Peter's POV

Summer/June 1948, April is 23, Peter is 21 (He will be 22 in August)

Song: A Thousand Years by Christina Perri (by piano guys, instrumental)

Joy, Peter thought. Pure joy. He didn't think he could know any more joy than when April shared with him that she might be pregnant at the edge of a cool forest on a dark summer night. The feeling stayed with him for days and then subsided into a sliver of contentment that hung under his skin constantly after the doctor confirmed her theory. Even though all of the worries during her pregnancy threatened to take it away--was she working too hard, or doing too much, was she cool enough, warm enough, was the baby moving, growing, would she be okay during the birth -- the underlying contentment stayed.

Here was a chance for him to achieve yet another dream, of being a father. He came so close in Narnia. He thought his heart would never beat in the same rhythm again after coming back to this world and watching April miscarry.

Thankfully, life moves forward. While the memories never leave, the pain does fade. April was more beautiful than ever pregnant. She glowed, even during morning sickness. As her belly rounded a sweet smile hovered about the corners of her mouth most of the time, at least when she was around Peter.

Their love deepened as he tried to anticipate her needs and as she tried to take care of him as much as he would let her. Then in June, a beautiful month, even in the city, the best thing in his life happened.

In the middle of the night, of course. He was amazed, his calm there in Narnia during a battle and here in the boardroom with a difficult client, his smart, tactical mind that was winning him points at work that he'd honed in Narnia, had failed him once again. It seemed April being in pain was truly his Achilles heel. When she woke him at 3:00 o'clock in the morning saying her pains were really close together and they needed to go to the hospital, he couldn't think. In fact, he could barely function.

Watching them wheel her away, leaving him in the waiting room with two other fathers to be was the worst part. He wanted to be at her side. He wanted to watch this miracle and to be there in case the worst happened. He wished they were at her parent's home. Her Mum had been a nurse and was a practicing midwife after all. Then again, too, he couldn't help but think, if they had been in Narnia... He stopped that thought quickly.

The other fathers were no help at all. One was smoking like a freight train. The other was wide-eyed and kept mumbling. Finally, he came to his senses. Edmund!

Using the hospital phone he called his brother. Ed was not thrilled about being woken at 5:00 a.m. but got there faster than Peter expected. He could have called his father or best friend Scott. But this felt like a battle and there was no one he wanted to have his back more than his brother. It was great they were both in the same city and saw each other as much as possible given their different schedules.

Edmund breezed into the waiting area ignoring the sign that said "Fathers Only" and took one appraising glance around the room. He looked at Peter, nodded, then gave him a quick hug.

"How is she?"

"I don't know," Peter almost whined, sinking into a chair. He hated not knowing if she was okay. "They haven't told me anything."

Edmund nodded again and looked around. "Well, at least you're better off than freight train and crazy eyes over there."

Peter chuckled. He was very glad he had called his brother.

"Thanks for being here, Ed."

"Aw, don't get all mushy on me, the baby isn't even here yet," Ed said, flopping into the chair beside him. "What did Orieus do when his sons were being born?"

When Peter didn't answer, Edmund elbowed him in the ribs. "Come on, Pete. Think!"

"I dunno! Drink lightening? Man, I wish I had some of that right now."

Edmund laughed a little too loud, drawing the crazy man's eyes to him. He cleared his throat quickly and calmed down.

"That's why I brought this."

He eased out a silver flask from his jacket pocket. Peter's eyes got large.

"How did you...?" he asked in disbelief.

"Ha," Edmund scoffed. "I was always your logistics and supply man, right? I bring what the crisis calls for. And you," he lowered his voice to a whisper, "High King... are in need of a drink!"

Beyond grateful for the distraction, they talked about Peter's job, Edmund's classes, and the issues with Susan. Exhausted from the waiting, they then passed the remaining hours in silent comradery. Finally, Peter took to pacing. Just when he thought he couldn't stand it any longer, the door opened.

The other men were on their feet fast and Peter took steps toward the door until Edmund's hand on his arm stayed him.

"Pevensie?" the nurse called.

"Here," squeaked Peter. Edmund laughed out loud.

"Is he here? Is my wife all right? Is she...?"

The nurse smiled. "You have a sweet baby girl. Your wife is fine. You can see them in a few moments. I will be back soon."

The other men starting asking questions but all Peter could hear was 'baby girl' and 'wife was fine'.

"I have a baby girl," he whispered and then turned to Edmund as if in a daze. "Ed, I am a... father."

He paused, staring off into space. Edmund was grinning widely but Peter didn't notice. "I am a father!" He repeated.

"Ed! Did you hear?" He voice was suddenly infused with delirious joy. "I AM A FATHER!"

He hugged his brother lifting him off the ground. When he set him down on the ground, Edmund's grip around him was fierce.

Peter could not see the tears standing in his brother's eyes, but only heard Edmund say, "Congratulations, Pete! You will be a great father!"

"I am a father!"

~~0~~

Joy was seeing a tired but happy April laying in bed holding a blanket wrapped bundle. Delirious joy was sitting next to her and hearing the words...

"Peter? Would you like to meet your daughter?"

Daughter. I have a daughter. I am a father.

April laughed.

Did he say that out loud?

"Here Daddy."

Tears filled his eyes as April placed the sweet bundle into his arms and he looked down at the wrinkled reddish baby and thought she was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. She opened her eyes and seemed to look right into his soul. In an instant his heart was hers. This infant girl, a blend of him and the most wonderful and unique woman on earth, who Aslan had given to him, looked at him once and he knew he would do anything, everything for her.

"What should we name her?" April asked softly. "We thought of many boy names, but only had a couple of girl ones."

"Sabrina. Sabrina...Joy." Came his decisive response.

April looked at him in surprise and then at her daughter and nodded. "That is one we hadn't talked about. It suits her though. What made you think of it?"

"Joy, because just knowing she was on the way has brought an abundance of it into our lives."

April nodded and smiled at him, placing her hand on his and squeezing it. Sabrina yawned and both of her parents laughed at the sweet sight.

"And Sabrina..." April prompted.

"Sabrina, because... it sounds like..." his voice grew husky. "Sabina."

April was quiet, remembering about the dryad in Narnia who had loved Peter so much. Jealousy surged quickly through her and she almost protested not knowing if she could think about that every day of her life when she said her daughter's name. But then she quickly realized, without Sabina, she wouldn't be here. Without her loving that human man and having the courage to ask Aslan to change her dryad form into a human, April herself might not have been born. She definitely would not have her dryad heritage and ties to Narnia and wouldn't have the bond to Peter or even known about a wonderful place called Narnia.

"Yes, Sabrina it is. What a wonderful way to mark her heritage and ties to Narnia."

"You don't mind?" Peter's eyes turned to her and saw into the depths of her soul as he often did.

"No. I truly don't. She is part Narnian. She will have a rich and unique future, I can feel that."

Peter leaned into her and gently kissed April on the lips, "You have no idea how much I love you, how much I have always loved you!"

They both sat in silence watching their daughter sleep peacefully in her father's arms. The air stilled and then they felt a breeze blow gently around them. April closed her eyes and Peter's opened widely.

"Aslan," he whispered reverently.

They both breathed deep and could sense Aslan's blessing, and the fulfillment of a promise and purpose.

~~0~~

"Hullo? Anyone home?"

Peter stumbled into the living room. It was seven o'clock on a Friday night, but it felt like midnight. They had been home for two weeks with the baby. He had been able to take a few days off work and April, of course, had quit her job before the baby was born. Thankfully, her Mum had stayed the first week and his Mum was still dropping in daily, but he...they, were exhausted. He was definitely not in the mood for this kind of company.

Heels clicked on the worn wooden floor. "Peter? April?" His sister's voice echoed through the small space. He came through the kitchen and Susan smiled when she saw him.

"Peter!" She came over and hugged him tight and for a moment it felt like long ago when they were close.

She pulled back and scrutinized him. "Peter! You look like death. Are you sick?"

He wearily passed a hand over his eyes. "No, Suse, just tired. Sabrina is a little night owl. Mum said she has her days and nights mixed up."

"Oh, where is the sweetie? I wanted to get by earlier this week but my schedule was too full. I know she has changed since I last saw her."

Susan threw her clutch on the table and glanced back at him on her way into the bedroom. Her bright red lips smiling and her short curls bouncing. Susan had grown up all right. She looked perfect, as she always did like she was on her way to a club or a party. He followed her automatically.

He heard cooing and ooing before he got to the door. Glancing in he saw an equally pale April smiling a tired smile at Susan who was talking to her niece like she was her best friend.

"...now sweet Sabrina. You and I are going to have a fantastic time. We shall stay up late and have lots of girl talk. We shall snack on well... sweets for me and a bottle for you..." Susan's merry laugh tinkled through the room.

Even though he was constantly frustrated by how Susan had become absorbed in the world around them, his sister's laugh would always make him smile. She had been around more during the pregnancy and especially after Sabina's birth. His family had stopped in constantly and he was grateful. But the late night duties fell to him and April.

Susan was still speaking "...yes, now April, don't you protest. You and Peter deserve a break and I am here to give it to you....yes...tonight. Now, you all get ready to go and do whatever it is you want to do and I will be here to babysit. Yes... you are the sweetest of nieces ever to be born!"

She walked with the baby into the living room. Sabrina's eyes were rapt on Susan's face. They seemed taken with each other. He wondered, not for the first time, about Susan's Narnia experiences. The ones she now called "those fancy games we used to play when we were children". He especially wondered what made her want to forget those precious memories.

Shaking his head from the wandering thoughts, he looked at April. She looked as shell shocked as he felt. They both followed their daughter and stood watching Susan.

"Well? Go on then," Susan encouraged with a great smile. Go get ready for dinner, or dancing, or even just a breath of fresh air. It is a lovely evening out there."

Peter locked eyes with April and saw his own longing mirrored in hers.

"Okay..." he said slowly. "I think we know exactly what we want to do."

"Yes," April echoed. "Sabrina's bottles of milk are in the icebox. She loves music and if you dance with her, it relaxes her. You can put her in the little bassinette here in the living room if she ever falls asleep."

"Perfect. And where will you two be going?"

Peter and April looked at each other, smiling and both said at the same time, "to sleep!"