For all is good, if understood,
(Ah, could we understand!)
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(warning: sexual content)
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(trigger warning: mention of past attempted rape)
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"Hello, I'm home!" Peter shouted as he walked through the front door.
He had his very own key to the house now, one not borrowed from either of his parents, hanging off a keychain with a golden 'P' on it.
He really had grown up. Again.
"And I've got guests!"

"Oh, hello, sweetums." Helen said happily, pulling one of her mittens off as she stepped out of the kitchen. She rushed to her son, wrapping an arm around him- oh, she'd have to end up wearing heels to hug him. "I see you nearly every week, but you seem taller each time."

"I'm not even that tall." Her son laughed awkwardly. Caspian had been taller. "In fact, I'm not even the tallest cousin anymore."
He jerked his head behind him.

"What are you-" Helen looked past him suddenly, and her eyes widened in shock. "Oh!"

"Hello, Helen." Eustace waved a little. The girl with a bow in her brown hair next to him elbowed him, and he winced. "I- I mean, Aunt Helen. Sorry."

"Hello, Eustace- it's been so long." She said, smiling as well as she could. Her youngest children had told her that the cousin was no longer as annoying as he had been- she'd see for herself. "My goodness, how much did you grow!?"

He chuckled- quite nervously, it was apparent all over his very tall and gangly self.
"Eight and a quarter inches. Hit a growth spurt a few weeks ago- and- well. It's difficult to get used to."

"No doubt." His aunt nodded, reaching up on her tip-toes to kiss his cheek. "How old are you now? Fifteen? Sixteen?"

"I'm-"

"Mum." Peter called, and she turned to see her son standing halfway up the stairs, looking up at where the bedrooms were. "Are Ed and Lu home?"

"Lucy and Susan are in London-"

"Not shopping, are they?"

Noting the panic in her son's voice, Helen quickly shook her head.
"No, no. Susan's finally been convinced to take up a secretarial course, so Lu went with her to sign up for one. They'll come back with Dad."

"Oh." He and his sister had yet to speak about the blow-up- but he was glad she had caught some bit of sense. He would have preferred her believing in Narnia again- but he knew that that hope was purely delusional now. "Good. And Ed?"

"Edmund and Sanya have something to tell us- he went to hers to bring her here-"

The formerly Magnificent King stared, "She's barely a couple streets away."

His mother shrugged, "I think they're going to announce they're back together. So, probably taking as much time as possible to talk about how they'll do it."

The girl with Eustace suddenly giggled, drawing the attention of mother and son to her.
"Oh, sorry." She reddened, and Eustace turned his face away to hide a grin. "Just that, if they're back together, I doubt he went over to hers to talk, if you know what I-"

Mother and son kept staring at her, and Eustace's grin turned into a quiet laugh.

"Actually, never mind." She said, grinning embarrassedly. Her foot was just constantly in her mouth. "Oh, I'm Jill Pole, by the way."
She held her hand out.

"Very nice to meet you, dear." Helen smiled at her, shaking it. Then her eyes flickered to her nephew, who seemed to have conquered his laughing fit, and then back to Jill. "Are you Eustace's- friend?"

She chuckled, "After partaking in battles and quests together, how can we not be friends?"

Peter cleared his throat, giving the two kids a meaningful look.

"By battles and quests, she means bullies." Eustace spoke quickly, understanding why his cousin had coughed- and he elbowed Jill right back. Her mouth got away from her too often. Puddleglum would have lost his mind if she had let loose a secret like that so easily in front of him. "School hasn't been very easy for Pole and I."

"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that, sweetheart." Helen patted his arm comfortingly. "Truthfully, I forgot your parents sent you to that co-educational school-"

Jill snorted, "Yes, we wish we could forget, too."

"Hey, why's the door- Eustace!" Edmund exclaimed in delight as he walked into the foyer, Sanya close behind him, and he saw his cousin.
What in the world!? He'd had no idea he was coming for the Christmas break, even though they were steady pen-pals. His visit was such a wonderful surprise!
The Edmund from last year would have said he was insane or possessed for ever thinking this, and present-day Edmund would not have blamed him, for Eustace had been a complete prick.
People could change, thankfully.

"Hello, cousin." Eustace smiled, and the two boys embraced for a good few moments. "Missed Cambridge at all?"

"Missed a lot of things." He replied quietly, before clearing his throat. He looked up at him- by Aslan's Mane, he had to look up at him.
He didn't know if he liked that. How was his little once-unbearable cousin so tall- and much taller than him?
"Goodness gracious, you're a tree now, mate."

Jill cackled.

Edmund had almost not noticed that there were other people in the room, on account of his now-very-tall cousin- and he turned to the girl, blinking in pleasant surprise.
"Hello- Jill, was it?"

Helen's brows rose, "You've met?"

Her son nodded, "She and her parents came over to Eustace's a couple of times, to talk about the new school."

Sanya hung about behind her husband-boyfriend-fiancé, feeling so desperately uncomfortable.
She had just made her peace with having to tell Edmund's parents and siblings in person that they were engaged- before that, she had been hoping a letter would be enough- but now new people? She had to deal with new people, too!?

She pressed her back almost flat against the door, and wished she could walk through walls. It would be such a handy way of escape.

She should have brought Bonnie along- she'd be losing her in a couple of days, anyway, since she was leaving to go to her family to spend Christmas and New Year's with them.
Just having her next to her would have comforted her, just a bit.

She glanced up towards the staircase, and caught Peter's eye. He did not look uncomfortable- but he did look slightly annoyed at the situation.
'No attention?' She mouthed at him.

He stuck his tongue out at her, before mouthing back, 'D'you and Ed've an announcement?'
Why hadn't his brother told him, on their telephone calls, or in letters? Or had it been a recent development?
Did Ed even realise that he was here?

She squinted at him. Echo denouement?
She should have worn her glasses.
She shook her head, her brows creasing, 'What?'

He rolled his eyes, and descended down the stairs, walking past his mother, brother, cousin, cousin's friend- all of whom were engrossed in a conversation about the horses Jill had ridden during her time at riding school while on holiday.

Reaching Sanya, he leaned against the door as well.
"You and Ed have an announcement?"
He hoped they were not back together. He needed them to be apart for just a week more.
Before the blow-up, he and Susan had made a bet- she had bet that they would be back together by Christmas, and he had bet Sanya's birthday. Lucy had said by Edmund's birthday- poor girl, he would have to share his winnings with her.

Oh, that made more sense than Annette and denouement.
Sanya nodded, "Yes. Probably why he's not realised you're here- I think they call it tunnel vision."

How had she possibly realised that he was bothered that his brother had not noticed him? He hadn't even said anything!
"He's talking about horses. Quite enthusiastically." Peter rolled his eyes. "Is that included in the tunnel vision, San?"

"No, but I am, and I love horses. He loves them, too, you know that." She shrugged, before nodding to the quartet. "That's your cousin?"

He looked at her in surprise, "Yes, that's Eustace- oh, I completely forgot you've never met him."

"I haven't." Perhaps they should elope. A wedding would mean meeting more relatives- and even more new people... "He's very tall."

Peter scoffed, "Making your way through the family? Edmund, then Susan, and now-"

"He reminds me of Jem." She said softly, and pressed her lips tightly together.
It wasn't a very sensible remembrance- Eustace's hair was flaxen, and his clothes- the clothes in this world weren't like the clothes in Narnia. But Jem had been around the same height at this age that Eustace was- he’d grown even taller later- and he had been near the same build during his later adolescence, a curious mix between lanky and muscular at the same time. 
So much reminded her of her dead children.

God, he was an arse.
"I'm- I'm sorry-"

"It's alright. Eldest sibling behaviour." She nodded, bumping her shoulder against his. "I understand it."

And- now, he felt even worse.

Sanya could tell he was about to apologise again, and she didn't want to hear it. It was supposed to be a happy time. Not the time for slights and sorrys.
Especially today and now.
"Pete." She grasped his hand for a moment, squeezing it. "It's alright. Seriously."

"Pete!" It seemed Edmund had finally noticed his brother- and he walked towards the door, a grin on his face. "No 'hello' for your little brother?"

"He was here before you, darling." Sanya informed him, letting go of her brother-in-law's hand.
She watched the brothers hug, too, and she smiled.
"You were just preoccupied."

"Preoccupied with what, dear?" Helen asked curiously, as her eldest son moved away from the door and her youngest son moved closer, standing next to the 'Indian' girl. "You two have been very tight-lipped."
But the 'darling' made it terribly clear.

"Sorry, Helen, we don't want to tell you until everyone's here."

"If it's that you two are together again, it's awfully obvious." Jill spoke cheerfully, nodding to the negligible space between Edmund and Sanya.
She had a sneaking suspicion that he would have had his arms around her, if they were alone.
"Hi, I'm Jill!"

"Sanya." She raised her hand awkwardly in greeting. Jill seemed alright, and there was something pleasant about her face- but- it was just difficult to strike up a camaraderie instantly, when one was as awkward as her.
She looked to the tall boy next to her.
"And you must be Eustace."

He was good-looking enough- he just had to grow into his looks a bit more- but his eyebrows!
His eyebrows really were a sight to see. They were so- so- well, they just made her want to giggle.

Years of etiquette lessons had, thankfully, taught her to not burst into laughter in front of company.

"Hello." He nodded at her, smiling slightly. Caspian had told Rilian much about his many-times-great aunt Sanya- and then he had told stories about her to Jill and he. "I'm quite happy to finally meet you, Sanya."

She smiled back, "Likewise."

"Let's move this into the sitting room." Helen suggested- the foyer was far too full of children at the moment. "Your father will be back shortly-"

Sanya sniffed the air suddenly.
"I think something's about to burn."

Helen's eyes widened, and she stared at the one mitten that remained on her hand.
She then muttered something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like 'shit!' and hurried back to the kitchen.

Edmund leaned in close to Sanya's ear and whispered, "My fiancée, the bloodhound."

Her eyes flickered to his, amused, "My fiancé, the horse enthusiast."

"I was simply making conversation-"

"Ed, Sanya." Peter said loudly- he knew nothing quieter would break their focus on each other. "Eustace and Jill have something to say."

The once-Just King looked curious, "Oh? That's why you're here?"

Jill shrugged, "That, and because my mum's Christmas meal usually leaves a lot to be desired."

Eustace sighed- but, inwardly, he was amused. He was always entertained by Jill- more so even than he had been by his study of bugs. She was brilliant- and, really, the best partner one could have whilst travelling to a fantasy world.
He looked at his cousin, and his cousin’s wife. Or girlfriend. Or ex. He had heard it all ways.
"We went to Narnia again."

Edmund and Sanya gaped at them, starting ahead to move closer- to ask questions, to know- and, at that fateful moment, the front door opened again.

Oh, come on, the Pevensie brothers thought at once, displeasure colouring their handsome faces.
Interruptions were the worst- especially when all they wanted was to hear about their magical realm of a home!

"I don't believe it!" Susan was saying loudly, sounding quite vexed. She was speaking to Lucy, and she looked vexed, too- though, probably not for the same reason. "So many stores, and not one pair to my liking!"

Jill made a face instinctively, upon hearing that. Some girls could be so materialistic and silly, it was insane. She had never thought that someone from Eustace's family could be like that- but people were proven wrong every day, and she was no exception.

George, following behind his daughters, looked confounded and asked blankly, "Pair of what?"

"Stockings, Dad! It's almost Christmas, you'd think stores would stock up on pretty nylon- oh, we have company!" Susan dropped her bags on the floor, and moved till she had reached Edmund and Sanya, pulling them into a hug. "Hello, you two."

Sanya went stiff, and Edmund spoke stiffly, "Er, you saw us yesterday, Su."
She and Lucy had already left for London by the time he'd woken up in the morning.
He had woken up so late, too, and he had stretched like a content cat as he had. He was sleeping better than he perhaps ever had in this world.

His sister pulled away, looking unimpressed.
"Is that supposed to be a reason to not hug you?"

"One can hope-"

Susan rolled her eyes at her brother, and turned to Sanya, her expression slightly less annoyed.
"Is Bonnie here? I wanted her opinions on a cardigan-"

Her sister-in-law shook her head, as Lucy saw Eustace and squealed, running ahead to throw her arms around him, "She's back at the house, packing."

"Right."
She had asked her several times to spend Christmas in Finchley, as opposed to going back to Manchester. Bonnie had kissed her every time that she had, and then shaken her head.

Susan had ended up being so mollified and dazed by the kisses, that she had actually told her to have a wonderful time there by the end of that evening.
It wasn't many people who could change her usually very fixed mind-set- it was impressive, and made her want to kiss Bonnie even more.

"I'll keep the bags in my room, and go see her-"

Perhaps she would finally have the guts to officially ask her to be her girlfriend. It had been almost a year since their first kiss- but they had not defined anything about them.

Susan wanted to be with her, in whichever ways possible- and she hoped that Bonnie felt the same.

"Mum said to go into the sitting room." Peter said firmly- and Lucy was now hugging Jill, too, though they had only spoken once before. "There's to be an announcement."
And the sooner the announcement was done with, the sooner he and Edmund and Lucy and Eustace and Jill- and Sanya, if she wanted- could go up to his room, and he would hear all about Narnia, about his home. He needed to know how it was, how Caspian was, and if the world was alright and at peace.

"Oh, the room smells all of smoke right now." Helen came out of the drawing room, fanning at herself. "I burnt one of the pies. I've opened the windows-"

Edmund groaned, "It's December, Mum, it's too cold to-"

She ignored her son, "It should stop smelling like a dozen people lit cigars in it, soon. I suggest you make your announcement now-"
She noticed the many bags on the floor, right next to her eldest daughter, and her eyes narrowed.
"Susan Eileen Pevensie, do not tell me you bought all that."

"Oh, they're Christmas decorations, Mum." Lucy said quickly- they were! Mostly.
Susan had shopped a bit after signing up for the course- but- well. No matter the ever-growing rift between them, she just didn't want her sister in hot water right before Christmas. Christmas was a happy time!
"Su and I were thinking of setting up from tonight."
She turned to Edmund, and poked him with her foot.
"Ed." She moved closer to their other siblings, deciding it was best to give him and her sister-in-law their space, for whatever they had to say. "You and Sanya have an announcement?"
Yes, she was taking a page from Su's book- changing the topic of conversation. But, also, she did want to know!

"Oh- yes, we do." Edmund nodded, sharing a look with his wife-girlfriend-fiancée. "Would you like to, Moonshine?"

She nodded- she hated telling people things, but this was such a happy news, she didn't mind at all- and took his hand, "We're back together-"

Peter scowled, and surreptitiously held out a few coins to Susan, who took them with a satisfied smirk.
It was the only interaction they had had in months.

"Have been since August-"

Susan sighed, and handed the coins to Lucy.

"And we're engaged." Sanya ended, grinning widely. Not at the others- she didn't even care that they were in the room. She smiled at and because of Edmund, because they would be husband and wife once more. "Wedding's on the thirteenth of May, hope to see you there."

Jill glanced at Eustace, "Did that last sentence rhyme?"

"No, Pole, obviously not." He shook his head, his eyes on the rest of his family.
Lucy was overcoming her shock and was starting to grin- Peter and Susan alternated between frowning, opening their mouths to say something, and then blinking very rapidly- and his uncle and aunt were plainly gaping at the newly-engaged couple.
His eldest and blondest cousin also seemed like he was about to yell. Or, possibly pass out.

As for Edmund and Sanya, they seemed entirely unbothered by the effect of what they had just announced, and they were looking at each other, loving little smiles on their faces.

Eustace resisted the urge to wrinkle his nose at the couple, and he sighed again, internally this time.

Perhaps he had chosen the wrong day to tell his fellow Narnian friends the tale of the Silver Chair, and about Prince Rilian, and everything else that had transpired during his and Jill's time in Narnia.
--

Maude pressed her lips into a thin line, as she looked over to the giggling pair on the sofa.
What exactly was so funny about wedding invitations? She truly did not understand.
She coughed daintily- but it was enough for the couple to stop giggling. Even the groom-to-be's mother stopped speaking.

"Sorry, Mrs. Rainsford." Helen said nervously, wondering if she had been talking for too long. "Had you something to say?"

She fixed a withering stare at her, and the mother of four gulped for the sixth time that afternoon.
Maude hid a smile. It was terribly fun to be feared! And everyone feared her- very satisfying.
"Sanya, sit properly." She said sharply, turning to look at her granddaughter. As usual, she sat with her legs spread wide, bobbing one of them uncontrollably. She'd told her so many times to sit like a lady! "You are inviting people to your wedding, not to look inside your skirt."

Sanya blinked- and looked at Edmund.
And then they burst into giggles again.

Maude sighed to herself.
Well, everyone except Sanya.

Edmund, in midst of his laughter, remembered what his mother had told him, to behave himself in front of his future grandmother-in-law- and he quickly collected himself.
It was all fine for Sanya to be a troublemaker, but he did not want to give Maude any more reasons to dislike him. She already had a plethora of them.
"I like the- Guinevere one." He said, leaning ahead to pick up the card with the font he'd said. "It's intricate, and I like the floral flourish around the letters."

Maude and Helen both looked at him, with a strange look in their eyes. Surprise- and suspicion?
What kind of boy liked picking out fonts, after all- and floral ones at that?

But the couple did not even notice their looks.

"Of course you like Guinevere, Edmund Arthur." Sanya said teasingly, tapping her foot against his.
He blinked- before blushing. He hadn't even realised the connection.
"But- wh-what about- Exton?"
She picked up another card.
"It's classic- and slanted words look neater-"

He shrugged, "I'd go for pretty over neat at a wedding."

"True, true." She nodded, setting down that card, and taking the one he was carrying. He was right- it was elegant, and there was something fairytale-ish about the flowers wrapped around the letters.

It was strange, doing this.

Not marrying Edmund- no, that was overwhelmingly right- but actually planning this.

They had had two weddings before- but they had had no hand in planning the first, and in the second, they had chosen only the location.
And she had had some say in her outfits for both- he probably had, too- but, beyond that, nothing.

Some parts of wedding planning was fun- she gave credit where it was due. Watching Helen put forward ideas, all of them continuously shot down by Maude, tickled her.
Deciding bridesmaids and groomsmen- if those were the words, she didn't know, because there hadn't been such in Rihaaya- had been enjoyable, too.
She didn't know if Edmund learning and playing the Wedding March for her on New Year's yesterday had been part of wedding planning, but she'd absolutely loved that.

But, overall, it was tiring and too much. She didn't CARE about the texture of the envelopes! She did NOT bother about whether her flower bouquet would be tied with ribbons or not. She didn't like hearing the not-so-subtle digs that Maude and Helen kept making about her figure and skin colour- Edmund kept trying to steer the conversation away from what they'd wear, but it was difficult to change the topic with Maude.

And she couldn't choose between cream fillings for the cake! They all tasted wonderful!

She wished her mother was here, again- if not to help her with the decisions, than to just be by her side. Her father, and her Bhai as well. She just wanted to be with them again.

But since they weren't, she also wished that Susan swooped down and took hold of all the planning. Sanya was not an organiser by nature, and all this just proved it.

She was the bride-to-be, she knew- but she disliked this.

She looked at Edmund again, catching his eye, and turned her lips down. She had no doubt that he was as tired as she was.

He was. Sure, he liked paperwork, and it was satisfying to choose exactly the best envelopes for the occasion- but he was eighteen years old, he was in love, and he itched to get them both out of here.

They had a second chance- or, was it third?- and he didn't want to waste it.
He had not been expecting to spend the day-after-New-Year's surrounded by thousands of cards with different fonts stamped on them- but, well, he was a pivotal part of the wedding. He figured he and Sanya ought to have some say in this third wedding.

But, now- he envied their weddings in Rihaaya and Narnia, because they hadn't had to work on them there.

Maude and his mother had quite graciously let them be involved in every step of the planning- which had been a surprise to both the bride-to-be and the groom-to-be, since they'd both been certain they would be pushed to the side and asked only to show up on the day of.

Edmund had a sneaking suspicion that they had been asked to partake in the planning just so they realised how much work it was- which would consequently make them also realise how much work a marriage would be.
Consequently, they'd call off this 'asinine, idiotic, impulsive bit of tomfoolery'.

They weren't his words. They were Maude's.

"Grandmother?"

Maude glanced up from the magazine she was reading- her granddaughter was standing before there, holding hands with that boy, and then she looked back down at the review of the current play at the West End.
"What is it, child?"

Sanya swallowed, and shared a look with Bonnie, who was seated on the armchair beside the center-table.

That was much less hostile than any of them had expected- frankly, she had expected Maude to throw something heavy at Edmund as soon as she saw that they were holding hands.

But they had procrastinated enough. They had gotten engaged on the ninth of August, and it was the nineteenth of December now- they had come back from school two days ago, and they had yet to tell anyone!

Except Mina, but that did not count, and Bonnie, but she was an exception, since she was her best friend. They really did have to start telling people soon, otherwise Edmund would die from the torture of keeping such a thing secret from his siblings.

She nudged Edmund's elbow, and he looked down at her in surprise.
'Tell her!'

'What? But you said-'

'Please!'

Her eyes were pleading, and he realised again how impossible it was for him to tell her no.
"Mrs. Rainsford." Edmund said calmly, squeezing Sanya's hand tight for assurance and support. "Sanya and I are back together-"

She glanced up from her magazine again, looking extremely unsurprised. It had been bound to happen sooner or later- the children loved each other too much.
"Shocking."

He swallowed- and he looked at Sanya again. She looked as nervous as he felt, but she smiled encouragingly at him, shifting even closer.
"And we're engaged." He spoke, still in the calm tone- though he had never felt less so. "We're getting married in May."

Maude went still.

"Alright. That's my cue to leave." Bonnie said quietly, setting down her slate- she had been trying out charcoal. "I'll call Su up on the telly..."

As she walked out of the drawing room- after patting Sanya's arm reassuringly- the moderately-newly once-married-and-now-engaged couple looked at the old lady.

For a long few moments, she did not move a muscle- and once again, Sanya thought she really had died.

But then she put down her magazine and looked at them, her jaw set.

And she had promptly thrown many, many, many choice words and phrases about every quality of his, and about Sanya's intelligence, and about the marriage-to-be, how it was reckless and stupid and wrong and heedless and too soon and life-ruining- and then she had finally ended with her opinion that her granddaughter deserved much better, and if he actually cared about her, he would let her go.

Edmund had faltered, his heart sinking- and Sanya had told him to leave, her fists clenched.
He'd wanted to get away, too, so he had done as she said- and the moment he closed the door, he'd heard her shouting.

A week after, Maude and Sanya had come over to the Pevensie house. The old lady had not apologised, but she had said curtly that she would be happy to help with the wedding.

"I think," Helen spoke up, "we should get one important thing out of the way before we go into things like who'll walk the bride down the aisle, and where the reception will be."

Maude cocked her white-grey head at her, "Do tell, Helen."

Helen avoided her gaze, and looked at her son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law. She couldn't believe her little boy was getting married- frankly, she was sure she'd never be able to wrap her head around it.
"Where." She said simply. "The choice of venue is the first thing to decide, really."

"Wherever Sanya wants." Edmund shrugged, looking at his beloved. "Er- as long as it's within budget."
Another thing he envied. They'd had no restrictions in Narnia. They didn't limit themselves- they could do as they wished, for they had all the money they needed.
But here- here, he was looking for jobs. He had hoped to become a teaching assistant- but, apparently, undergraduate students couldn't be that. There had to be other on-campus jobs- he would take anything, really.
He would ask professors- about the teaching assistant position, as well as for other jobs- as soon as classes started on the twenty-first. He needed the money to buy a home, and then for Sanya and he to finally have the life they had lost.

"You let me worry about the budget, boy." The old lady practically glared at him.
But her icy eyes softened as she looked to her granddaughter- and there was almost the hint of a smile.
"I think the venue ought to be up to the bride."

"Oh-" Sanya hadn't expected that in the least, "er, I don't know- I haven't really-"
She should have let Bonnie and Susan plan the wedding. They would plan it well- especially if Lucy and Mina helped- but, more than that, they would not put her on the spot, or drive her up the wall with decisions, or ask her anything beyond what flowers she wanted!

Maybe she should lie and say that Bonnie was coming back from Manchester that day, instead of two days later- she could slip out of the house under the guise of going to the train station.

But it wasn't like she could find a Bonnie lookalike to be next to her for the next two days...

"P-perhaps- um- out-"

Helen cut her off gently, "The church George and I got married at would be wonderful. I know you won't be converting, but I'm sure they'll be happy to have the wedding there."

Edmund snorted, "Very kind of them."
But it would be wise, having it there- they wouldn't have to spend any money on seating or on decorations for the wedding itself! And churches were always more affordable than other venues, especially when the ones booking the church were from a very Christian family, as his was.

Hopefully, Christian enough that they wouldn't make a fuss about his bride not being Christian or English.

And he'd like having it in a church. Since Narnia, his faith had grown more and more important to him. He wasn't a zealot, and nor was he pious- he did rather like reading parts of the Bible, though- but he had unwavering belief and hope in God. And Sanya's revelation that Aslan was Jesus Christ in this world- that had only deepened his connection to his religion.

"It's St. Mary's-" She wished George was here, he would be able to sell its virtues better than she could, "not too far from here- oh, Ed, funnily enough, it's in Hendon Lane-"

He did not find it funny.
"Wait, the old church near the Finchley Library?" Her son asked, frowning. "You and Dad married there?"

"Yes, we-"

"Why don't we go to church there?" He asked curiously. "Is it still open?"

"Of course it is. But our church is closer." She spoke with a shrug. "It's not easy to cart four young children to a church all the way across town, my son."
But then she smiled brightly.
"Of course, if you and Sanya end up settling in Finchley, you can attend-"

"Not Christian." Sanya said flatly. Or religious, for that matter. "In case you forgot."

"Don't." Maude spoke warningly, as Helen opened her mouth to reply. "The Lord knows I've asked Sanya to officially convert many, many times-"

"Scolded, you mean."

Her grandmother paid her no heed, "But her faith is her wish. Your son has no problem with that-"

Edmund was alarmed at being brought into the conversation- but he nodded at once, saying, "I don't, at all."

Maude gave him a look that was almost approving, before looking at his mother, who looked chastised.
"Then you shouldn't, either."

There was a very awkward silence after that, and Helen couldn't figure out whom to apologise to first.

But, before she could, Sanya said, "We can have the wedding at the church. It's fine."
Edmund cared about his faith- and it would make him happy. That was what mattered. And she herself didn't care about the venue- it wasn't really important, was it?
Her future mother-in-law may have said it was- but as long as Edmund was there, and the other people she loved who still lived, she would be happy to walk down the wedding aisle anywhere.

Which- reminded her that she had to do something.

She got to her feet, and walked out of the sitting room without a word.

"Moonshine-" Edmund followed her into the foyer of the Rainsford house, "I'm sorry about Mum-"

Sanya shook her head, reaching the coat-stand- thankfully, she had not taken her coat up into her room after coming back from the picnic with the Pevensie siblings yesterday.
Her laziness of yesterday was quite of use today.
"Relax, Edmund. I truly don't mind having a church wedding."

Well, that sent him for a toss.
"But you said- you said 'out', I heard- didn't you?"

She pulled the violet coat off the stand, pulled it on herself, and turned.
"It's true, I did imagine us getting married- again-" She added with a grin, and he laughed, "In the outdoors."
She had thought of a beach- Brighton, perhaps, because it would be a happier time this time. But wearing heels on a beach, and all the sand getting over their clothes- no, thank you.
Then she'd thought of a park, somewhere. It would never compare to the gardens at Cair Paravel, but it would be nice.
"But I don't mind having it at a church. And I know you'll like that-"

Edmund looked sorry, "Yes, but that doesn't mean- Sanya, you shouldn't have to give up-"

"I'm not giving up anything." Sanya said firmly, and took his hand. "I don't care where we get married. I don't need- anything fancy, or traditional, or both, or anything else. I just need you."

Seriously, if he wasn't already married to her and marrying her again, he would have proposed then and there.
"I love you." He spoke against her lips, and he felt her lips curve into a smile. "My Moonshine."

"I love you, too, husband." She kissed him again- it was a quick peck, though she wanted to kiss him longer. She wanted to kiss him endlessly. "I'm heading over to yours, do you want to come with?"

"Yes." And he reached for his own coat. "Anything to escape having to pick linens for tablecloths."
He half-hoped that there was no reception!

She cringed, "I think it's plates next."

"Aslan help us."
--

"Peter."

The eldest Pevensie put down his pen, and turned around to face the doorway.
"Hey, bitchy bride." He grinned. "Do they not knock in Rihaaya?"

Sanya rolled her eyes, crossing into the room, "Door was open."

"No, it w-"
Wait, he had gone down to get a glass of milk- and he could not remember closing the door when he'd come back up.
"Doesn't matter." He spoke quickly, flushing, and she snorted. "What's up? Wedding planning done for the day?"

"Don't even." She sighed, plopping down on Edmund's bed.
It was strange to think- but a couple more weeks, and this room would be so different. Save for the days when the brothers came back from university- the bedroom would become an empty space.
She didn't want to imagine how Peter had felt, and how Edmund would feel- but then she didn't have to imagine it. That was because she had already felt it, in another world, a thousand years ago, when she had been only sixteen.
T'was felt and was a lifetime ago.
"What are you doing?"

"Some holiday homework."

"Twenty-one and still doing homework, hm?"

The twinkle in her eyes heartily annoyed him, and Peter rolled his eyes, "Shut up."
He knew that wasn't the most intelligent retort- and he knew that it would just give the teenager more material to mock him with- but studying about metabolic pathways had all but fried his brain.

Sanya did shut up for a moment, much to his surprise.
But when she spoke again, he was even more surprised.
She cracked the joints in her fingers, her gaze flickering between the floor and him- and she asked, "Will you walk me down the aisle?"

If Peter had still been holding his pen, he would have dropped it.
"What?"

He was definitely going to say no. She just knew it.
"You know." She said, looking uncomfortable.
Oh, she hated asking people for anything! Who even came up with the stupid tradition of 'giving away' the bride?
She had disliked it in Rihaaya, though her parents had told her that it was more that they were guiding her to a different part of her life. It had not stopped her dislike of it there, and she disliked it here, too- in fact, even more now, for she didn't have her parents to be by her side!
"They do it back in our world, and in this world, too- you take my arm- and you lead me down the pathway- whatever it's called- and that leads to-"

Being infuriating by being obtuse truly was a special talent.
"Is this a joke?" His blue eyes had gone from wide to narrowed. "April Fools isn't for three more months-"

She didn't understand, "Why would it be a joke?"

And- that stumped him.
Why- apart from their mocking relationship with each other, which might mean that she was pulling his leg- was it so hard for him to believe? What reason was there?
"I- I don't know." His voice had become quieter- unsure. "Why- why me?"

"Why not you?"

"Sanya." He looked at her- his brows were creased, but there was sudden tenderness in his eyes. "Why?"

"Because-" Sanya's nose started to burn, and she had to look at the floor, because she wouldn't let him see her in tears, "because you're my family- the only family I have left."
She took a quiet, shuddering breath, and sniffled. Oh, for fuck's sake. She really had not thought she would be crying today- and definitely not in front of her brother-in-law.
"And w-when I was told about this- this tradition-" a tiny, twisted smile blossomed on her face, "you were the first person I thought of."
Well, the first who was alive.
"I then thought it was only right that I ask- ask- um- if I ask Susan and Lucy, too- but Maude said- Maude said it should be a man."

Her grandmother had looked quite vexed as she had told her that, and Sanya'd had the strange suspicion that she had wanted to walk her down herself.
She probably would have asked her- but she couldn't change 'tradition', even ones steeped in misogyny. She wasn't High Queen here.

She had risked enough by asking to have Clarke be one of her bridesmen, and Edmund had put his foot down on having his sisters as groomsmaids.

Bonnie, Mina, Clarke, and Meghan would stand on her side, and Peter, Susan, Lucy, and Eustace on his.

"I don't mind that, truly. Having only you by my side down the aisle. It shocked me, but turned out I don't absolutely hate the thought of it being you."
She looked up, finally, to see Peter staring at her, an inscrutable look on his face. He liked the sound of his voice, so why in the world was he keeping mum? Oh, she felt like punching him and making it scrutable.

"I know you're Ed's best man, and that might clash- I don't know, is the best man supposed to be doing something while the bride walks to the groom? I truly have no idea- your mother tries to explain and describe, but it completely flies over my head-" just like everything in school, she joked to herself, in the middle of this inane ramble, "you know, I was thinking of sneaking into a wedding and seeing how it all plays out, just so I have actual-"

She was cut off by Peter striding to her, and wrapping his arms around her in a tight hug.

It was a warm, loving, fierce hug- but Sanya went ramrod straight, and something deep and naïve inside her panicked.

Something- someone so very young.

As he hugged her harder, she felt a scream erupt in her throat- but it wouldn't leave her mouth, it wouldn't be heard.

Off! She wanted to sob. Get off me! Stop touching me!

Actions spoke louder than words.

Sanya pushed Peter off, beginning to shake.

Aa Peter staggered to his feet, taken completely aback by his sister-in-law's violent gesture, Sanya retreated away, further from him, almost to the very corner of the bed.
She was hugging herself, one hand laid protectively against her chest- and her eyes burned as hotly as her nose.

"Sanya-" Peter breathed, unsure- but rapidly becoming sure, "Sanya, I'm so- I'm-"

"Moonshine." Edmund was there then- yes, he had been listening from the top of the staircase. He hadn't even needed to come near the door, because his wife-girlfriend-fiancée's voice was loud, and Peter's was almost as audible. "Darling, it's alright."
He neared his bed, where she sat, but did not sit down on it- and he stayed well away from anywhere near Sanya, because he didn't want to make her spiral further by accidentally touching her.

Sanya felt paralysed. And she had felt so scared, so very scared for one centurial moment. She knew it wasn't him- that it wasn't Rabadash- but for one- one small- a tiny sliver of a second- the touch of someone she loved had felt like the touch of the man who had violated her.

"Sanya." Edmund spoke clearly, and she finally looked up, her lips trembling. "Sanya Reza, High Queen of Rihaaya. Sanya Reza, Sultana of Azraq."
Her shaking started to lessen, and he knelt beside where she sat.
"You're alright. You're safe." He said softly. "You can protect yourself."

She nodded jerkily, her eyes closing- she was still breathing hard.

"Ed." The once-Magnificent's voice was low, tremulous. Scared. "What-"

"This happens sometimes." He murmured back. "It's really quite rare- and I don't think she quite remembers all of it after."

As far as he knew, they had only happened twice during their marriage.

The first had been after the Calormen donkey's visit to Cair- he remembered the first time, when he had been driven almost to tears as he had woken up to Sanya sniffling, her whole body rocking back and forth, and she had kept murmuring, 'no' over and over again, and he had been unable to calm her.

The second had been after Selene was born, at the first royal event the adorable infant had been taken to. Some high-born had made an offhand compliment that 'the young Princess would be quite the marvel to marry', as she was a Narnian and Rihaayan heir, and then Sanya had pushed her way through the crowd to somewhere deserted, leaving their baby with Edmund.

He had found her, soon after, on the roof. She hadn't been saying anything this time, but she had been trembling as she looked up at the stars, and she had pulled the front of her gown so high the neckline reached her nose.

Sanya knew they happened. She had told him that she knew, but she tried to not think of them- and she hardly remembered what she said or did during the moments.

"They never happen, more or less, but if they do, I'm always alright at the end of it." Sanya said, pulling on her husband's red sleep-shirt.
Now that she had her baby bump- it felt so odd!- the shirt was more snug than it ever had been, but she was not going to give it up until she was big as a ship.

She reached out across the bed to take Edmund's hand- he had been looking at her, a soft and worried look in his dark, dark eyes. Because of Jem, she already knew he would be a good father- but now with her pregnancy, she had never been surer of anything as she was of this.

"And you know how my memory is. Until the next one happens, I forget they happen at all."

She had spoken with a little laugh, and he lifted her hand and laid a kiss on her palm.

Her eyes softened, too, and she shifted closer, before pressing her lips to his.

Slowly- but not hesitantly- Sanya inched her hand closer to where her beloved sat.

He took her hand, holding it gingerly until she herself grasped it hard- and they sat there, in quiet- Edmund watching intently, and Sanya's breathing eased with every passing second.

And the first word she said was, "Sorry."

The brothers burst out at once, "You don't need to-"

"Chup." She felt so tired suddenly. Even more than usual.
She needed to get into her own bed. She wished Edmund could stay over with her- if ever she needed him as the big spoon- holding her, comforting her- it was tonight.

She had felt alright for a good few months- but she couldn't feel it all the time.
She would always be broken, damaged, a mess. She would always feel pain.

But she could feel good things, too.

"Sorry-" she wanted her big brother-in-law to hug her again, but perhaps she should take some time, "I'm sorry, Peter."

Peter didn't know what to say- he had felt- he had felt as paralysed as she had seemed to be.
He should've been able to help! He was High King- a big brother- and he was studying to be a doctor, after all!
But he had not been able to do anything. He had just stood there, as his brother had taken care of the girl they both cared for so deeply.

But he could do something now.

He could make her smile.

He knelt beside her, too, and held out his hand to her.
When she took it with her other hand, he grinned a little, "I'd be honoured to walk you down the aisle, sister."

Sanya smiled.
--

"See, now, this was a good birthday." Sanya said, as she leaned against her closed bedroom door and grinned at Bonnie, who was leaning against the bannister. "Much better than that stupid soiree Grandmother kept trying to get me to agree to."

"I know you don't like birthdays, and I hate growing up, but we both know that turning eighteen is an important event." The older girl shrugged. They had just come up the stairs, chatting all the way, but their talk was far from over. "No wonder Maude was trying to organise something like that."

Sanya did not like how friendly Maude and Bonnie were. So chummy, in fact, that Maude had suggested her to be her maid of honour even before Sanya had. Because she'd said it first, now every time the topic of the maid of honour came back, the once-High Queen of Rihaaya had to keep stubbornly reminding her grandmother that making Bonnie the maid of honour had been her own idea, not anyone else's.

She then gave her best friend a knowing look, "Besides, the only reason you liked today is because of the animals."

She yawned, "Tell me something I don't know, Bonita."
They'd gone to the zoo- obviously she had enjoyed the animals most. They were the main attractions!
Though they shouldn't be attractions- they ought to be free.

She rolled her eyes- but her next words were more somber than the action would have entailed.
"You shouldn't have punched that fellow."

Sanya pursed her lips, "He insulted you."

"He just said that I look like a boy-"

"Which- one, you don't. Two, men are usually less attractive than women-" she was very bad at science, but that was science, she was sure, "so, it was definitely an insult."

She smiled a little. Though she did not want her best friend to get into fistfights on her behalf- it was really, really, really heart-warming to know the lengths someone would go to in order to help and protect and defend her.
"But you've promised Edmund fifteen or twenty times that you won't fight."

Yes, she had, but these were extenuating circumstances, for sure. Also, Edmund found her violence sexy. She doubted he would mind that she'd been in a fight. Honestly, the only thing he would mind was that he hadn't been there to spectate or join her in the fighting.
"I punched the man once, and he ran away, crying. That was not a fight."

Bonnie gave a mock-sigh- before laughing out loud, apparently having remembered something.
"Even after that- I still can't believe they gave you a job!"

"Well." Sanya smiled rather nervously. She fiddled with the glasses she had clutched in one hand- she had taken them off, as they had been misted from the cold January air outside. "I'm still not entirely sure if they were being serious or not."

"Mate, you had a whole meeting with one of the zookeepers-"

Sanya had almost thrown up out of anxiety during it.

"And they told you to start next Monday, I'm quite sure it was serious."

"But I don't understand why-"

"Because you coaxed the tiger into its cage when even the feeder person couldn't. And you weren't even in the enclosure!" Bonnie shook her head, honestly flabbergasted by how unwilling Sanya was to accept that she was extraordinary. "They should've made you Head Zookeeper, not just an assistant one."

"I like tigers." She said, her voice rather small.
How could she not like them- especially since a tiger, who had been a beloved support for years, had died protecting her? Oh, Tolland...
But a very amusing thought occurred to her suddenly, and she laughed.
"Maude's going to flip when she finds out I will be working in a zoo."

"She'll flip knowing you're working at all."

"True." She conceded- as far as her grandmother was concerned, the working class were all poor. It didn't even matter if they made more than the money they had- they worked, and so, they were poor. "But it'll help in the long run, even if it doesn't pay much."

"Every penny counts." She said sagely, nodding. "Especially for a new bride and a new groom and their new marriage."

"Shut up." She rolled her eyes- but the blush that dusted her cheeks made her best friend wink at her. "No, seriously. As far as Ed and I are concerned, we've been married for almost as long as we've known each other. This wedding just makes it official."
Of course, Bonnie didn't know just how true and real that was. They really had been married for almost as long as they had known each other- not feeling, but fact.
"By the way." She sounded so cheerful, Bonnie looked alarmed. "Since the best man will be walking me down the aisle, you'll be walking down with Susan."

Bonnie choked on air.
"W-wh-what?"

"Susan." Sanya repeated, unperturbed. "The girl you kissed the Christmas of 1944, and the one you've been in a relationship wi-"

"Sanya!"

"Oh, fine, going steady with-" What exactly was the difference? Nothing! They were girlfriends either way. "Since December of 1945."
Yes, December of 1945 had been last month, but saying that didn't sound dramatic enough.

It had been quite random and abrupt. Susan had come over the day before Bonnie had been supposed to go home, and they had spent the afternoon walking around the town- and they'd decided to take advantage of the fact that society considered girls and young women to always be quite close and affectionate with each other, and had held hands the whole time.

Susan had been complaining about the sudden rise in the popularity of fur coats, and Bonnie had been listening intently- when, suddenly, the former had broken off, and looked into Bonnie's eyes.

She'd asked, her eyes almost silver in the sunlight, whether she wanted to 'go steady' with her.

Bonnie, obviously, had said yes. She'd almost yelled yes, in fact.

"O-kay." She said, still a bit confused. "But we're both girls. Won't other people mind?"
Holding hands in public was one thing- but walking down the aisle together during a wedding in a church was entirely different.

"Are you joking? They'll just call you very good fr-fruh-" Sanya yawned again, "friends. And I don't care about what other people mind or think."
She had yawned five times since entering the front door. Clearly, the afternoon at the zoo, and then fish and chips at a pub with Bonnie and Mina, had absolutely tired her out.
She said good night to Bonnie, who grinned and wished her happy birthday once more before heading to her room- and Sanya made her way inside her bedroom, too.

Her room, oddly enough, wasn't in darkness.

Usually, it was dark when she was out- even though she had repeatedly told Maude to tell Ella to keep the lights on in her room when it was after nightfall- but tonight, it wasn't.

A golden glow came from a lamp at her desk- it wasn't much light, but it was enough that her eyes needed to become adjusted to the change in illumination-

"But, soft," A voice spoke suddenly, and Sanya's hands sprung up, already in fists and ready to fight back- even though the voice was soft, and husky, and had an accent, "what light through yonder window breaks?"

"What-" She squinted at her bed, where she could see a pale figure under her lavender blanket, "Edmund? What are you doing here?"
Since he was alive and seemed unmutilated, she assumed he had not walked in through the front door- he must've climbed in through the window.
But why was he here at all? He ought to have been in his dorm, going to bed early to get a good night's sleep before classes!

And- her eyesight had improved much, but it was still a bit blurry without glasses- was he holding something?

A book?

As she neared her bed, he spoke again, "It is the east-"

"It's the twentieth- you have classes from tomorrow! We dropped you off at Cambridge just yesterday."

They had been kissing while waiting on the platform for the train, arms around his neck and his around her waist, quite uncaring about the crowd.
They had also kissed- and perhaps more- for almost the entire train ride.
They'd had the entire carriage to themselves, probably because of that very reason.

It had been a very nice journey.

She tried to not think of the moment that had come soon after, when Edmund had walked into the university, and she'd watched him leave again.
"It's not even been two days- Heavens, darling, even I would have lasted longer!"
Perhaps it was a good thing he was here? She could tell him she got a- low-paying, but still- job!

She could see a scowl on his face- and yes, he was holding a thin book, she wasn't completely blind yet, apparently- but he continued speaking in that same low, sultry tone, "It is the east, and Juliet is the Moon."

Heavens. Was he shirtless? He was! He was!
She could not see his freckles in the dark- but, yes, he was shirtless! She could be entirely blind and still know it.
"Ed." She said suspiciously- but it was hard to be suspicious, when she could feel her throat go dry- and other parts of her body become wet.
Good Heavens, his accent...
"Are you reading Romeo and Juliet to me?"

He nodded- the only indicator apart from his previous scowl that he was listening to her- and went on, "Arise, glowing Moon, and kill the envious sun."

Oh, he had- he had changed the sun to- to- because of- because of her- because she was his Moonshine!

And he was shirtless. And possibly- probably- more.

And he was reading.
He was reading to her. With that achingly attractive accent.

Had there been anything sexier, ever?

Her hands went to the buttons of her blouse- she had so stupidly worn trousers today! They took longer to take off, fuck!
The longer she was clothed, the more delayed enjoying her birthday present would be.

"Go on." Sanya said, already at the third button- he sat up straighter, and the book slipped out of his hands. "Oh, Romeo, Romeo. Wherefore art thou, Romeo?"

The play was not either’s favourite- not by a long shot- but it did include some quotations that were very apt for this very situation.

"And none but fools wear it." Edmund's eyes gleamed, as he took in more and more of her naked chest. He had to restrain himself from jumping up and pulling her down onto him. "Cast it off!"

She had a feeling that he had skipped a few lines- but she did not care.

He was reading to her. He was reading to her to seduce her.

She was in awe. She was in utter, pure, besotted awe. What had she done to deserve this- to deserve him?

She wrenched the blouse off herself, and then the bra- she was now exactly at the foot of the bed, only a few inches away from her darling.
"Does-dost thou love me?" She couldn't remember if that was even from the same scene- or even the same book- honestly, she didn't even know how she was able to remember a single quote.
But it did not matter, not when all of her trembled and throbbed for him, to be close to him, to be one with him.
"And I will take thy word, if thou swear'st."

"It is my lady- oh!" The last syllable wasn't simply what he was reciting, it was a very real exclamation- for his wife-girlfriend-fiancée had pulled down her trousers and knickers at once, leaving her naked and bathed in the dim glow of the lamp. "It- it is my love."

It took a few moments for Sanya to say her part- because her husband-boyfriend-fiancé had pulled her blanket to the side, inviting her into bed- and she had seen that she'd been right.
He wasn't just shirtless. She could see the star-like freckles better- the stars all over his toned, supple body.
"Ere I was ware," She climbed into bed, their hands instantly on each other as she snuggled closer to him, "My true love's passion-"

True love. Yes, she was his true love. The love of his life.
Cambridge or not, he couldn't possibly have missed her birthday.
"Happy Birthday, Moonshine." He whispered, kissing her and swallowing the rest of her words, as he rested his palms on her ample breasts.

Her eyes rolled back as one of his hands moved down from her chest to begin working between her thighs, and she breathed heavily.
Oh, Heavens be kind. She was going to explode. Edmund's fingers and mouth were extraordinary.

Edmund grinned, his teeth against the skin of her throat, "Oh, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?"
He was only being mischievous, of course. Just seeing her- naked or clothed- was enough to satiate and please him- and Sanya was always very, very enthusiastic to do more than that, too.
He felt her body relax against him a minute later, and he smiled wider. He pulled his fingers out of her, giving her hot clit one final rub- she almost whimpered, and he kissed her again.

What a tease.
She loved him so much.
As she felt herself clench around his fingers again, she breathed hard, and wrapped her fingers around his hard cock.
"Stay but a little," Sanya murmured into his mouth, and he started violently- they drew even closer to each other as her stroking pushed him nearer and nearer to the edge, "I will come again."

-
-✧･: °*✧*°:･✧-
-

Malina Weissmann as Jill Pole

-

(Sometime before the wedding-
Maude: Child, I think that boy might be a bit of a- a homosexual.
Sanya: Oh, that's no problem, Grandmother, I am, too!)

-

(Was this not them at the Christmas party before their first kiss? 🤔🤭)
-

Okay, so, apparently I was wrong, there WERE more sex scenes in the 30s chapters.

And what a sex scene. I mean, who among us hasn't got a little hot and bothered reading some hot smut, or been overwhelmed by some love quote?
Now, imagine a dark-haired, sarcastic, freckled boy reading a romance dialogue to you, while being naked in your bed? On your birthday?????

*insert Santana from Glee fanning herself gif*

I was unsure about using the Romeo and Juliet dialogue, because it's just so overdone and overused- tbh, I really wanted some smutty lines for Edmund to read. But unfortunately, save for Lady Chatterly's Lover, there's not much popular smut to be found in the 1940s. Not like AO3 and Tumblr existed back then. How did they even live?

I had forgotten that Eustace calls Jill 'Pole'- I don't ship them, but I adore the trope of calling someone unwaveringly important to you by their last name. I don't know why, but it's awesome.
And yeah, Eustace canonically grows as tall as Will Poulter in real life to me. Idc. It's canon now.

And, yeah, Lucy won the bet about when Edmanya would get back together. She mentioned in a previous chapter that she had bet that it would be 'sooner rather than later'- and she was right.
Peter and Susan, read it and WEEP.

The font chosen by Edmund is actually the Geraldine font, but I decided to rename it because it's the 1940s and I thought I could change some stuff.
So, it became Guinevere- I had to put in an Arthurian reference there, I HAD TO.

Remember how Edmund was worried that Sanya was one of those flighty, silly, spoiled Princesses? And now look.
Her wedding day, a day which everyone says is the most special thing ever- and all Sanya wants is Edmund. Nothing fancy, nothing expensive, nothing much- just him.
To be fair, this IS her third wedding day. I imagine excitement about venues and shit goes out the wedding after the second.

Maude terrorising Helen without even really doing anything is so funny 💀💀 what a menace. We stan.
She may have issues with her granddaughter, but there is no way in Hell she will let anyone belittle or demean her. Fire and blood if anyone DOES.
Literally, the only reason Edmund is probably still alive is because Sanya loves him.

Bonnie and Susan will walk down the aisle together. As they should. AS THEY SHOULD. Sanya consistently an ally, in whatever way she can be. We love it. We love you, bicon. We love Bonnie-and-Susan.
Need a ship-name for them, yikes. Um. Berkensie? Pevenley? Bonsan and Sunnie sounds..weird. But kinda cute, too.

Of course Peter will walk Sanya down the aisle at the wedding. Of COURSE he will. Who else? It's perfect. PERFECT. He's her BRO. And the fact that he's so surprised- boy, do you not know that she considers you her family, bruh.

I forgot this chapter had the panic attack scene. Yeah, I know it's not been mentioned before- but, as stated, it's only happened twice that Edmund knows, and Sanya herself does her best to repress her memories of these moments. They don't personally happen to me, but- I can see it happening with Sanya. I'm glad she has Edmund- and Peter, in this instance- to comfort her.

Edmund is about to start university. No, I did not include the scene where Sanya goes goodbye to him as he's dropped off on campus- surely there have been enough scenes where they say goodbye to each other??? Why would I add more again.
Anyway, I do hope his uni life goes better than my current enrolment in university. I want to be in kindergarten again.
Also, Sanya's been out of school like a month, and she already has a job. She should give herself more credit.
I wish I had a job at the Zoo. But I would take any job that is low- and I mean LOW- effort.
Best job for me would be lying in bed.

And, as always- I humbly and unashamedly ask you to vote on the chapters, and perhaps comment, too :)