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Here's the latest chapter! Hope you all enjoy it!
Chapter 2
Aidan remained standing in the front door as she continued to look at her brother=s dog tags. She was startled as a soft hand gently touched her shoulder. Aidan looked with tearful eyes at Helen whose eyes were equally full. Aidan turned quickly and hugged Helen fiercely as she sobbed into her.
"Oh darling," Helen said, stroking Aidan's hair as she continued to sob. Aidan lost all sense of time and movement and before she knew it she was in Helen's room alone with Helen with the door shut.
Tears continued to make their way down Aidan's face as she sat on Helen=s bed. Helen sat next to her and rubbed her back.
"Aidan?"
Aidan looked at Helen.
"I know that there is nothing anyone can say or do to replace your brother. I am so sorry," Helen said. Aidan sniffed and rubbed her eyes as her tears slowed.
"I know that if Michael were here he would tell me to buck up and throw a party," Aidan said and tried to laugh but only made herself feel more miserable.
"I'm pretty sure he wouldn't want you to grieve for him, but be happy that he's no longer in danger or can feel any pain," Helen said.
"It's only the ones that are left behind that feel the pain and loss," Aidan said.
"I'm sure that right now he's watching over you," Helen said as she hugged Aidan to her again.
"I know he is. He always was a nosy little bugger," Aidan said wryly, causing Helen to give a little laugh.
"I think I'd like to go rest in my room for a little while," Aidan said. Helen nodded her assent.
Aidan spent the rest of the morning lying on her side on top of her bed, staring at the wall. It was a very boring pastime in her opinion, but it felt better than having everyone give her pitying looks. Aidan thought of all the wonderful times she and her entire family had, had together in the past. She really wished that things could go back to the way things were. Aidan was so focused in her reminiscing that she failed to hear someone knocking on the door several times, nor did she hear the door open slowly.
When Aidan didn't answer Peter expected to see Aidan sound asleep or pretending to be when looked in. Instead he saw Aidan staring unseeingly at the wall as she lay on her side.
Peter had been sent up by his mother to bring her a tray of lunch with some tea. Peter laid the tray on Susan=s bed and sat on the edge of Aidan's. Peter slowly reached out his hand towards her and laid it on her arm. This got no reaction from Aidan and Peter shook her slightly, which startled her back into reality.
"What are you doing here?" Aidan asked confused.
"Mum sent me up with some lunch and tea," Peter said as Aidan sat up and he pulled the tray of food down.
"Thank you," Aidan said softly staring at the tray, until Peter picked up the plate and handed it to Aidan, forcing her to take it. Aidan looked lost as to what to do with the plate in her hand.
"Don't tell me you're one of those girls that constantly worries about her figure," Peter teased and was glad to receive a rise from a glaring Aidan who took an unladylike bite from her roll.
"No!" Aidan said with muffled exclamation as her mouth was full. As she continued to chew on the roll Aidan realized how hungry she really was and ravenously ate her lunch, as Peter poured them both a cup of tea. Peter handed her one, while he began to drink the other himself.
"Can you please do me one favor?" Aidan asked. Peter nodded.
"Just don't say how sorry you are about my brother," Aidan said.
"I think I understand," Peter said and Aidan sighed in relief.
Peter and Aidan began to talk comfortably with one another about their history lesson with Helen the other day and soon found themselves enraptured with a debate about it. So much so that when Helen popped her head in the door they didn't even notice until she spook.
"Peter. Aidan. I thought we'd all go out for the afternoon to the park," Helen said.
"Lovely. I could definitely use the fresh air," Aidan said grabbing her book from the night stand that she shared with Susan. Helen smiled at Aidan=s cheerful attitude, which she could tell was somewhat forced, but not entirely fake. Peter grabbed the book from her and threw it on the bed.
"Oh no you don't. We're going to play cricket and I want to see if I can bowl you out again," Peter said cheekily. Aidan picked her book back up and smacked Peter on the arm with it.
"I'll hit the ball so far that I'll be able to finish reading my book while you're out there trying to find it," Aidan said before walking out of the room in a huff.
Helen smiled at Aidan's retreating back and turned to look back at Peter.
"You shouldn't provoke her so much Peter. She's liable to get you back tenfold," Helen warned with a shake of her head and a smile.
"Oh I'm betting on that," Peter said.
Aidan sweated as she tossed and turned in her bed in the throes of a nightmare. Suddenly she sat up panting as her mind cleared from the cobwebs of the nightmare. Susan and Lucy were still sound asleep for which she was thankful for and she grabbed her bathrobe and crept out of the room.
Aidan wasn't surprised to see Peter eating a biscuit while drinking his milk.
"Couldn't sleep?" Aidan asked. Peter shrugged.
"I have a lot on my mind," Peter said to which Aidan nodded.
"It's the same for me as well," Aidan said sitting down and stealing one of Peter's biscuits, which caused him to slap her lightly on the hand.
"Get your own," Peter said. Aidan stuck her nose up in the air and got up and got herself some biscuits and milk.
"Now you'll be sorry because I won't share," Aidan said. Peter gave a childish pout, causing Aidan to laugh.
"Don't pout, Peter. It doesn't become you," Aidan said.
Every night after that for the rest of the summer Aidan and Peter met and had a snack before going back upstairs to bed. Aidan was relieved that the nightmares soon faded, but was confused as to why she never could actually remember what the nightmare was. Aidan shrugged it off as a symptom of her brother's passing and moved on.
Soon the summer was over and September was upon them. Unfortunately the schools were still not open so the children continued with their home studies and found time to have fun with each other at home or in the park.
Aidan convinced Susan and Lucy to try and wear boys pants as she did back home. Aidan insisted that it was the latest rage and the girls had fun in the park running around freely without having to worry about their skirts flying up or acting improperly. Helen found great amusement with them as well and joined in their fun.
As they were going home Aidan and Susan stopped by the newspaper stand to catch a read of the comics. Helen called them over and Susan dropped the paper back on the stand. Before Aidan turned away she caught the today's date: September 7th, 1940.
Lucy had already been sent off to bed and Susan and Aidan were playing a game of draughts, while everyone listened to the radio. Peter and Edmund were playing chess and Helen was knitting when it began. First the sirens started and everyone froze as if not believing their ears, but then moved into action.
Edmund ran out of the room with Helen and Peter hot on his trail. Susan and Aidan ran up the stairs to get their torches and make sure Lucy was alright. Lucy was lying in bed calling for her mum, when they came in and Susan called for Lucy to follow them. Lucy grabbed Aidan=s hand and they all ran outside together with Edmund, Peter, and Helen to the shelter.
"Come on, quickly!" Helen yelled as she led the way towards the shelter.
"Run!" Peter yelled at the rear making sure everyone got out. Lucy and Susan screamed as some of the bombs started hitting the ground and exploding.
"Hurry!" Susan yelled pushing Lucy to go faster even as Aidan was practically dragging her.
"Mum!" Lucy yelled terrified.
Suddenly Edmund turned around and started running back towards the house yelling, "Wait! Dad!"
"Ed!" Peter called as he tried to get Edmund to come back.
The sounds of bombs falling was closer now and Helen gripped Lucy to her as she screamed, "Edmund, no!" Peter turned around and chased after Edmund.
"I'll get him!"
Helen called for Peter to come back, but both boys didn't seem to listen as they disappeared into the house. The ground shook making them stumble as a bomb hit close and glass could be heard breaking, as well as, screams from the neighbors.
German planes could be seen going overhead as Edmund clutching something, followed by Peter ran out of the house. Helen yelled for them to hurry and Peter practically pushed Edmund inside the shelter, who fell to his knees. Lucy and Susan were curled up together on the left side of the shelter in the bottom bunk, while Aidan sat on the bottom of the right side bunks. Aidan looked at Peter and he looked furious.
"Why can't you think of anyone but yourself? You're so selfish! You could've got us killed!" Peter yelled at the now crying Edmund holding the picture of Mr. Pevensie in uniform.
"Stop it!" Helen yelled at Peter as the sounds of the German airplanes continued on in the background. Edmund cried into Helen=s stomach as Aidan had done not two months ago when Michael had died.
"Why can't you just do as you're told?" Peter asked struggling to keep his temper in check. Edmund didn't answer, but only glared at Peter. Peter turned around and shut the shelter door and everyone stilled adjusting their eyes to the poorly lit room. Helen began to comfort Lucy who was still terrified and clutching onto Susan, while Edmund stayed next to her as if afraid to provoke Peter's wrath.
Peter sat down next to Aidan and sighed, before looking at her with her knowing eyes.
"You shouldn't be so hard on him," Aidan whispered.
"He needs to grow up," Peter whispered back.
"In these times do you really want him to grow up any faster? Lose anymore of what he's got left of his childhood?" Aidan asked. Peter snorted.
"Stop being so wise. Act your age. You're like a walking contradiction," Peter said as the two enjoyed a moment of relief. The sounds of the bombing came into the shelter and everyone could feel the ground shaking.
"Some way to win," Aidan said sarcastically. Peter looked at her in question.
"The bombing of London means that control of the Channel has been won by the R.A.F." Aidan said. Peter gave a snort and nodded his head in agreement saying, "This is some victory," as bombs went off around the shelter.
Soon the evacuation of London came and Aidan found herself packing like the Pevensies to be sent away from London.
Edmund has been furious when he had learned that he was to be sent away to the country and threw a royal tantrum. The girls all giggled as they watched he and Peter battle it out, while Helen was trying play referee between two hormonal boys. Edmund was still angry with Peter for what had happened during the bombing and some of that anger transferred to Helen who insisted on sending them away for their safety. One of the families two houses down had been killed as a bomb had hit their shelter and Helen insisted that it simply wasn't safe for them to stay in London.
Aidan put Michael's dog tags around her neck and put on a simple blouse and skirt to travel in. She along with the Pevensies were being sent to Coombe to live with a Professor Digory Kirke. It would be a very long train ride that would have them arriving in the late evening at their new home. Aidan put on a sweater along with her coat, but opted not to wear a hat as she was sure she would only end up making a mess of it. Aidan also grabbed a book for her to read on the train, before looking around the room to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything.
Everyone was tense as they rode the subway, which was filled with children who were also being sent away. They finally arrived at the train station and Helen checked them in receiving their labels. Helen gave everyone their labels and then proceeded to help Lucy put hers on.
"You need to keep this on, darling, alright?" Helen said to Lucy who nodded tearfully at being away from her mother.
"You warm enough?" Lucy nodded. "Good girl." Helen said smiling and gave Lucy a kiss and hug. Helen went to the struggling Edmund and helped him put his label on.
"If Dad were here, he wouldn't make us go," Edmund said in a last effort to convince his mother not to make him leave.
"If Dad were here, it'd mean the war was over and we wouldn't have to," Peter said with agitation at Edmund.
"You will listen to your brother, won't you, Edmund?" Helen asked her youngest son, who gave no answer except a glare in Peter=s direction. Helen gave Edmund a hug, but as she went to kiss him Edmund shrugged away earning him a hurt look from his mother.
Helen then went to Peter who willing gave her a big hug, trying to blink the tears out of his eyes.
"Promise me you'll look after the others," Helen said.
"I will, Mum." Peter said.
"Good man," Helen said tearfully. Helen then turned to Susan and hugged her telling her to be a big girl, to which Susan bravely nodded.
Aidan had to swallow a hard knot in her throat back as Helen turned towards her and she willfully gave her a big hug.
"Take care, Aidan," Helen said simply, to which Aidan nodded.
"Alright. Off you go," Helen said sending them to the line to get onto the train.
They were checked over to make sure that they were labeled and had the proper tickets, which was made somewhat difficult when Peter became distracted by looking at the young recruits coming into the station. They boarded the train and waved to Helen goodbye until she was out of sight.
Peter found them their train compartment which they shared with two other children. Edmund was still in a foul mood, but managed to amuse himself by looking out the window at the passing scenery. Aidan opened her book and tried to focus on the words, but seemed to fly off the page and that she couldn't focus.
Susan and Lucy amused themselves with a magazine with Peter sitting solemnly across from her.
"Are you okay?" Aidan asked him. Peter nodded.
No one spoke again until they reached Goosey Station, which their compartment mates left. Aidan moved over towards the empty seat and looked out the window to see that they had not been fortunate enough to get a nice couple.
The rest of the train ride was made in continued silence though it was decidedly more comfortable than before and Aidan found herself able to read. Peter took out his own book and when they had both finished they traded with smile and started to read the others book.
"You two act like an old married couple," Edmund muttered. Aidan kicked Edmund in the shin.
"Just stop it, Edmund," Aidan said before going back to her book with decidedly redder cheeks.
"She's right Ed. They don't agree on anything," Lucy chimed in.
"We don't even like each other really," Peter said focused on what he was reading. Aidan felt herself become even angrier and left the compartment hitting Peter in the head with her book.
"I'm going to the ladies room," Aidan announced before shutting the door.
Susan followed her into the bathroom and they both combed their hair with their hands and checked to make sure that nothing was out of sort.
"He didn't mean it you know," Susan said.
"Why should I care?" Aidan said as she shrugged.
"You threw your book at him," Susan pointed out.
"Isn't it considered rude to actually say you don't like someone to their face?" Aidan asked. Susan laughed.
"I think what Peter meant was that you too aren't good friends and therefore you don't know each other well enough. Seriously you two don't even spend time together except to argue about lessons," Susan said. Aidan shrugged with indifference and they both walked back to the compartment. Aidan ignored Peter for the rest of the trip and looked out the window.
While it was true that they didn't spend a lot of time together during the day, but they did see each other at night and talk. Aidan had thought that they could at least call each other friends. But obviously that didn't matter to Peter, so why should it matter to her. From this moment forward Peter Pevensie didn't exist.
Well saying that Peter Pevensie didn't exist didn't exactly work when he was trying his best to get you to at least to talk to him. Eventually Peter gave up, but Aidan knew that her stubbornness would keep her from at least accepting his apology, which would also mean acknowledging his existence.
They finally arrived at Coombe and stepped off onto the platform, with the train whizzing by behind them. The platform wasn't much, but a couple of benches and the ticket booth. They heard a car coming and raced over to the edge of the platform, but it passed with a honk of its horn.
"The professor knew we were coming," Susan said mostly to reassure herself.
"Perhaps we've been incorrectly labeled," Edmund said looking at his own label.
The sound of a horse and cart could be heard coming up the road and one turned the corner with a woman riding it. The woman stopped the cart in front of them.
"Mrs. Macready?" Peter asked.
"I'm afraid so," Mrs. Macready replied.
"Is this it, then? Haven't you brought anything else?" Mrs. Macready asked.
"No, Ma'am. It's just us," Peter said, to which Lucy cutely nodded in agreement.
"Small favors," Mrs. Macready said, before gesturing for them to get in.
Edmund climbed up and then helped Peter help the girls up. Susan and Lucy were first and when it came time for Aidan she heaved herself up refusing Peter's help. Sitting next to Edmund, Aidan looked anywhere but at Peter, who had no choice but to sit next to her.
Professor Kirke's house was something to behold as they road up to the large and obviously historic mansion. Aidan jumped down from the cart, wincing as her legs started to hurt, but managed to smack Peter, by accident of course, with her bag as she passed.
"Professor Kirke is not accustomed to havin' children in this house. And, as such, there are a few rules we need to follow," Mrs. Macready said explaining the rules.
"There will be no shoutin'. Or runnin'. No improper use of the dumbwaiter. No touchin' of the historical artifacts!" Mrs. Macready shouted the last as Susan attempted to touch a sculpture. Aidan gave a snicker at Mrs. Macready who sent a glare her way, but that did nothing to deter her smile.
"So you must be the American," Mrs. Macready said. Aidan gave a huff.
"I'm Canadian actually," Aidan said. Mrs. Macready sniffed and continued on.
"And above all, there shall be no distubin' of the professor," Mrs. Macready said in such a reverent tone that reminded Aidan of someone in love . . .or in church.
Aidan found it hard not to laugh and Mrs. Macready's extensive number of rules that she continued to give out as she showed them to their rooms. The girls would share a room together with Lucy and Susan sharing a bed and Aidan getting one to herself and the boys across the hall.
Aidan started to walk into the room, but was stopped by Mrs. Macready who pointed her finger in Aidan's face.
"And I want no hanky-panky from you. I've heard stories about Americans," Mrs. Macready said then pointing at Peter as well. Aidan huffed.
"I'm Canadian and he doesn't even like me," Aidan said purposely smacking Peter in the shoulder.
"You know that's not what I meant!" Peter shouted.
"You said it! So you must have meant it," Aidan said before stomping into her new room. Lucy glared at Peter.
"Why do you have to be mean to her?" Lucy asked before stamping on Peter's foot. Susan merely sighed in disgust and herded Lucy into the room, before slamming the door. Mrs. Macready blinked her beady eyes in surprise several times, before leaving the hallway.
Peter walked into the boys' new room and put his suitcase on the bed, before sitting down next to it and rubbing his foot.
"What did you mean?" Edmund asked referring to Peter's earlier comment. Peter sighed and laid back on the bed.
"I don't know."
The next day it rained and the children sat in a common room that they were allowed to be in. Susan sat on the couch with a giant dictionary, while Peter sat in the armchair with Edmund at his feet scratching something on the bottom of a table. Lucy and Aidan sat in the window seat together looking out the window and at the rainy day.
"Gastro Vascular," Susan said. Peter gave an annoyed sigh.
"Come on, Peter. Gastro Vascular." Susan persisted.
"Is it Latin?" Peter asked.
"Yes."
"Is it Latin for 'worst game ever invented'?" Edmund teased, which earned him a glare from Susan who slammed the dictionary closed. Lucy got up from the window seat and went to Peter.
"We could play hide and seek," Lucy suggested.
"But we're already having so much fun," Peter said sarcastically. Susan scoffed at him and shared a look with Aidan.
"Come on, Peter, please," Lucy begged.
"I could go for a game of hide and seek," Aidan said getting up and sitting next to Susan.
"Pretty please?" Lucy begged in a sweet voice with her eyes competing with those of a puppy.
"One, two, three, four . . ."Peter started counting as the rest of them started to hide.
Aidan split up from the rest of them and found a closet to hide in. Aidan couldn't hear Peter counting anymore and waited with impatience. Suddenly though she could hear shouting and she crept out from her hiding spot to find them all crowded around a confused Lucy.
"I've been gone for hours," Lucy said with such conviction that Aidan found herself believing her with some confusion as to what the youngest Pevensie was really talking about.
Lucy then explained her entire trip into a land she called Narnia and the friend she made, which was a faun, called Mr. Tumnus. Lucy even went as far as to show them the beautiful wardrobe that she climbed into and found the magical land. Susan and Edmund examined the wardrobe with Peter, Lucy and herself looking on.
"Lucy, the only wood in here is the back of the wardrobe," Susan said.
"One game at a time, Lu. We don't all have your imagination," Peter said trying to appease what he thought was the imagination of a little girl. They, with the exclusion of Lucy and Aidan, turned to leave the room when Lucy spoke up trying one last time to make them believe her.
"But I wasn't imagining!"
"That's enough, Lucy," Susan said as her growing anger seeped in through her voice.
"I believe her," Aidan said getting looks from the others.
"Aidan don't encourage her!" Peter said taking a step towards her making it known that he didn't appreciate her butting in.
"I wouldn't lie about this!"
"Well, I believe you." Edmund said earning himself confused looks from everyone.
"You do?" Lucy asked.
"Yeah, of course. Didn't I tell you about the football field in the bathroom cupboards?' Edmund joked.
"Will you just stop? You just have to make everything worse, don't you?" Peter asked venting at Edmund.
"It was just a joke!" Edmund said defending himself.
"When are you going to learn to grow up?" Peter asked.
"Shut up! You think you're Dad, but you're not!" Edmund said furiously getting up in Peter's face before running out of the room.
"Well, that was nicely handled," Susan said to Peter before leaving the room herself.
Lucy ran up to Aidan and hugged her saying, "But...it really was there."
"Susan's right, Lucy. That's enough," Peter said to Lucy who started to cry into Aidan.
"Why can't you just believe her? Can't you see how important this is to her?" Aidan asked to Peter.
"And why can't you just stay out of it? This isn't your concern! You're not part of our family!" Peter yelled.
Aidan was dumbfounded into hurt and silence. She turned around to hide her tears and stroked the crying Lucy's hair. Peter sighed and walked out.
After a few minutes Lucy calmed down and stopped crying.
"Why don't they believe me?" Lucy asked. Aidan sighed and crouched down in front of her.
"Because sometimes it's easier for people to believe only the obvious," Aidan said.
"Why do you believe me?" Lucy asked as Aidan wiped Lucy's tears from her face with a handkerchief.
"Because I just . . .I just do," Aidan said looking into the open wardrobe wishing that it would become the magical wood Lucy had described.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please let me know what you think. :)
-lightning8star