Otto watched his lover think for a moment before striding towards the water. He hung back with anxious but silent acceptance as the dark haired man's boots touched the surf and he trailed a hand in the water. The water flowing up around it towards the top of the wave. For a second Caspian stood there, then he turned around with wet vulnerable eyes and his gaze met Otto's. He stepped away from the water and came back to them. Otto reached out a hand and the other man took it, gently interlocking their fingers together. He would have gone with Caspian, if he had chosen it. He just needed to let the man make the decision himself.

"You are not going?" Edmund asked.

Caspian blinked the tears from his eyes and glanced over at the Pevensie children. "I can't imagine that my father would be very proud if I gave up what he died for". His voice was heavy with emotion. "I've sent too long thinking about what was taken from me and not what was given. I was given a kingdom. A people", he met Otto's eyes and squeezed their joint hands. "I was given love". Then he turned to Aslan. "I promise to be a better king".

"You already are", Aslan replied. Then the lion was turning to the rest of them. "Children".

"I think it's time we went home actually Lu", Edmund spoke up. Lucy blinked at her brother.

"But I thought you loved it here".

"I do", Edmund spoke with passion. "But I love home and our family as well. They need us". Lucy's face creased but anything she might have responded was interrupted but a soft cough. They all looked down as Reepicheep crawled across the sand towards Aslan.

The mouse removed the golden ring from around his ear and bowed. "Your eminence. Ever since I could remember I dreamt of seeing your country. I have had many great adventures in this world but nothing has dampened that yearning. I know I am hardly worthy but with you permission, I would lay down my sword for the joy of seeing your country with my own eyes".

"My country was made for noble hearts such as yours, no matter how small their bearers be".

Reepicheep lit up with joy. "Your majesty".

"No one could be more deserving". Caspian smiled at the mouse.

"It's true", Edmund bowed his head and the mouse bowed back.

"May you find many more adventures there", Otto wished as he also bowed his head. The mouse swept his arm in a bow.

Lucy was quiet as she stepped forwards and folded herself until she was knelling before him. "May I?" she asked.

"I suppose, just this once", Reepicheep replied before letting out a noise of surprise as Lucy promptly swept him up in a gentle hug. He chuckled as he hugged her back. "Goodbye Lucy". Then she was placing him back down and stepping away. Eustace taking her place. "Don't cry", Reepicheep soothed as the boy inclined his head.

"I do not understand", Eustace sniffed. "Will I not see you again? Ever?"

"What a magnificent puzzle you are. A true hero. It has been my honour to sight beside such a brave warrior and a great friend". Eustace let out a loud sniff and bowed to the small creature. Reepicheep bowed back and scampered towards the towering wave. A tiny boat, not much bigger than a basket, had appeared. Eustace stood and joined them as they watched the mouse stick his sword into the sand and push the boat out onto the wave. He hopped inside and took hold of the paddle. He looked back once as he was carried up with the current, before turning to see what was beyond as he crested the wave and vanished from sight. Eustace blinked back tears.

"This is our last time here isn't it", Lucy asked though they knew the answer.

"Yes", Aslan nodded. "You have grown up, my dear one. Just like Peter and Susan".

"Will you visit us in our world?" Lucy's voice cracked as she reached out a hand to run it through the lion's mane.

"I shall be with you, always".

"How?"

"In your world I have another name. You must learn to know me by it. That was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia. That for knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there".

"Will we meet again?"

"Yes, dear one. One day". Then Aslan was turning and tapping lose a roar that echoed over them. It parted the very waves and the water moved to circle round in a tunnel, the end of which they could not see.

The pevensie children stepped closer to where Caspian and Otto were standing. The two men had not let go of each other's hands the entire time and as Aslan turned to face him, Otto gripped tighter. "I don't want to go back. There is nothing for me there. Please don't send me back. I can't do that again". There was fear in his voice yet Aslan's answer was soothing and gentle.

"Do not fear young Otto. You belong here now. What happened last time was an anomaly that will not occur again. You can live your life here".

At his words Otto let loose a choked noise and arms were wrapping around him, Caspian pulling him into his hold as both men let out sighs of relief. The sandy brown haired man burying his face in the other's shoulder as he collected himself. After a second, he pulled away and smiled at the cousins watching him. He let Caspian go and held out his arms. Lucy made a sad noise and ran forwards to hug him. He pressed her close and smiled into her hair. She was so small, had always been so much smaller than him. "I shall see you again one day. All of you", he promised.

"Just not soon I hope", Edmund chuckled as he came forwards to let Otto wrap his second arm around the smaller boy's shoulders.

"Definitely not", Otto laughed. "Give my regards to Peter and tell him that he will forever be the chief of the SPH club". Edmund burst out laughing at the reminder of their old, half forgotten inside joke from their time in school. It felt like a lifetime ago, that time together in that London school for boys.

"I will remind him until the day we die", Edmund promised. "I am never telling Peter this, but you and Caspian are by far the cooler older brothers".

"That just because we are not blood related to you", Caspian grinned as he reached over to clap Edmund on the shoulder. "I have always considered you my family", his tone was loving and the pevensie children broke away from Otto to hug him. "And that includes you too Eustace", Caspian added as he reached over their shoulders to pat the blonde on the back.

Otto grinned at the youngest boy and gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. "You are family too. So feel free to remind Edmund every now and then that he is also a member of the SPH club no matter how much he tries to deny it".

"I made that club just for you and Peter remember?" Edmund huffed as he broke free from Caspian's hold, but there was a fond grin on his face and laughter in his voice. Lucy was giggling at them through her tears. 

"I really wanted to see you two get married", she complained as she stepped free from the hug. "I was the one who brought Otto here in the first place. I wanted to see you get married". 

"Well we could always get married right now", Caspian spoke up. "If Aslan would officiate and if he would have me". Otto blinked and they all turned to the lion. 

"It would be my honour", the lion nodded at them. "If he agrees".

"Of course I do". There was no hesitation in those words. Lucy squealed and clapped her hands together in delight. 

Caspian beamed and held out a hand. Otto laughed and took it, allowing himself to be pulled closer so that they were standing in front of the lion, both their hands clasped together and gazing into each other's eyes. "We shall have to have a bigger ceremony when we return", Otto muttered. "Since out witnesses will be leaving". 

"We can do that", Caspian agreed. "We shall throw a grand wedding for the people. But this is for us and our family". Otto's chest felt so light that he was not sure how he wasn't lifting into the air like a ballon. 

"I'm Caspian's best man", Edmund declared as he took a position next to the dark haired man. Lucy took the opposite position next to Otto and he beamed at her. He could ask for no one better. 

Aslan seemed to be smiling at them as he begun. "May I bless this union between Caspian the tenth, high king of Narnia and the lone isles, sea sailor and adventurer; and of Otto Birch, king of Narnia, lord of the forests and knight of the kings of old. May your cups never be empty and may your love never grow cold". He finished and there was a second as Caspian took a breath. Otto had been unable to take his eyes off the other man's face and he didn't want to. 

"Otto Birch. We met when I had nothing and you had a sword to my throat. You and this family came and gave me everything . You made me great and it is for you that I seek to be greater. A better king for my people and a better man for myself. I have learnt a lot with you and I aim to learn more. May I grow old with you and spend the rest of my life learning and exploring with you at my side. My love, my king, my husband". Caspian's accent curled around the words and Otto felt them warm him. Felt the truth in them and the promise. 

"Caspian. When we met I was confused, scared and ignorant of this world. You opened doors I did not even knew existed. You let me discover myself, through the pain and the joy. When I was lost, all I wanted was to come back to you. May you always find me and may you always help me be the person I can be for myself, for us and for the people we lead. I love the king, I love the prince and I love the man. May we grow old together", He was grinning so hard whilst speaking that his face was hurting but he didn't care. Caspian's hands were warm in his and those dark eyes reflected nothing but love. 

"May your union never be broken, may the blessings hold true", Aslan stated. "For I declare you husbands". Lucy, Eustace and Edmund began clapping as Otto caught Caspian around the waist as the long haired man captured his face in his hands and they both pulled each other into a deep and promising kiss. 

When they separated it was to hold their arms out for another round of hugs. Even Eustace was pulled into them this time, Otto squeezing the boy tight and Caspian ruffling blonde hair. Lucy was sobbing softly as she stepped away. "You will find love for yourself too", Otto whispered as he rubbed the tears from her cheeks. "I promise you". She nodded and pulled away for the last time. Edmund following her as they walked towards the tunnel in the waves. 

"Look after him!" Edmund called back. "You know what trouble he is". 

"I will!" Caspian replied. 

"And look after him too! You know what a prat he can be!" 

Otto laughed at Caspian's jokingly offended expression. "Too late to say no now! Aslan just blessed us". Edmund laughed but he was slightly too far away now for the noise of it to reach them. 

"Will I ever come back?" Eustace asked. 

"Narnia may have need of you again", Aslan responded. The blonde boy smiled at the newly wedded couple then turned after his cousins. 

He was halfway towards them before he stopped and turned to meet Otto's eyes. "You know", he muttered. "I finally understand what you meant when you tried to explain love to me all those weeks ago. Your love is beautiful and I hope to find the same someday". 

"I am sure you will", Otto grinned back. Then the blonde was running to join his cousins and they were walking into the mouth of the tunnel. The water closed up around them and they were gone. 

Otto let out a small sob and turned to his husband. He smiled at him through his tears and Caspian smiled sadly back. "I guess this is when we go home". He reached out his hands. A sentence he had been dying to say for the last year leaving his lips. "Caspian. Let's go back to our home. I am home and I am never leaving again". Caspian took his hands in his and together they nodded at Aslan before walking back to the rowboat. The Dawn Treader waiting for them on the horizon and their kingdom waiting for them across the sea. 

unedited 

urgh I cried writing that. Otto deserved a freaking happy ending and writing those goodbyes made me tear up. These films were my childhood and I shall always love them. 

now the epilogue.