(A/N: Sorry for the delay. I also want to apologize that there was no warning about the content in the previous chapter. Those are the most intense scenes in the book, I promise. Back to normal now, and next time I will give fair warning before things get steamy. Thanks for reading! Chapter Song: 'Just be Held' by Casting Crowns.)

"Last night was incredible," he breathed in her ear.

She rolled back into him and his arms wrapped around her. Teasingly she said, "Why, thank you, I will take credit for that!"

"What? Oh no, you can't do that. It was my idea!" he teased right back and started tickling her mercilessly.

"Peter! Stop!" she cried breathlessly. When he did her fingers deftly found a spot that made him twitch and laugh.

He caught her hand in his firm grip and looked accusingly into her eyes. "Just what do you think you are doing?"

She gave him a sly smile. "I thought I found that spot last night. You have been holding out on me Peter Pevensie. You never admitted you were ticklish before."

"You never asked." He said tartly as he started in on her again.

But, the tickles soon turned to caresses and the caresses to kisses as they relaxed together like they had all the time in the world. That is, until April glanced at the clock and sat up.

"Peter, we need to get up if we are going to make it to the Mission on time."

He laid back firmly on the pillows and looked at her carefully. "I was not planning to go to the mission today." He said quietly, but with steel in his voice.

She narrowed her eyes and tilted her head as if trying to read in his eyes the meaning behind his words. "Why not?" she asked simply.

He glanced away from her searching look. "Because I have not forgiven Aslan for bringing us back the way he did." His eyes came back to hers and there was indeed anger there and also a challenge.

"I see, well," she started, searching for the words to say, "you will have to forgive Him, you know. He did spare both of our lives..."

Peter interrupted her. "Yes, but look how much he took!"

She nodded and moved to sit beside him, placing her hand on his chest where the scar was. Fingering it she said softly, "Yes, he did take much, but we are never guaranteed to have it all. What is it that Job said? Ah yes... 'He gives and He takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord'.* He is still faithful Peter. He showed that to me over and over again while we were apart. When I couldn't lean on you I had to lean on Him. He is faithful. You need to make your peace with Him, or you will never feel true peace yourself."

Peter frowned and moved to get up. He sat on the edge of the bed. "Yes, well. It is going to take some time."

She lovingly put her hand on his shoulder. "Take the time you need, Peter. But don't cheat yourself out of happiness that could easily be yours."

Feeling the need to change the subject she turned his face to hers and said, "If we are not going to the mission, what shall we do today?"

His eyes sparked with a memory and he gave her a half-hearted smile. "You mean beyond what we have been doing?"

She laughed and pinched him, just as she had in Narnia when they had this exact same exchange.

"Ow!" He grabbed the offensive fingers and brought them to his lips for a kiss. "I thought maybe we would go shopping."

"Shopping!" she exclaimed, "whatever for?"

"You...a wedding dress."

"Peter! We don't have that kind of money."

"I have a little," he countered. "During the many trips I accompanied Susan on I know where all the bargain rooms are. There may be a dress out there that needs a little mending that they will sell cheap. It is where most of Susan's came from."

"Really? You would want to do that with me?"

He still had her fingers in his hand, and brought them again to his lips. "Of course, love. Tradition states that I am not supposed to see the dress before the ceremony, but our wedding is Narnian. And, most Narnians, at least this one, does not care about that sort of stuff. Shall we go?"

"I would love that. Let's shower first."

"Great idea," he murmured, bringing his lips to hers.

~~0~~

He threaded his fingers with hers as they walked down the crowded street to the bus. The shopping trip had been fun and a success. The dress they had chosen did need some repairs but she was happy, floating on air, was more like it. She looked over at him and he smiled at her. He had insisted upon carrying the bag and she was so proud to be seen with him. He was confident and purposeful even in just walking down a street. There was still an edge to him though that probably only she could see. She did hope that he would make his peace with Aslan. He had to, or she knew things would get difficult, fast.

He helped her onto the crowded bus. Being the gentleman he was when seats finally opened up and more people got on, gave his up for an elderly lady, who smiled sweetly at him. He was her knight.

They stepped off the bus and walked slowly to his house. The shopping had taken longer than they expected and they had eaten at a diner during the day.

"Peter?" she questioned.

"Yes, love."

"What happens after today?"

He glanced quickly at her, eyebrows furrowed so she quickly continued, "I mean, with us. We still have weeks until graduation and the ceremony..."

He nodded. "I have a fencing tournament next Saturday, it is the last and largest of the season." His face brightened with a thought. "Why don't you come for the weekend? Lucy would love to have you stay with her, and I would love for you to be around campus again and for you to watch me fence." His voice had grown quieter as he spoke and she squeezed his hand in reassurance.

"I would love to watch you compete too. It would be wonderful to see Lucy, Edmund and Susan again. I know my parents don't like me to take the train on my own...but I think I can manage this one time at least. My goodness! What am I saying? I managed a castle in Narnia, a train ride should be simple. It...feels like Narnia was a long and strange dream sometimes. Does it feel that way to you too?"

Peter thought for a moment. "Sometimes the Narnian memories are stronger than ones from here. But, I know what you mean. I just have spent more time there than you. I know for Susan it feels only like a dream."

"I don't want it to be only a dream for me, though," she said strongly. "I can't let it be that to me, or I will be discounting all that you and I shared. But, other things that happened there are really hard to think about...sometimes."

His grip on his hand tightened. "The difficult times there, only make the good, more precious to me."

She nodded. "That is the best way to think about it. We can also take that view here as well," she said leadingly.

His lips pressed together tightly and he nodded tersely. She didn't pursue it, he would have to work it out on his own.

~~0~~

"Peter?" she asked.

"Yes, love."

They were straightening up the house, working on doing the laundry and dishes that they had caused, it was very domestic and April's heart was warmed immensely. She didn't have to ask him to help, he just saw what needed to be done and did it. How unusual that their only married experience took place in a castle with servants all around to do those sorts of things for them.

She smiled and then said, "I need to talk with you about some things that happened when we were apart."

He looked up, curious and said, "All right, I think we are done here. Let's go up to the sitting room and we can talk there."

She followed up him the stairs and he tucked her into him on the couch. "Now tell me."

She took a breath and told him of when she first went back to school and Andre's reaction to her and their ensuing conversation. He tensed at first, but then relaxed. When she finished, however, she saw his frown.

"Why are you frowning?"

"He took care of you, encouraged you and helped you through a time when I should have done all that. I can never get that time back and I know it has set us back some. I just wish it had been different."

"Me too," she sighed sadly, "but, if you had been there then I wouldn't have this other thing to tell you."

"What is it?"

"Aslan...Christ...I mentioned that He cared for me right?" Peter's nod was tense, she knew he didn't want to hear this. "Peter...He comforted me. Remember the verse Lucy read during the service? 'God is the Father who is full of mercy and all comfort. He comforts us every time we have trouble, so when other have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us. We share in the many sufferings of Christ. In the same way, much comfort comes to us through Christ.'**

April didn't wait for him to respond. "That verse made no sense at the time, but now it does. He comforts us so that we can comfort others. Perhaps I am meant to comfort you."

His arm tightened around her and she continued, "I just know somehow, that everything is the way it is supposed to be. I feel very strongly that there will be more children for us, one day, when the time is right. I know that He is in control and is working through our lives both in Narnia and especially here. I don't understand it all, and I don't have too. I just know that He is there and that is enough."

"You sound like Lucy," he said softly.

"Your sister is very wise and has a great faith."

"So do you, love. And I respect you both very much for it. Do not worry about me. I will find my way. Aslan and I always have to hash things out when I come back from Narnia. This time is more complicated because of the grief over the loss of our child and being separated from you as well. I felt like my heart was ripped out three times in a row: coming back from Narnia, the miscarriage and having to leave you in Sway to go back to school. One positive though, I made really good marks during that time." He laughed ruefully.

She smiled, "I knew you would throw yourself into your studies and everything else around you to try to block out the hurt. I understood Peter, which was the hard part. I knew exactly what you were doing and why. I think it is why I was able to forgive you so easily."

"I will spend the rest of our forever making it up to you," he said intently.

"Well...depending on the way you make it up to me, I might just let you."

"Ahh, and what would you want?" he said softly.

"I want you to tell me the story of us, the way you told our child the Narnian stories."

His face tightened and then relaxed. He smiled and his eyes lit. His other arm came around her and he lifted her gently onto his lap angling her against the pillows so she could see his face.

He began, "Once upon an age in a magical mysterious world called Narnia there was a lonely High King. He loved his Country, he loved his siblings, he loved his God, but there was something missing. There was no lady in all of the kingdom that would fit him the way he longed for. So, this High King journeyed to the far land of Wardrobe in Spare Oom to search for his bride. A long painful and difficult journey it was, so much so that his heart was weary and broken when he arrived. Who should he meet there but a beautiful girl with a spirit of Narnia inside of her? She helped to heal his heart and make it whole again. He fell deeply in love with the beautiful girl who moved as gracefully as the soul of her was gracious and he was happy and thankful for her presence. He took her back with him to his Country and there he made her his Queen. They ruled together there happily forever. He loved her with all of his heart, and showed her his love constantly with the care of her, his words, and his body. And, she responded blessing him with her kind and generous ways. He was happy, the happiest he ever could have hoped for and the land prospered and so did their union. And, although this sounds like the end of their story, it is only just beginning for the High King and his Queen are to have many more adventures together."

His voice trailed off into a kiss which she received eagerly.

"Thank you," she whispered against his lips.

"No, thank you!"

He picked her up and carried her to their bed where he did indeed show her his love with his words and his body.

*Job 1:21

** 1 Corinthians 1:3-5

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