"Permission granted."

"I, Lord Wendon Schultz, would like to formally drop all charges against Mr. Peter Pevensie on the account of recent events in this court." The older man's eyes soften. "The kind of love and gentleness Mr. Peter Pevensie has displayed today, especially with the surprise visit of his father, cannot be mere imitation. I apologise for wasting your time, Judge Hendrix, ladies and gentlemen of the jury."

"Order!" Judge Hendrix yells as the courtroom begins to whisper. "Very well. Mr. Peter Pevensie, this case will not be put on record, as it was an informal case and was dropped by the prosecutors." The judge's eyes sparkle. "But, just for your information, every single jury member declared you innocent."

"As promised, I have spoken to the school board on your behalf," Headmaster Bryant stands and addresses Peter. "and you will be allowed to return for the remainder of this school year. However, you may not return once the year has been completed."

Peter, engulfed in the embraces of his siblings, looks up at him "Thank you-ow, Lucy!" Peter smiles apologetically. "Sir."

"Edmund!" Chloe calls from across the courtroom.

"You did amazing!" Edmund tells her as he meets her in the middle of the room.

"Me? I was stuttering the entire time! It was your defense that got Peter off," Chloe replies. "and it was brilliant having your father testify!"

Edmund shakes his head. "Everyone, including you, helped Peter." He says firmly.

"I was glad to have helped. Did you have any idea Jacob's father was commander of your father's unit?" She asks.

Edmund shakes his head. "Not until Dad said it."

Suddenly, Peter meets them in the middle of the courtroom. "I'm sorry. Am I interrupting something?" He asks, giving Edmund dubious looks.

"Shut up, Peter." Edmund groans, as Chloe laughs.

"Chloe, this git is Peter Pevensie, my older brother. Peter, this is Chloe Burke, Mrs. Burke's daughter. She helped me when I was accusing Carter of being a bully in Asbury Hall." Edmund introduces.

"It's a pleasure to officially meet you, Chloe. Edmund has told me loads about you." Peter says with a mischievous smile.

"Peter!" Edmund yelps, blushing.

"Speaking of, Edmund, that's my suit you're wearing." Peter puts his brother in a headlock. "I was looking for that all morning! But it looks better on you, Ed. Don't you think, Chloe?"

"W-well, I-I.." Chloe stutters, blushing much more deeply than Edmund. Edmund smacks his older brother's arm.

"How could you?!" He demands as Chloe walks off slowly.

"I'm sorry, Ed. I was only joking." Peter replies. "I didn't think I would upset her."

"Oh, you didn't upset me." Chloe says, returning with her mother. "My mum wanted to say hello, so I brought her over."

"That's a relief." Peter says.

Edmund begins to smile. "Yes, it is. Hello, Mrs. Burke."

Peter releases his brother from the headlock, and shakes Mrs. Burke's hand properly. "Hello, ma'am."

"I'm glad to see your charges were dropped, Peter." She says kindly. "Chloe has spoken highly of both of you." The teacher's eyes rest on Edmund for a long moment. Peter snickers.

Edmund discreetly jabs him in the ribs.

"I'm glad to see your Forensics and Debate class came through for you. Great defense strategies, Ed!" Mrs. Burke says. "I'm proud of you."

"Thank you, ma'am." Edmund responds politely. "Your teaching was a great aide to me."

"I'm glad to hear it." Mrs. Burke says. "Chloe and I had better be going soon. I'll give you a brief moment."

"Thanks, Mum." Chloe says, as her mother walks away.

"You were a great help today, Chloe. I owe you one." Edmund says.

"No, you don't. Really. You helped me today too." She replies. "I don't think Jacob would have stopped bothering me if not for today's hearing. You did well."

"Enjoy your holiday." Chloe says, giving Edmund a peck on the cheek, before leaving to find her mother.

"You too!" Edmund calls.

Peter is smirking at him. "Chloe Pevensie-hmm, not awful sounding actually."

"Come off it, Peter!" He says. "She doesn't like me. That was... just her way of saying thanks. You know how girls are."

"Mhmm." Peter sounds unconvinced. "Come on, let's go find Father and the girls."

"Good idea." Edmund says, eager to change the subject.

Peter and Edmund make their way over to the rest of their family. Lt. Pevensie is hugging Lucy, and Mrs. Pevensie is speaking to Susan.

"Edmund," Lt. Pevensie begins. "Who was that young lady who kissed you?" He smirks, looking from Edmund to Peter.

"Kissed you?!" Lucy asks excitedly.

Edmund groans. "Dad! See what you've started?" He asks, smiling bashfully. 

Peter smiles again. "Yes, Lucy. Very passionately, I might add."

"Peter!" Mrs. Pevensie rebukes.

Edmund was now bright red. "It wasn't passionately! She pecked me on the cheek! That was all!"

"Good for you, Ed!" Susan says, ruffling his hair.

Edmund rolls his eyes. "Hilarious."

"Very." Peter laughs, as he crosses the small distance and hugs his father. "I missed you so much." He mutters, so only his father can hear.

"I missed you too, Peter. I'm glad to be home, even if it's only for a short time." Mr. Pevensie replies.

"All right, Lu! Stop making kissy faces at me!" Edmund demands loudly.

"Edmund and Chloe, sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Lucy sings.

Peter begins to laugh uproariously now. "Oh, that's a new one!" 

"It's from the States." Susan says, now laughing hysterically. 

"First comes love! Then comes marriage! Then comes baby in the baby carriage!" Lucy continues.

"LUCY!" Edmund shouts, blushing as red as humanly possible.

"Sorry, Ed. We're just happy for you. Though when you do get married, I want to be the flower girl. All right?" Lucy jokes.

Edmund stutters. Peter swings a companionable arm around Edmund's shoulder. "Don't worry, Ed. I'll be your best man." He ducks Edmund's smack to his head.

'My children have really grown up.' Lt. Pevensie thinks as he watches the boys interact. 'Especially Edmund.'

"I wonder if Chloe would let me be Maid of Honour." Susan says aloud.

Edmund begins to mock sulk. "Bloody siblings. Bother all of you."

"I think she really likes you, Ed." Peter says, grinning broadly, but more serious.

"I think so, too. But, Peter, I don't like her. Not as anything more than a friend."

Peter nods, and pulls them out of earshot from their parents. "I understand. After all the suitors we've had...."

Edmund laughs. "Yes, well, she's different."

"How so?" Peter asks.

"She doesn't want to marry me because I'm king."

Peter smiles weakly. "That's because she really likes you, Ed. Maybe it's time we accept we aren't returning to Narnia and start our lives here in England."

'Don't say that!" Edmund says hastily. "Surely Aslan would have told us such a thing."

Peter sighs. "You're right. I'm sorry. I just don't know how much longer He expects us to wait."

"Hopefully not for much longer. I never finished that tax reformation! I had been working on that for almost 3 years!"

Peter grins. "That's not exactly why I brought you over here, Ed. I wanted to thank you for representing me."

"You don't need to thank me. You'd do the same for me, well, not the exact same thing, or I'd be in prison...." Edmund begins to rant.

Peter laughs and rolls his eyes. "Gee, thanks, Ed."

"You get my point." He says, awkwardly finishing his rant.

"I get it." Peter smiles and gives his younger brother a hug.