4: It's that time of the year again

It was a very cool morning, the pale winter sun had just risen above the icy ocean, and Peter walked towards the door of a small salon.

It was the first of December, and this Christmas would be the third Christmas since they'd become Kings and Queens.

Edmund, Susan and Mr. Tumnus' were already standing in the salon, laughing about something.

Peter walked in and jokily said:"Behold, December has come!"

Edmund laughed and said:"Believe it or not, but we were just talking about that."

Peter joined the laughter of his siblings and the faun.

Just in this moment, they heard a certain girl calling:"Mr. Tumnus, Mr. Tumnus, Mr. Tumnus, Mr. Tumnus!"

Their laughter began anew, because this exact enthusiasm of their smaller sister, everytime December arrived, had been the thing they were laughing about, and when Lucy entered the salon, she stopped, irritated by her siblings' good mood.

"What are you laughing about?", she asked.

"Oh", Peter said, quickly coming up with an excuse, "Mr. Tumnus was just telling us a joke!"

The faun's eyes widened in surprise.
"Uh, yes!", he said, trying to ignore Susan and Edmund's laughter.

"Uhm, it was just the joke I told you yesterday", he explained and Lucy furrowed her brows.

"I mean, it was funny, but...it wasn't this funny..."

Peter said between bursts of laughter:"Believe me Lu, it was."

The girl let it be, and turned to Mr. Tumnus, finally asking him her question.
"Do you want to go for a short morning walk with me? I bet the gardens look beautiful!"

Mr. Tumnus quickly agreed, and they made their way out, not without Lucy sending a last glance at her still laughing siblings.

When they were out of sight, Edmund, Susan, and Peter looked at each other, and Peter couldn't help but laugh again.

It was that time of the year again, and he wouldn't give it away for anything.