling his tummy. "Mummy has brought something for you." She placed a small stuffed lion next to her son, who turned his head slightly towards toy. "Your Aunt Lucy always said this looked like Aslan. Maybe it will bring you some of his protection," she whispered. Edward grasped the lion and pulled it to his mouth. Susan clenched her teeth nervously and quickly pulled the lion away and said, "Maybe, after I give him a bath first."
AN: I know I said last chapter that I wouldn't update for a while because I had no idea where I was going... But I basically locked myself away with my computer yesterday and mapped out the rest of this story, figured out what was going to happen, decided on a plot and etc., etc., etc. And let me just say, I'm VERY excited about it! Like, nearly did a happy dance excited about it.
