[England, 1949, before Milliways, for Pevensies only]

[called_lioness]

Coffee.

Lucy needs coffee, because last night was one of Those Nights, and it was a particularly Bad One, at that, and she'd been up til 4. And Edmund's still sleeping, but Lucy needs to be up, because she'd promised someone--who? Oh, hell, she'll figure it out later--that she'd meet them for lunch, and she has French verbs to go over before she can do that, and--

Coffee.

Lucy needs coffee, and that is why she's cursing under her breath, words that most of her family would rather pretend she doesn't know, as she attempts to find some amidst the tea.

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[called_lioness]

Well, if they're going to play the fault game, Lucy might bring up the fact that she was the one who found Narnia at all, but they aren't, and so she doesn't.

She stands, instead, and hugs him. "He'll be alright."

[highking.livejournal.com]

Peter wraps his arms tightly around her and rests his cheek on the top of her head.

That's what you've been saying for twenty-five years, he doesn't say. I don't know what to do for him anymore. I've tried everything. Our family is falling apart.

"Of course he will."

[called_lioness]

Lucy doesn't say that she never used to lie, and now she finds that she has to lie to their parents often, because she can't explain the truth of the things that are going on with Edmund, or with Susan; Lucy doesn't say that she's tired and wants someone else to take care of Edmund on Those Nights, because she doesn't really mind, it's just that there are Moments; and Lucy doesn't say that it's unfair that Peter can go off on campaigns or to classes, and when he does, somehow Lucy is the one who takes care of things when he's gone.

She just sighs and hugs him more tightly.

[highking.livejournal.com]

There are many things they don't say. Peter knows it, and Lucy knows it, and Edmund knows it, and somewhere deep down Susan knows it, too.

Sometimes, when it is very late and Peter can't sleep, which happens more often than he'd like to admit, he wonders if Aslan knows it, and, if He does, if Aslan even cares.

[iustus_rex]

There's a loud thud from upstairs, followed by a low grumble, and then a minute later Edmund comes downstairs, rather bleary-eyed, and has made his way across the room and has pulled out tea and put the kettle on before he manages to be awake enough to note the presence of both Peter and Lucy.

He blinks, a bit.

"... hullo, Peter."

[highking.livejournal.com]

Peter steps away from Lucy, his hands immediately back in his pockets.

"'lo, Edmund. You're up early."

He looks at the tea, then at Edmund's bleary, bloodshot eyes. "Want me to...?"

[iustus_rex]

He shakes his head a little, scrubbing at his face with one hand.

"No, s'fine, I'll manage well enough. Halfway done already anyway."

He blinks at Peter a bit more.

"When did you...?"

[highking.livejournal.com]

"Half an hour ago or so. Didn't have anything to do this weekend, so thought I'd... well. You? I mean, don't you have any classes?"

[called_lioness]

Lucy takes this moment to just sit again and rest her head on one hand.

She doesn't need sleep. Nope. Not her. Not yet.

[iustus_rex]

He shakes his head again.

"Professor's sick, so he gave us the day off. Came in last night."

He crosses over to the table, wrapping an arm around Lucy's shoulders for a moment and dropping a kiss on her hair. He may or may not whisper thank you, but at this point it's really all the same; and then he drops into the seat next to her, waiting for the kettle to go off.

"Didn't you used to have a Friday class too, or am I thinking of last term?"

[highking.livejournal.com]

"Last term," Peter replies shortly, his eyes drifting away from Edmund's display of affection.

[called_lioness]

She just leans against him, trying not to yawn. And she doesn't say, "you're welcome," but it's there anyway.

[iustus_rex]

"You took what, then, the seven o'clock? Trip all right?"

The lame sort of small talk that one gets, when one is still mostly asleep and one did not rest particularly well, or much, the night before.

The kettle whistles.

[highking.livejournal.com]

Peter is making the tea without even thinking about it, just a touch of cream and sugar, and passing it to Edmund.

"Trip was fine. Do you want anything to eat? Toast?"

[iustus_rex]

"I - "

He has a cup of tea in his hand.

He eyes it, then mentally shrugs and takes a sip.

Blessed, blessed tea.

"Yes, fine thanks."

[called_lioness]

She might be falling asleep on Edmund's shoulder. Or might actually be asleep.

Well, it's the second one, really.

But if she's woken, she'll be Up again.

[highking.livejournal.com]

Peter makes toast.

He is puttering. There's really no other word for it.

Unless the word is avoiding. Avoiding confrontation, avoiding watching Lucy sleep on Ed's shoulder when she didn't sleep on his, avoiding the fact that he has no earthly idea what he's supposed to do.

He considers putting a friendly hand on Edmund's shoulder, he considers carrying Lucy upstairs to bed, he considers walking out and taking the enxt train back to Cambridge.

Instead, he hands Edmund his toast.

[iustus_rex]

Edmund has one arm wrapped around Lucy's shoulders, because it would not do for her to fall.

But he's had rather quick reflexes for the past twenty-five years, and even half-asleep and half-hungover he's still quick enough to transfer the plate to the table and come back to catch Peter's hand.

"... thank you."

He's not quite talking about the toast, really.

[highking.livejournal.com]

"You're welcome."

Peter squeezes Edmund's hand briefly. His smile is still a bit strained, but the love and concern in it are unmistakable.

"How are you doing, Edmund? Really."

[iustus_rex]

He doesn't pull his hand away, not yet, but his gaze is focused more on the teacup now resting on the table.

"As well as I ever do, I suppose. Rough week, really."

One shoulder is lifted in something of a shrug, as he looks back up at Peter.

"You?"

[highking.livejournal.com]

Peter resists the urge to ruffle Edmund's hair, settling instead on smoothing it away from his forehead, just roughly enough to be masculine, just softly enough to be affectionate.

"About the same."

As well as he ever does; rough week. Either way.

[iustus_rex]

He rolls his eyes at Peter for the hand ruffling his hair, taking the opportunity of his freed hand to loop his arm around Peter's waist and pull him close into a tight but brief hug, before pulling back and picking up his tea again.

A moment later:

"You planning to stay the whole weekend, then?"

[highking.livejournal.com]

There is the briefest pause, then Peter reverts to his normal brisk, assured manner. He grabs his tea and sits down next to Edmund.

"That's the plan. I'll take the nine o'clock Sunday night or the earliest train Monday morning back to Cambridge, if it's alright with Mother and Father." And, the unspoken caveat, with Edmund and Lucy.

[called_lioness]

It's alright with Lucy, but she is still asleep. So sadly, she cannot say this.

[iustus_rex]

"My word, Peter, I still don't understand how you can possibly plan to wake up so early on a regular basis."

Never mind, really, that Edmund usually doesn't get up much later.

He eyes Lucy, a bit, as he takes a sip of his tea.

"Think we might take the girls out to dinner tomorrow night, then? Leave Mother and Father to themselves for the evening, perhaps?"