AN: I think maybe I'm updating too fast... either that or not many folks like the last chapter. I miss you, reviewers! Although I don't want to be one of those writers who begs for reviews (though they really are LOVED...). Anyway... Just a quick note then you can read. The Scrubbs (Aunt Alberta and Uncle Harold) are vegetarians and teetotallers (yeah, just google that word). Also, there's a scene in here that follows a scene from Choosing Grace (just warning you)!
It was a few days before Edward turned five months old when Susan decided it was time to introduce him to her siblings. She had hoped to do it sooner, knowing had they been alive they would have hated to wait, but having a new baby was more work than she had expected. Between the 2am feedings and constant diaper changings, the early mornings and even later nights, Susan was worn thin. Her only saving grace was the help she received from Robert and her aunt and uncle. Aunt Alberta and Uncle Harold were always eager to watch the baby, allowing Susan time for much needed naps. Robert, as promised, helped however he could and would come over at least once a week to take the baby for a walk or a drive while Susan took a bubble bath or relaxed with a cup of coffee.
Susan buttoned up the knit sweater she had dressed Edward in, hoping he would be warm enough while at the same time worrying if he would be over-warm. Although it was mid-September, it was much warmer than usual, the type of weather that can be unpredictable and is best combated by layering sweaters over clothing just in case. Deciding she could always take off his sweater if needed, she brushed her worries aside and gathered him in her arms, pausing in front of her mirror to adjust her hat. A shiver ran down her spine as she remembered her dream of the White Witch from several nights ago. Glancing down at Edward, she whispered, "We won't let that nasty witch get us, will we? Let's go get your lion." She turned to the crib and picked up the stuffed toy, shaking it gently in front of the baby. He reached out his hands for it and Susan tucked it next to him so it wouldn't fall. She had quickly discovered that the stuffed lion, as it had so many nights for Lucy, was a comfort to the baby and that he would often stop crying whenever she put it near him.
"What do you say, little prince? Shall we go meet the king?" she asked cheerfully. Edward waved his fist in response, an agreement in Susan's mind.
They pulled up to the curb near the cemetery and Susan looked out the window of the car. The large trees that towered over the cemetery had changed colors, their bright green leaves turning into the deep reds, fiery oranges and rich golds of fall. Fall had always been one of Susan's favorite seasons, not only because her birthday happened to fall during that time, but because for brief moments she could stare at the trees and remember the lovely falls in Narnia. It was the only season in London that was similar to those in Narnia; in London winter was always wet, spring was always cold, and summer was always stuffy. But fall, with its crisp air and colors, allowed Susan to remember happier times in Narnia and imagine she was home again.
Susan walked to the side of the car and unhooked Edward from his safety seat which sat in the rear seat of Uncle Harold's car. He had decided not to go into the office today and had kindly let Susan borrow it. She had just recently learned to drive, having always felt learning to drive was pointless when she could always take a taxi, and enjoyed every moment of her new found freedom, whenever she had the luxury of borrowing the car. Cradling the baby on her hip, she made sure to remember the stuffed lion, once again tucking it next to Edward.
"Look at the trees, my darling," she said, pointing to the trees that swayed in the wind. "Don't they seem to dance?" She stood still, hugging Edward to her as she remembered the trees in Narnia that did dance. The dryads who would join them in the woods, dancing about their trees as their limbs swayed to and fro. A sharp cry came from her arms and she glanced down, frowning at her squirming son. "Alright, alright, we'll go. You're so impatient!" she playfully scolded and placed a small kiss on the baby's head.
Susan walked through the cemetery towards her family's graves, stopping intermittently to point out a squirrel or flowers to Edward. When she reached the gravesite, she spoke briefly to her parents before turning to her three siblings' headstones. She unwrapped the blanket that covered Edward and sat, spreading it on the ground before putting the baby on it. She drew her knees up, covering them with her full skirt, before talking.
"Hi," she said softly, waving slightly. "This is him. Edward George Pevensie," she said, rubbing her hand over her son's back. He was lying on his stomach chewing on the paw of the stuffed lion, a pastime, Susan had come to learn, he enjoyed doing a good bit. "He's- He's just been the best thing in the world. Sometimes I just look at him and feel like I'm going to burst from love. I wish you three could see him; I hope wherever you are you can." Susan rested her chin on her knees, staring at the headstones and wishing they could respond. "I see a lot of Edmund in him, even as young as he is. Remember, Peter, when Edmund used to scream if Mum wasn't paying attention to him? Edward here has me wrapped around his finger just as badly as Edmund had Mum wrapped around his!" Susan laughed, remembering how terrible Edmund's temper was as a young child when their parents would pay more attention to Lucy than to him.
"I named him after you, Ed. I wanted someone to call Ed again and he reminded me so much of you. I hope you would have approved. And," Susan added, dropping her voice lower. "His middle name, George, is from my friend, Robert… you've seen him here before. His older brother was named George, which is who I tell everyone I named him after. But, just between the four of us, I also named him after someone else. He also got his name from Georgiana. She was such a big part of our family, I wanted something to remember her by as well," Susan said quietly. Smirking at Edmund's headstone, she added, "I'm hoping maybe naming him after her will balance some of your traits I see in him, Ed. Just like Georgiana balanced you."
Edward began to fuss so Susan picked him up and sat him in her lap. A bright red leaf floated down and landed in front of her. She picked it up and twirled it in front of the baby earning her a giggle from her son. Smiling, she looked up and said, "Don't worry, Peter and Lucy. He has plenty of you two in him as well. He has your eyes, Pete; I worried they might change colors after he was born, but they've stayed as blue as they were the day he was born. And his nose: he has your nose Lucy." Susan smiled and lightly touched her son's nose, her smile widening as he looked up at her. She picked up the stuffed lion and made it dance in front of Edward, who clapped at it and pulled it closer to him. Susan sighed deeply, her smile waning as she looked back up at the headstones.
"I came here for another reason, too. I don't know if they mean anything, but I've been having dreams lately. Horrible, vivid ones, about Narnia. There was one just the other night: the White Witch appeared and had Edward. She told me she could make him a king. I wasn't afraid of her; she can't do anything to me. I was afraid of what she could do to my son. There have been are others too. Our home is being attacked and we're fighting, but it isn't really us. It's someone else. I can't tell who it is, other than they're fighting hard. I feel us there, though, in the midst of it, watching the destruction. Men are dying, Narnians are dying, but there doesn't seem to be any goal other than fighting." Susan sighed again and added, "I wish I knew what they meant." Shivering slightly, whether from the cool breeze that had begun to blow or the horrors of her dreams, Susan decided to change the subject.
"I think I'm falling in love with Robert," she stated, her heart beginning to race at her sudden admission. "That's the first time I've ever said that out loud. It feels good to say it, too. He's so different from everyone I've ever loved. Well, maybe not loved; I don't think I've ever truly loved. Liked? But he's different from Rabadash, and Caspian, and certainly from Philip. He's kind, and caring, and strong. He's like a knight in shining armor," Susan said, her voice becoming dreamy. In the back of her mind she began to imagine snickering, knowing that's what her siblings, especially Edmund, would have done if they were here. Shaking herself slightly, she giggled. "Okay, maybe I shouldn't fawn over him like I used to fawn over Rabadash and Caspian. But he really is good to me and even better to Edward. I know you three would approve of him."
Susan sat in the cemetery for another hour, enjoying the fall day and talking to her siblings about what had been happening in her life since she last visited, telling them all the various milestones Edward had surpassed and continuing to talk of her growing love for Robert. Her son continued to happily play with the lion and was entertained by leaves Susan twirled for him. The air began to change and become cooler, signaling to Susan that it was getting to be time to leave. As she wrapped Edward again in his blanket and prepared herself to say goodbye to her family, she heard her name called from across the cemetery. Turning, she saw Robert walking up the path towards her carrying what looked to be one of her coats.
"What are you doing here?" she asked as she stood, lifting Edward in her arms.
"I stopped by your house and your aunt said you were here. She was getting worried because you'd been gone for so long so I told her I'd come see if you were still here," Robert explained, a bit sheepishly. Susan cocked an eyebrow at him and laughed.
"Let me guess: Aunt Alberta guilted you into coming here to check on me?" she asked teasingly.
"Yes," Robert admitted, chuckling. "That woman has a way of making me feel like I'm five years old. But I'm glad I came anyway. You and I were supposed to have coffee, remember?" Susan's eyes widened and she gasped.
"Oh, that's right! I completely forgot!" she exclaimed.
"It's okay," Robert chuckled. "I planned on taking you to dinner tonight anyway, so we'll call it even."
"Dinner? But what about Edward?" Susan asked.
"Your aunt and uncle have already agreed to watch him. I have everything taken care of. You need a night out; you haven't had one since…" Robert trailed off as he thought. "Well, when was the last time you had a night out?" Susan laughed and linked her arm through Robert's.
"I honestly can't remember," she said, smiling up at him. They both laughed together as they began walking back to the cemetery entrance. "Why do you have my coat?" she asked as an afterthought.
"I don't know. I thought maybe you'd needed it," Robert admitted. Susan smiled warmly and nuzzled Edward, who had fallen asleep in her arms.
"Say, you two go on ahead. I think I may have dropped something back there," he said suddenly, stopping in the middle of the path.
"Okay," Susan said slowly as she pulled her arm from his.
"I'll come pick you up at seven. Be ready!" he called as he trotted back towards her family's graves. She shook her head in confusion and began walking back to her car. Before she turned down the path that led to the cemetery entrance, she looked back at Robert. He was standing before her siblings' headstones, his hands moving as though he was explaining something. Susan cocked her head, curious of and confused by his actions. She then saw him step towards one of the headstones (Peter's from the looks of it, she thought) and bend over as though picking something up. Shaking her head again, she continued to head back to her car, shivering from the dropping temperature. Maybe I should have gotten my coat from him after all, she thought.
The boy snuck down the stairs and peered his head around the corner into the dark hallway. A faun stood guard, his head nodding, several feet away. Tiptoeing, the boy quietly crept towards the Great Hall. When he reached it, he carefully pushed on the door, saying a quick prayer it would make no noise. He entered the room, making his way through the dark. The only light in the room came through the large stain-glass windows, the moonlight pouring through them turning shades of red and green from the colored glass. He walked behind the dais and to the tapestry that he knew concealed the secret room he had visited weeks ago. Glancing over his shoulder, he pushed back the heavy material and quietly opened the door. Sixteen steps and I'm at the bottom, he thought to himself as he carefully counted each step on the way down. When he had reached the bottom of the stairs, he felt along the wall until his fingers touched one of the unlit torches that hung. Feeling his way back to the bottom step, he sat and pulled two pieces of flint out of his pocket. He struck them together several times, hitting his finger only once, until the torch was lit. Holding it up, he walked deeper into the room looking at the various jewels and decorative weapons in the treasure chamber.
On one shelf sat a large ornately carved wooden box, polished so brightly that it gleamed. In it, perched upon a deep red cushion, were four rings, each of a different stone, set in gold. The largest one was a dark red ruby, so dark it nearly looked like blood. The others were not quite as large but still larger than any ring the boy had seen, one a deep green emerald, another so pale blue it nearly looked clear, and the last a bright, cheerful yellow. The boy gingerly held out a finger towards the rings, timid to touch them but feeling as though he must. Before his finger made the slightest contact, he heard a low growl from the dark corner of the treasure chamber. Pulling his hand away, he turned swiftly, his hand reaching for the knife he wore at his belt.
"Who's there?" he called softly. A large lion stepped out, light radiating from him. "Aslan!" the boy cried, dropping to his knee quickly. The Lion walked closer, chuckling.
"Rise, Son of Adam. Tell me what you're doing," he said.
"I wanted to look down here. I wasn't going to take anything," the boy said nervously.
"I know you were not. What is it you wanted to see?" Aslan asked.
"Nothing specific, sir. I just- I feel drawn to them, the kings and queens of old. I can't understand why they left, why they would leave Narnia and all of this behind. Their kingdom is falling further into despair each day. If only they where still here…" the boy trailed off as he saw Aslan's mane shaking.
"Son, they would be over three hundred years old if they were still here. I do not think they would be of much use in that condition," the Lion chuckled.
"That's true," the boy said softly, turning to look at the four statues that were barely illuminated on the side of the room.
"They left because it was their time to leave and left, as you put it, 'all of this' behind because it was their time to leave it behind, just as it is yours to leave behind," Aslan said. The boy turned his head quickly back to Aslan, his eyes wide in shock. The Lion chuckled softly and added, "But maybe you won't have to leave everything behind. Maybe a souvenir?"
The boy smiled, and said, "Thank you, Aslan."
"Choose quickly, for your time here is nearly done," Aslan said warningly. The boy glanced at the shelf that stood nearest him, a small sparkling trinket catching his eye. He grabbed it quickly when Aslan blew on his torch, sending him into darkness. When he next opened his eyes, he saw that he was standing in a field near a pond that had a large tree growing next to it, its branches extending over the smooth water.
Later that evening Susan stood in front of her mirror and applied a final sweep of her favorite pink lipstick. She wore the silvery blue dress she had bought in Paris, dressing it up with the strands of pearls she had inherited from her mother. Her hair, which had grown very long over the past year, was piled on top her head in a smooth up-do. "All I need is my crown and I'd look very much like myself again," she whispered to her reflection, smiling softly at her appearance. Turning to her bed, her smile widened as she looked at her son who was lying in the center of the bed on his stomach.
"Well, how does Mummy look?" she asked. She received a string of baby gurgles and noises, which caused her to laugh. Walking to the bed, she picked up Edward and said, "I expect you to be on your best behavior tonight, little prince. You mustn't give your Aunt Alberta and Uncle Harold any trouble. Unless they try to call you Eustace again. Then you give them all the trouble you want." Susan laughed softly as Edward stared at her, his eyes wide.
As Susan walked down the stairs carrying Edward, she heard a knock on the front door. "Aunt Alberta!" she called, hurrying down the last few steps and handing her son to her aunt who had just walked in from the living room. Susan hurried to the door and opened it, breathless to see Robert. He stood in the doorway, a lazy grin on his face, wearing one of his more casual suits. Susan's wide smile dropped and her face scrunched into a look of confusion mixed with irritation.
"Why are you dressed like that?" she asked frantically, remembering the first time he had taken her out. Robert laughed loudly and said, "We're just going to dinner. I didn't feel I needed a tuxedo this time. But you look very nice."
"I'm over dressed!" Susan cried, turning and stormed back to the stairs. She began muttering as she stomped up the stairs, "First I'm not dressed enough, now I'm too dressed up. I used to be the one who decided what to wear and everyone mimicked me, not the other way around!"
Robert stood by the banister and called up behind her, "Try to hurry! We don't want to be late!" Susan answered him by slamming her bedroom door.
"Oh I had forgotten how much I enjoy meat! Oh, and wine too! It's been so long since I've had either!" Susan exclaimed as she took a bite of her meal. Robert chuckled and waved his fork at her.
"Eat as much as you want; there's plenty more where that came from," he said.
"I shouldn't. It's taken me nearly 5 months to get fit back into my clothes!" Susan laughed. Robert smiled and returned to his meal. Eyeing him slyly, Susan added, "In fact, I've been hoping that dress I had on earlier would fit again. I was so excited when I put it on earlier and it did fit." He snorted and then laughed heartily.
"If that wasn't the world's biggest hint I don't know what is," he said, his eyes twinkling in merriment. Susan rolled her eyes and took a sip of her wine. "I guess I'll just have to take you out again," Robert said nonchalantly. Susan put her wine glass and smiled.
"Are you asking me out on a date?" she asked teasingly. Robert smiled gently and, looking up at her, said, "You know I would want to, but I know you don't-"
"I want to," Susan said quickly, interrupting him.
"Well, then I'm definitely asking you out on a date," Robert said, grinning.
Rabadash wrapped his hand tightly around Susan's waist as they began to dance. "Your brother the High King does not seem to approve of me," the prince commented. "Oh, no, Prince Rabadash! My brother is very pleased by your visit. We all are," Susan said quickly. "That is very good to hear, O Queen. Especially if you are pleased," Rabadash said, smiling charmingly at Susan. "Oh, I am!" Susan said eagerly. Rabadash chuckled as he turned Susan to the music. Why would you say that? Say something clever, something charming and sweet! Show him you're a queen! Susan's mind screamed as she blushed in embarrassment. "Prince Rabadash, have you seen-" Susan began, stopping when she stared into the prince's eyes, losing herself in their depth. "Yes, O Queen?" he prodded gently, once again giving her a charming smile that set her heart off full speed. "The trees! We have… trees," Susan stammered, her face continuing to burn.
Susan walked out of the small dining room with Caspian, her hand in the crook of his arm as he walked her back to the castle apartment she shared with her siblings. "I'm sorry Peter was so dreadful to you," she said, hoping to break the silence between them. "Well, it's to be expected, I suppose," Caspian sighed. "Thank you for sticking up for me however." Susan blushed and said, "Well, Peter was out of line by not telling me about Lady Georgiana. You were only doing the right thing." They continued walking, coming near a corner, when Caspian looked down at her and said, "You looked especially nice tonight." Susan's heart began to race as she smiled at Caspian. "Ow!" Susan exclaimed suddenly as she ran into the corner they had come upon. "Are you alright?" Caspian asked alarmed. "Yes, yes, I'm fine," Susan muttered as she righted herself and continued walking down the corridor. Get a hold of yourself, Susan! You're supposed to be a queen, not an imbecile! she mentally scolded herself.
"I'm so full I may burst!" Susan moaned, grabbing her stomach dramatically.
"I told you to take it easy on that second piece of cake," Robert chuckled as the two walked through the park. They had decided to go to the park, the one where they had shared their first kiss, to walk off the enormous meal they had eaten.
"But it was so good! I've missed cake, too!" Susan exclaimed.
"You knew what you were getting into when you moved in with people who have strange eating habits," Robert chuckled, glancing down when he felt Susan's hand brush against his. When he looked back up at her, he saw she was staring up at the sky, a dreamy look on her face. "What are you thinking about?" he asked.
"Do you think the stars are watching us right now?" she asked dreamily.
"I think so. But hopefully they won't be banished from the heavens from watching us too closely, the little spies," Robert teased. Susan looked at him strangely, her brow furrowed, and said, "Banished from the heavens? What an odd thing to say."
"No more odd than wondering if the stars are watching us," Robert teased again. Susan felt his hand brush down the side of her arm before it reached her hand, his fingers intertwining with hers. She smiled and gently squeezed his hand.
"Look where we are," he said as he stopped. They were standing in front of the park's fountain, the lights once again illuminating the water.
"Why don't we sit?" Susan suggested, taking a deep nervous breath. They sat on the edge of the stone fountain, their hands still intertwined. Susan shivered slightly against the coolness of the stone under her legs.
"Are you cold?" Robert asked, letting her hand go as he started to take off his coat.
"Thank you," Susan said politely when he wrapped it around her shoulders.
"Remember when we were here before? You were so drunk from that champagne!" Robert chuckled.
"I was not," Susan muttered, her cheeks flushing.
"Susan, you nearly got hit by a car. Twice!" he teased as her cheeks flamed even brighter.
"What did you wish for before when we were here?" she asked, changing the subject.
Robert was silent for a moment. "I wished to kiss you," he said softly. Susan looked down at her lap as she fingered the long sleeves of Robert's coat. "I haven't stopped thinking about wishing for it again since that night," he added. Susan's head jerked up, her eyes wide.
"Do you have any money?" she asked, the corner of her mouth lifting into a smirk. Robert dug in his pocket, his eyes never leaving hers, until he produced a silver coin. Susan took it from him and, without moving her eyes from his, tossed it into the water. A tiny plunk sounded as Robert leaned forward and closed the gap between them, his lips pressing softly onto Susan's. The fire that had filled her before swirled through her again, this time faster and hotter. This was the moment she had imagined for months, years even, since they had kissed that night so long ago. She lifted her hand and placed it on his shoulder, moving herself closer to him. Her movement made him deepen the kiss, burying his hands in her hair.
When they pulled away, both were left breathless and speechless, leaning their foreheads together as they struggled to catch their breath. Robert moved his hand down Susan's back, gently stroking up and down along her spine. Susan kept her eyes closed, afraid that opening them would ruin the magic between them. Her face broke into a smile, the feeling uncontrollable and wonderful at the same time, when she felt Robert move slightly and kiss her on the tip of her nose. Sighing against her he said, "Susan, I have to leave." Her eyes popped open and she jerked back, her face frozen in horror.
"Leave? But why? Was it not, I mean, was I not-?" she stuttered, afraid that he hadn't felt the same from the kiss as she did.
"No, no, no!" Robert said quickly, grabbing Susan's face gently between her hands and kissing her on the forehead. "It was perfect. You're perfect. I didn't mean to blurt it out like that," he explained, pushing her hair back with one hand. Susan gave a shaky laugh, her heart still racing.
"I meant I have to go to America for a few weeks to meet with some associates. Our business is doing really well here and the company's owner wants me to meet with some of his bigger clients to see if I can take on their business," he said.
"When do you leave?" Susan asked. "In a couple days. I wish you could come with me this time, but I know that would be impossible with the baby," Robert said. He took her hand in his and began rubbing circles on it with his thumb. Susan stared down at the hand he held, momentarily entranced by it, before looking up and smiling at him and asking, "You'll bring me back something pretty, right?"
Earlier that day…
"Say, you two go on ahead. I think I may have dropped something back there," Robert said suddenly.
"Okay," Susan replied slowly as she pulled her arm from his.
"I'll come pick you up at seven. Be ready!" he called as he trotted back towards her family's graves. When he was nearly there, he turned to look over his shoulder. Susan was walking back towards the cemetery entrance, hugging her son closer to her. I should have given her coat to her, he thought, looking down at the forgotten piece of clothing in his hand. He shrugged his shoulders and continued walking towards the Pevensies' graves. When he reached them, he stood in front of Susan's siblings feeling awkward.
"I feel rather foolish coming here and talking to headstones, especially those of people I never knew, but I thought since Susan talks to you, I should give it a try. I don't know if you three would approve of me, but I sincerely hope you would. I love your sister and I will do whatever it takes to take care of her and support her, however she'll have me. Wherever you are, I hope you know that," Robert said, his hands moving as he explained. "She's a good woman, your sister. I suppose I came here to ask your blessing. As soon as she realizes she loves me back, however long it takes, I want to ask her to marry me."
Giving the headstones a final glance, Robert nodded and turned slightly to leave. Out of the corner something caught his eye, a tiny gleam coming from the ground. He turned towards it, peering at the object that had caused him to stop. It sat nestled in a tuft of grass next to Peter's headstone. Robert bent down and picked it up, his face widening into a look of shock before grinning as he looked at the object.
"Thank you," he said to the headstones. "Thanks a lot."
WARNING!: I'm gonna go ahead and warn you, the next few chapters (well, actually the rest of this story) is going to be heavily based on and intertwined with Choosing Grace (because this IS a sequel, after all). Now, I obviously can't make you, but don't blame me when you don't understand some of the upcoming parts and the ending doesn't have that great of a "WOW" factor!
Also, thinking ahead to my next project (because I have found that I absolutely LOVE doing this!)... I'm thinking a Lucy/Peter (not them together, obv) story... Thoughts? Yes? No? Is it possible?
