Alex lay on her bed, waiting for the night to come to a close. She stroked a gleaming horn in her wrinkled hand as she stared up into the stars winking at her outside her window. Caspian X had already passed the year previously, and Alex was now waiting, ready to accept the natural close to her life. Her dark eyes, still bright with hope and laughter, glinted in the moonlight as she reminisced about the old times.

She recalled the day Caspian had returned from his voyage. She had stayed behind to rule Narnia in his absence and when he had returned, he admitted to having met Edmund and Lucy… and that Aslan had revealed they would now never return to Narnia. She remembered the fear in his eyes as he had informed of this, ready to see her break into the broken tears he had witnessed three years prior. But he had been surprised at her gentle smile and genuine happiness that at least the three had been reunited. She then inquired after the lovely lady beside him, and Caspian introduced them, bewildered by his sister's reaction. He had wondered if perhaps she had moved on, and remained silent on the matter for the rest of the night.

What Caspian didn't know was that Alex had already known she would never see Edmund again. On that day she had last seen him, watched him vanish in front of her very eyes, she had looked to Aslan, feeling in her heart that they would never see each other again. Aslan's confirmation had broken her heart, and she had sobbed against her brother for hours. The next year, she spent mending her shattered heart, until she realized how happy she had been in their brief time together- she couldn't ask for more. And so she went on to rule beside her brother, mending her heart by defending the Narnia Edmund had cherished.

Caspian eventually realized Alex had never moved on, but had chosen to move forward and live the life without Edmund when she rejected suitor after suitor, even after Caspian had been blessed with a son. It was then that he finally sat down beside her one night as she gazed at the stars and informed her that Edmund had asked after her immediately upon his arrival aboard the Dawn Treader. Caspian recounted how Edmund had gone silent when Caspian admitted Alex had remained at the castle, how he had withdrawn for hours. Caspian revealed how he was now convinced that it was because Edmund had come to the understanding that he would now not see her again. Caspian revealed also Edmund had sent a message before he'd left aboard the longboat, and hesitated, watching his sister's reaction. She had smiled encouragingly and Caspian finally said:

"'I won't ever forget you'." Caspian had paused as he saw the tears shining in Alex's eyes. "I'm sorry." He had whispered and she had shaken her head. "No, thank you for telling me. It was exactly what I needed to hear." Alex had given a watery laugh as Caspian shook his head and said: "No, I meant I'm sorry I didn't tell you for ten years."

They had spent the rest of that night reminiscing about the old times, Alex teasing Caspian about his brief flame with High Queen Susan, and they parted with smiles and laughter.

Now, Alex sighed as she gazed up at the sky, remembering it all. She closed her eyes and pictured Edmund's bright brown eyes, his smile as he turned to look at her lovingly, his tearful goodbye and his determined promise. Alex sighed, the breath leaving her and her hand stilled on the horn before dropping gently down and off the bed.

When her nephew entered the next morning, it would be in response to the grim news of his aunt's lady-in-waiting that the Queen had passed on. But as Rillian gazed upon his aunt's old face, he had to smile. She looked so peaceful, as though dreaming happy dreams. He carefully removed the old horn, placing it gently on his aunt's bedside table before drawing up the white bed sheets to cover Alex. He rose and left the room to make the necessary preparations, firm in the knowledge that his aunt was in a happier place.

Alex opened her eyes to find herself standing in a busy crowd. She spotted faces she recognized, others she didn't and others still that she had only heard about. Turning, her heart leapt into her throat as she saw Caspian, standing beside his wife and, her heart thudded, Rillian. She went up to them slowly and Caspian turned. She was struck with how young he was- he looked as he had when he returned off the Dawn Treader.

"Where are we?" Alex asked as Caspian's eyes widened upon seeing her. He seemed to be taking her in, and Rillian stared at his aunt. She looked young, at most twenty, and beautiful- he could see why suitors had flocked her back in her time.

"Aslan's Country." Caspian replied slowly and Alex frowned. "But why now?" She asked looking at Rillian and Caspian looked at her strangely.

"I'm not sure…" he admitted. "The rest of us have been here ages- I was so worried when Rillian arrived but you never did. But Aslan said you would arrive when the time was right, whatever that meant." Alex frowned, confused. But dark hair caught her eye and she turned. Her heart stopped and whole world seemed to slow down as she saw him. He was looking around looking confused when his eyes met hers.

Dark eyes widened and then he was pushing his way to her and she was running to him. Alex threw her arms around Edmund's neck and he picked her up, swinging her around and yelling happily. Everyone turned to look at them but neither of them noticed or cared as Alex hung on tightly, afraid to let go as Edmund placed her down gently, burying his head into her hair, sighing happily as he breathed in her familiar scent: flowery and with a hint of the woods.

He pulled away abruptly and Alex pulled back to ask what was wrong when his lips came crashing down onto hers. Her eyes immediately fluttered closed and she melted into his arms. The kiss was rough and desperate, his feelings of longing and loneliness breaking out as he tried to convince himself that she was here, that she was real.

They broke apart for air and stared at each other. Alex smiled, suddenly feeling shy and Edmund grinned happily back at her. It was only then that Alex noticed how much older Edmund was- he looked about twenty, and he'd grown even taller. His dark hair was longer, hanging into his dark eyes as he peered down at her. She met his gaze and was jolted as she saw they were the same as she remembered: kind, bright and loving.

"I love you." Her heart stopped, before it raced as Alex beamed up at Edmund. "I love you too." She whispered, and a look of pure joy broke on his face before he nuzzled his nose against hers.

They were broken from their moment as Peter coughed slightly and Alex broke away from Edmund to smile in greeting to her old friends. Edmund peered over her head to see Caspian making his way over, a woman and another man in tow. As they arrived, Edmund's brows furrowed as he appraised the new man. Alex saw and grinned, turning to introduce them. "Caspian." She greeted happily and he nodded while Edmund sent him a brief greeting. "Star, Rillian, I want you to meet King Edmund." Rillian's eyes widened as he stared in awe at the man he'd heard so many stories about. Edmund stared back with raised eyebrows. "Edmund, meet Star, my sister-in-law, and Rillian…my nephew." Alex laughed at the dumb-founded look on Edmund's face before she pressed a kiss on his cheek.

They were soon chatting, catching up as Alex leaned happily against Edmund, his arms never moving away from their place around her hips. Lucy wandered off soon to greet an old friend. Alex suddenly asked as Lucy left. "Where's Susan?" She looked around for the familiar brunette and Peter and Edmund exchanged glances. "She wasn't on the train…" Edmund started, and Alex frowned as he trailed off. "What train?" She asked confused and Peter replied. "We were all on a train when there was an accident. We woke up here. Susan…" he sighed. "She changed. She no longer believed in Narnia… she didn't join us when we left to search for a way back."

Alex's heart dropped- she couldn't believe it. Susan had been a close friend, she couldn't believe she would forget. "Why…" she whispered, and Peter looked at her sadly. "It was her way of coping, I think. We shouldn't lose hope- she might still one day believe again." Alex smiled sadly when Edmund suddenly interrupted staring down at her.

"Hang on, we were in a train accident, what happened to you? How're you here?" He asked confused and Alex looked at him blankly. "Oh, I died." Edmund's heart dropped and he stared at her. "…What?" He asked and she looked at him like he was crazy. "How else do you think we were reunited? You died too didn't you, it's why you're here." She pointed out and he made a face. "Yea, but I didn't think that far. How'd you die?" He demanded and she sighed.

"Don't worry it wasn't gruesome. Heck, it was even less painful than a train crash." She pointed out. "I died of old age." Both Peter and Edmund looked her up and down with raised brows and she laughed. "Come on, you met my nephew! What, was he born when I was?" She chided gently as Peter and Edmund blinked in realization. Peter grinned but Edmund frowned again. "How long did I leave you?" He asked, his face falling but Alex shook her head and leaned against him. "It doesn't matter- you're here now and that's what matters. Besides," she smiled up at him, "I told you I would wait forever if I had to."

"I thought it was a thousand years?" He said confused, and she blinked. "Oh… yea, that's what I said, wasn't it?" She murmured and Edmund raised his eyebrows in a silent question. "I promised myself silently that I would wait forever." She explained and Edmund's lips curved up into a smile. They were interrupted as Lucy called out.

"Peter! Edmund! Come and look! Come quickly." The pair went to join her with Alex in tow; looking out, their eyes widened.

"Why," Peter exclaimed, "It's England." Alex looked at Edmund. "Is that your world?" She asked and Edmund nodded as Peter continued. "And that's the house itself- Professor Kirke's old home in the country where all our adventures began!"

"I thought that house had been destroyed." Edmund murmured, frowning in confusion as Alex peered down. "So it was," a faun next to Lucy spoke up. "But you are no looking at England within England, the real England just as this is the real Narnia. And in that inner England no good thing is destroyed."

"Is that where you found the wardrobe into Narnia?" Alex asked and Edmund nodded. "I like it." She announced and Edmund laughed at her, nuzzling his head against her hair. Suddenly their eyes shifted to another spot and the Pevensies gasped. Alex peered curiously as the others began to wave and shout at a man and woman who stood waving back at them across the valley.

"Who are they?" She asked curiously and Edmund replied excitedly. "My parents."

Alex looked back with wide eyes as Lucy asked: "How can we get at them?"

As the faun began to explain, Alex's attention was caught by a bright light ahead coming closer. It grew stronger and she made to shield her eyes from the blinding light, when suddenly Aslan himself appeared, leaping down from cliff to cliff.

Alex watched in awe as he called a donkey, whom he named Puzzle, to him. The humans stood silently as the pair before them exchanged whispered words before Aslan turned to face them. Alex tensed and she felt Edmund tighten his arm around her. She remembered the last time they had been together with Aslan, and she watched the great lion anxiously.

"You do not yet look so happy as I mean you to be." Aslan commented in his deep voice, and Alex fidgeted while Lucy stepped forward. "We're so afraid of being sent away, Aslan. And you have sent us back into our own world so often." Edmund nodded in agreement, clutching Alex to his side and Aslan chuckled as he watched them.

"No fear of that." He said gently, and the weight in Alex's heart lifted as hope filled her once more. "Have you not guessed?" He paused to read their hope-filled faces and he smiled. "There was a real railway accident." He said softly. "Your father and mother, and all of you are- as you used call in it in the Shadowlands- dead." He looked over as Alex gasped, gripping Edmund's hand. He continued gently: "The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this is the morning."

Their eyes shined as they grinned at each other. Alex beamed up at Edmund, and he leaned down to press a chaste kiss on her lips. They broke apart and Alex gazed happily around, surrounded by friends, family and love, and finally feeling at home with Edmund's arms wrapped around her, keeping her safe and happy. And so began their lives together, forever.