Hello, it's me. ;)

That would be really embarrassing if nobody got that joke :P

I'M BACCCKKKK

OMG

IT'S A MIRACLE GUYS.

PLEASE DON'T KILL ME FOR BEING MIA.

Senior life is so hard. I've been so stressed with college applications and entrance exams that I pushed this story to the back of my mind.

Anyway I made this chapter EXTRA LONG. It's 21 pages on word guys. THAT'S INTENSE. So I'm not going to delay this any longer so I hope you guys enjoy the 10th chappie of Remember Me.

Don't forget to review, follow, fave, or do all three for this story!

CHAPTER 10

Though it pained her to do it, they left the sanctuary of the field and returned to the uncertainty of reality. Part of her wanted to be selfish and stay there forever just talking with the boy next to her. With each step, her surroundings became more and more familiar and she began to dread having to go to school the next day.

Finally they stood by her doorstep, Avalon couldn't help but applaud Ed's navigation and memory skills because she honestly had no idea where they had been previously – let alone any clue as to how to get back.

"Thanks Edmund," she said as she turned to face the said boy.

Edmund shrugged his shoulders indicating that she didn't need to express her gratitude because he would have done it again in a heartbeat, no questions asked.

They walked up the steps of the Carter's quaint house when Avalon noticed a sign, fluttering slightly in the wind, stuck on the front door.

NOTICE OF EVICTION

"No," Avalon whispered shakily as she ripped the paper off the door.

She had two months. She was supposed to have 2 more months. Slowly she examined the piece of paper in her hand and her eyes focused on one fancy signature above a name written in black and white.

Harold Kingsley, Deputy Sherriff

"McKenna," Avalon thought darkly as her hand tightened around the paper crumpling it slightly.

Edmund looked at the piece of paper clutched tightly in the girl's hand. He may not know much about this world but he did know what those words meant.

"Avalon-" he began as he reached for her shoulder.

"Don't," Avalon said harshly as she flinched away from him.

Edmund stood there awkwardly, unsure about what to do.

"This is all your fault!" she exclaimed as she spun around to face Edmund.

"My fault?" Edmund scoffed, "how is this my fault?"

Avalon shoved the paper into Edmund's chest, "Look who signed it."

Edmund looked over the paper and his eyes widened upon reading the name.

"Kingsley? As in McKenna Kingsley?" Edmund asked, perplexed.

"You should have listened when I told you to stay away from me! Now McKenna's out to get me and I sure as hell am not to blame!"

"You think McKenna did this to get back at you?" Edmund asked dubiously.

"I know she did. God Ed, why couldn't you just have stayed away when I told you to?!" Avalon exclaimed.

"I was trying to be nice," Edmund defended.

"Look what good that brought," Avalon muttered under her breath, "just leave me alone Edmund."

"Maybe I can help-" Edmund began in a desperate attempt to calm the frantic girl down.

"I DON'T WANT YOUR HELP!" Avalon screamed her body quivering as she struggled to hold herself together, "you've done enough."

Edmund reached out to her once again and she flinched away from him, "Just go Edmund," she said with such finality that Edmund knew she wouldn't budge.

"Please," Avalon begged, "just go."

Edmund swallowed and nodded his head. He turned around and heard the front door shut close and the all too familiar feeling of having let someone down weighed heavy on top of him.

Why did everything he touch crumble like sugar?

Avalon leaned on the doorframe for support as she tightly shut her eyes and willed the tears to go away. She had to be strong. She had to figure out a way out of this. She would figure out a way out of this. She refused to let her family be ripped apart – not again.

A strangled sob escaped from her mouth and she lost it.

Avalon collapsed onto the floor and allowed her strangled sobs to wreak her small frame.

"Avalon?"

Her bloodshot eyes looked up to see Adam standing on the staircase, a worried look plastered onto his face.

"What's happened?"

Shutting her eyes, Avalon began composing herself. She lifted up her sleeve to wipe her tear-stained face. She looked up at Adam and shook her head dejectedly.

"Nothing good, I'm afraid," she chuckled darkly.

"I'm sure it's nothing you can't fix," Adam said comfortingly as he sat down next to his sister.

"I think you may be wrong this time kiddo," Avalon said as she passed the now crumpled piece of paper to Adam.

"We'll be okay right?" Adam asked after looking at the paper solemnly for a few moments.

Sighing, Avalon wrapped her arm around Adam. "I'm not going to let anything happen to us okay?" she said reassuringly.

"We'll be okay." Avalon stated. Though she wasn't sure whether she was saying it to reassure Adam or herself.

In school the next day, Avalon avoided Edmund like a plague. This didn't go unnoticed by her two best friends who knew better than to ask her about it – though that didn't mean that they weren't itching to know.

"What do you think happened between them?" Charlotte whispered to Seth during their lunch as Avalon left to buy a snack.

"Nothing good by the looks of it," Seth stated with a small triumphant smirk plastered on his face.

"HEY!" Charlotte scolded as she hit him knowing fully well that Seth could be less glad about the tension between Avalon and Edmund. She opened her mouth to berate him some more but quickly closed it when she realized Avalon was walking back towards their table.

The said girl pulled out a chair and plopped down with a sigh.

"I know what you're going to say," she began.

"We weren't going to ask you about it," Charlotte said.

"That may be true but that doesn't mean that you don't want to know," Avalon countered with a knowing look.

"What happened?" Seth asked genuinely curious. Something really bad must have happened for Avalon to have been so affected by it.

"Pevensie must have really screwed up," Seth thought inwardly as he watched Avalon silently pick at her food in refusal to answer his question.

"I had a moment of clarity about him," Avalon finally answered vaguely indicating that she wanted to drop the subject. Charlotte and Seth complied and resumed to eating their own food.

Edmund observed Avalon from a distance. He knew it wouldn't be wise for him to approach her now. He had to give her space. Besides, the more he thought about it the more he felt like this mess was mostly his fault. He'd overlooked McKenna's influence in this place and befriended her archenemy – something bad was bound to happen because it always did when it came to him.

There was something else he had to do. His eyes quickly scanned the cafeteria like a hawk searching for its prey.

McKenna Kingsley sat in the middle (obviously) of her lap dogs as Edmund liked to call them.

Movement from Avalon's table caught his attention and he watched as the trio left the cafeteria. The minute the doors closed, he stood and determinedly approached McKenna's table. It was time to fix this.

The empty compliments and fawning over the said girl stopped the minute he reached them.

"We need to talk," he stated simply looking at no one else but McKenna.

She smirked triumphantly as she excused herself with her annoyingly squeaky voice.

"Alone I presume?" she asked as she ran her perfectly manicured finger along his arm.

Edmund nodded his head curtly, spun around and made his way to the cafeteria doors. He could hear the click clack of McKenna's heels as she made her way after him.

Edmund entered the nearest empty classroom and pulled McKenna inside.

"Not exactly romantic spot I envisioned, but I'll take it," she said as she scrutinized the room and tried to pull Ed towards her. He could feel her hot breath fanning his face as she pulled him closer.

"What is wrong with you?" Ed said freaking out and flailing his arms as he swatted her arms away. He stumbled backwards, knocking a few chairs out of their pristine rows. He distanced himself from the girl standing in front of him.

"You need to tell your father to waive that eviction notice on the Carter's house," he said pointing at her and going straight to the point to avoid any more uncomfortable… situations.

"Oh that little thing?" McKenna said as she glanced at her nails.

"Yes. And if it means so little to you as it seems to then you should have no qualms about waiving the eviction,"

"I'll waive it," McKenna said and Edmund released a sigh of relief, "but you have to do something for me." She finished with a triumphant smirk.

Edmund clenched his fists. He hadn't thought this through well enough… but what was he expected to do? Waste time punctiliously planning something foolproof when… He sighed. This was out of character. But this was Avalon – he had to do something to fix it as quickly as he could even if that meant skipping his meticulous planning regimen.

"I'll do it," Edmund said relenting and surrendering himself to the wishes of the platinum blonde that stood before him.

Avalon stood in front of the largest doors she'd every stood in front of and to be honest, she was feeling quite small despite having been here numerous times in the past….

Earlier, upon arriving home from school, there was a letter. Curiously it was from the same station that the Kingsley's father was the deputy sheriff of. Nothing was in it except an address and instructions to go there as soon as she read the letter.

So, here she was.

Avalon pressed the doorbell and a melodious chime rang throughout the inside of the house. Just a few moments later, a familiar man, dressed in a suit, opened the door and ushered her inside.

"Hello, Damien," Avalon greeted with a warm smile though she knew fully well he would not reply amicably – he was not permitted to do so, especially to her.

"We've been expecting you Ms. Carter," he said as he lead her to a seat and offered her a drink to which she declined but she didn't miss the reassuring squeeze the old butler gave her when his hand grazed her forearm.

"You will be joined by the master momentarily," he said as he exited with a curt nod and left her in the room.

Avalon awkwardly fiddled with her fingers as she took in the luxury that the entire room seemed to ooze with and found it weird how close she could have been to living-

"Ah, Ms. Carter, a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance."

Avalon whipped her head around and turned her attention away from the intricate frosted designs on the windows to see no other than Harold Kingsley – the devil himself.

He took a seat across from her and adjusted his coat.

"I assume you know why you're here?" he inquired as he reached over to take a sip of what she suspected to be whisky from the glass on the table.

"I'm afraid not, sir," she responded. As much as she loathed him she knew the kind of power and the kind of influence he and his family had. So unfortunately, formality was a must on her part.

"Well then, I get to tell you the good news," he said with a grin though Avalon did not fail to miss the glint in his eyes that seemed rather inky to her.

"Good news sir?" she asked through gritted teeth. "You ordered me an eviction notice 2 months earlier you git, what good news could you possibly have for me?" she thought angrily.

"It seems your eviction notice has been waived."

"What?" her eyes widening.

"Yes, it seems that you have friends who, well let's just say have struck a bargain deal with me. You are free to go," he said dismissing her.

Avalon quickly stood, wanting to get out of the house as quickly as possible, and bid him a quick goodbye before making her way towards the door.

"Oh and Ms. Carter," Mr. Kingsley called.

Avalon's hand froze midway from reaching the doorknob. She begrudgingly turned to face him and gave him an inquiring look.

"I do sincerely hope that you get to pay your mortgage within the next two months. You might not be so lucky next time," he sneered as he took another sip of whisky.

"Of course… uncle," she said with a sweet acrid smile and smirked in triumph when the man's frame stiffened.

Oh yes people, meet Avalon Jean Kingsley Carter. (A/N: WHATTTT. BET YOU WEREN'T EXPECTING THAT ;D)

Avalon lay on her bed wondering how her life had gotten this complicated. Now that she didn't have the knife above her head of paying the house mortgage in a week looming over her, she had the time to spare getting lost in her thoughts. Sure the mortgage was still there but she deserved a little breather after everything.

"Why the hell didn't you tell me what that sick bastard did earlier!?" Charlotte hollered as she barged into Avalon's bedroom.

"Hello to you too," Avalon greeted.

"No wonder you stopped talking to him, I cannot believe I was actually planning on convincing you to talk to him again!" Charlotte screeched as she flopped down beside Avalon.

"Erm, what might you be talking about?" Avalon asked turning to face her best friend.

"You mean you haven't seen the pictures?" Charlotte exclaimed sitting up straight and looking her friend in the eye.

Before Avalon could answer, Charlotte furiously took out her phone and started tapping away like a madwoman.

"SEE!" Charlotte said as she flipped her phone to show Avalon the picture on the screen.

And boy was she surprised.

#bae 3

Avalon's eyes widened at the picture and the caption. It was a picture of Edmund looking quite uncomfortable and disgruntled but that wasn't the shocking part, it was the fact that McKenna was sitting on his lap.

"…it seems that you have friends who, well let's just say have something I wanted and struck a bargain deal with me…"

"Dear Aslan!" Avalon gasped as she placed her hand over her mouth.

"I know right? You would have thought he could have picked better than McKenna Kingsley," Charlotte said her voice laced with venom as she uttered the she-devil spawn's name.

"Oh Charlotte, I've made a terrible mistake," Avalon exclaimed as she bolted from the bed.

"Yes, I totally agree. We should have dumped him into the ground, ripped his balls off and skinned him alive instead of befriending the git,"

"No," Avalon said getting off from her bed, "I need to talk to Edmund!"

"Yes, you go do that and I'll get the knives ready and- wait, WHAT?"

But Avalon was already out the door.

Edmund was not having fun at all. In fact, he concluded that he was having one of the worst days of his life.

"I want you to be my boyfriend,"

McKenna's request made him want to vomit right there and then. But he had to say yes and suck it up, at least until Avalon paid off whatever debt she had and he was hoping she'd do it soon.

"Eddie!" McKenna called and Edmund grumbled as he made his way to her. They were currently at McKenna's mansion and McKenna lay sprawled on one of the beach chairs.

"Yes?" he asked mentally dreading whatever she was about to say next

"Now that I'm your girlfriend a few changes are in order," she said as she scrutinized her manicure, "no more talking to any of your old friends; you'll have new friends now – cool ones, popular ones."

"I was not aware that friendship was a popularity contest," he muttered.

"Now that you're dating me, trust me it is."

"Anything else?" Edmund sighed.

McKenna removed her sunglasses, stood from her position and walked over towards Edmund.

"Yes, fix your attitude, otherwise I may have to talk to my father about a certain someone's eviction order," she threatened, "and we wouldn't want that would we?"

Edmund gritted his teeth, "No."

McKenna smiled, "Good. Now call Damien and ask him to make me a glass of iced tea. No sugar, three, precisely three ice cubes, and stirred for a minute – no more no less."

"Thanks Eddie, you're a peach," she chirped as he begrudgingly stalked away.

Edmund weaved his way through the many rooms of the Kingsley household till he found the man he was looking for and a small smile grazed his face. The old man reminded him of Professor Kirke and brought back many fond memories.

Damien noticed a presence in the room, "Master Edmund, what can I do for you?"

"How many more times must I tell you to call me Edmund, Damien," Edmund scolded playfully.

"But once more Master Edmund," the old man said.

"McKenna would like some iced tea," Edmund said with a sigh.

"Ahhh yes, let me guess, no sugar, three – precisely three ice cubes and stirred for exactly a minute," the old butler said with a teasing glint in his eyes.

"Exactly," Edmund said with a smile.

"Thank you Damien," Edmund greeted as the butler made his way out of the room.

"My pleasure, Edmund," he heard the old man respond as the doors closed and a small smile grazed his face. At least there was one person in this house that he could tolerate.

Just as he was about to walk out of the room and return to waiting on McKenna's hand and foot he heard a loud slam of a door from the room Damien disappeared to and the frantic voice of a woman.

"Is it true Damien? Was she here?" an old woman's voice said.

"Yes, she was," came Damien's reply as Edmund neared the door to listen in. It wasn't really eavesdropping right? He just happened to be in the right moment at the right time. Yes, that was what Edmund decided he would call it, killing the small voice of righteousness at the back of his head.

"I can't believe I missed her," the woman groaned regretfully, "how is she? Does she look okay? Do you think she's eating well? How are the others? Emma? Adam? Are they holding up?" the woman asked worriedly shooting a number of questions in a single breath.

"She looks as well as she can," came the reply, "the others, I'm sure are fine. They have a great sister to look after them."

"If only we could help her. If only she knew the truth," the woman sobbed.

"You know we are not permitted to tell her or have any sort of contact with her; you know what they'll do to us and Avalon will never forgive us if we did tell her and she found out the price we had to pay to do it."

Edmund stilled. Avalon. Avalon had come here. He sincerely hoped she was okay. It had to be her right? How many people named Avalon were involved with the Kingsley family? In fact, how many people did he know were named Avalon?

"EDMUND!"

He spun around to see McKenna with her hands on her hips and tapping her heel impatiently.

"What's taking you so long?" she whined

"I was thinking about what I had to do for tomorrow, you know homework and… stuff," he said and inwardly berated himself for the pathetic answer. Well it was too late now and hopefully she would buy it.

"Hmmm, well okay," McKenna said unsure whether to believe him or not.

"Actually, if it's all right with you of course, I'd like to go home and get started on studying for Mr. Banner's history test tomorrow," he said, lying through his teeth. History was the last subject he needed to study for.

"Well," McKenna said as she advanced towards him, "why don't you study here?"

"I wouldn't want to get distracted now would I?" Edmund said with a smirk as he looked at her knowing fully well the reaction he would get and was not surprised when McKenna giggled giddily.

"We wouldn't want that now would we?" She said relenting.

"I'll see you tomorrow Eddie!" she said as she made a move to kiss him but he avoided it and stalked out of the room with a quick goodbye.

Edmund sighed in relief as he got to the house's main corridor.

"On your way out Master Edmund?" a familiar voice rang out.

"Damien, I didn't see you there. Yes, I was just headed out," Edmund stated cautiously wondering where the old man had come from and if he suspected that he'd been listening in on what was obviously a private conversation.

"Actually," Edmund called making the old butler stop in his tracks, "would it be all right if I asked you something?"

"Ask away Master Edmund," Damien said as he turned to face the young man before him.

"McKenna mentioned earlier about an Avalon Carter; I was just wondering how you and this family were acquainted with her. I know it is not my place to ask but I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with one of the help and got curious," Edmund said crossing his fingers and praying that he would get an answer. Hopefully telling the truth was the right decision… well at least he wouldn't have to deal with the guilt of lying to a kind old man.

"I'm afraid I do not know what you are talking about Master Edmund. It must have been someone else talking," Damien said and Edmund nodded his head understanding what the old man meant: he was not permitted to relay that kind of information to just anyone.

"Yes, I must have been mistaken," Edmund, said feigning confusion.

"May I lead you out the door, sir," Damien offered.

"Please do. It is quite easy to get lost in this house," Edmund said though he knew that he could easily make his way around the house – he'd memorized much more tortuous paths in Narnia. Nevertheless, he began following Damien out the door.

"It's a pleasure to have you and I hope to see you again Master Edmund," Damien said as he gave a short bow to Edmund and extended his hand for a handshake. Edmund quirked a brow but complied nonetheless.

"Pleasure is all mine, Damien," Edmund said as he smiled genuinely at the old man and walked down the steps of the Kingsley house.

After walking a few ways from the house, Edmund unclenched his hand and looked at the small crumpled piece of paper that was shoved into his hand.

"Surreptitious old man," Edmund thought. He knew all along that Edmund had been listening in on his conversation. Why else would he have prepared a paper to give to him? Edmund couldn't wait to read the contents of the tiny piece of paper but he knew fully well this was not a place or time. He had to get somewhere safe.

"Ed! You're home, thank Aslan!" Eustace said.

Edmund raised a brow. He hadn't even gotten his key into the lock when Eustace threw open the door.

"What's going on?" Edmund asked as he cautiously entered the house.

"Ummm, see for yourself," Eustace said as he gestured towards the living room. Edmund followed his hand and saw the back of a girl with a deep auburn hair. She didn't even have to turn around for him to know who it was.

"Avalon?" he called as he approached her.

The said girl whipped her head around and stood from the couch.

"Hi," she said and he found himself getting lost in her cerulean eyes.

"You came all the way here to say hi?" he teased with a small smile as he made his way towards her. Avalon chuckled.

"Listen we need to talk," Avalon began.

"I couldn't agree more. Just not here," Edmund said as his eyes flickered towards Aunt Alberta, Eustace and Uncle Harold in the kitchen.

"Right," Avalon said remembering their presence, "all right then, let's go," she said as she stood up. Edmund looked up at her curiously.

"Come on," she coaxed.

"Where are we going?" he asked as he allowed her to pull him out of the Scrubb's house but not before mouthing to Eustace to not wait up on him. Something told him he'd be out for a while.

"Just come on," Avalon said as she pulled him along.

Edmund soon recognized where they were headed and made a mental note to ask what Avalon's obsession with going to the park was all about.

"We aren't going to swing are we?" Edmund asked dubiously as they stood in front of the small swing set before them.

"Do you always ask this many questions? Just shut up and follow me," Avalon scolded.

"Yes ma'am," Edmund said giving a mock salute and Avalon couldn't help rolling her eyes.

He followed her into a thicket beyond the swing set. The branches began getting denser and denser and Edmund was struggling to keep up.

"You're not going to kill me are you?" he asked jokingly as he shoved a bunch of branches away from his face.

"No, you're the one who wanted a safe place to talk, so here we are." Avalon said and only then did Edmund realize that she had stopped and before them was a small creek. To the left was a huge rock and trees that seemed to go on and on.

"Wow," Edmund said as he made his way out of the thicket.

"Pretty amazing huh?" Avalon said as she looked back at him with a smile.

Edmund watched as Avalon made her way to the huge rock and sat on it. Before his mind could catch up with his body's movements he found himself standing next to her.

"What is this place?" he asked as he looked around and he couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity – like he'd been here before.

"I call it the Western Wood," Avalon said with a small chuckle as she hid her face behind her hair, embarrassed.

Edmund looked at her disbelievingly.

"I know it's a weird name but I was 11. Besides, I think it suits it, don't you think?" she asked upon noticing his odd expression.

"It's perfect," Edmund breathed out.

"The sun rises from that side and you can see it breaking through the thicket at dawn, it's breathtaking," Avalon said, "and you can see all the stars at night," she said pointing up to the clear sky above them and a wave a nostalgia filled them both.

Edmund pushed himself onto the rock and sat down beside her.

"How'd you find this place?" he asked.

"It found me actually," Avalon said as she recalled the day with a small smile, "I was running and I didn't know where I was headed exactly I just knew I had to get away. Then for some reason I and found myself here. It's been my secret place ever since."

"Thank you for taking me here," Edmund said softly as he took in the beauty of the wood.

"You know, I was wrong about you," Avalon said softly. She averted her gaze from his and fiddled with the arms of the jacket she wore.

"Avalon you don't have too," Edmund said sensing her discomfort and wanting to let her know that she didn't have too explain anything because he understood, "I get it." he said as he flashed her a small smile.

"No you don't," she said, "and even if you did understand I still owe you an explanation."

She sighed, "I not very good at trusting people – it's just easier, safer not to," she admitted in a shaky breath.

"If it helps, I don't think I'm very good at keeping people's trust, so I suppose we both have something to work on," Edmund said as reached for her hand and squeezed it – reassuring her that it was okay, that she could take her time.

"I've always been on the skeptical side. I had to be. When my dad left and my mom stopped caring about everything, that was the biggest blow I ever had to take. I wasn't ready for it. Since then it's pretty much instinct to expect and prepare for the worst. Becoming friends with you, my mind just went on autopilot and expected the worst and when it did… I lost it," she said looking anywhere but at the boy sitting next to her.

"That day in the cafeteria, when I first saw you, I don't know what it was but I knew things were going to change – and I was terrified. It seemed easier to keep you as far away from me as possible than to risk something changing, things were finally looking up and I just had to fix one more thing," she explained as she once again looked up at the stars, desperately trying to find the courage in the fire of the stars

"Your mortgage," Edmund finished as Avalon nodded her head solemnly.

"But McKenna had to step in and I got sent the notice 2 months early, and I just freaked out," Avalon said as she hung her head in shame, "I shouldn't have lashed out on you."

"Hey, I should have listened when you told me to stay away I should have know it was for a good reason," Edmund said trying to comfort her, "it's partly my fault as well."

"Stop doing that!" Avalon scolded as she whipped her head around to face Edmund, "Stop trying to make me feel better by putting the blame on yourself and just stop being so God damn nice, it's not normal."

"I… apologize for being… nice?" Edmund said as he tilted his head in confusion and a part of Avalon noted how adorable he looked with his face scrunched up in bewilderment.

She laughed, "Forget it. It's not your fault," Avalon said shaking her head, "it's McKenna's and I shouldn't have blamed you,"

"Quit being so hard on yourself Avalon, nobody likes a pity case," Edmund said as he nudged her jokingly.

"Shut up, Edward," she teased as Edmund groaned.

"Really crushed my ego then Carter,"

"You needed it," she retorted, "but seriously thanks."

"For what?"

"I know you're the reason why Mr. Kingsley waived the early eviction notice and I know you agreed to date McKenna to get him to do it," Avalon said refusing to look at Edmund.

"She's not that bad you know…" he said though a distasteful face made its way onto his features and Avalon barked out a laugh.

"Could have fooled me," Avalon said shaking her head, "now shut up. I was trying to have a serious conversation with you," she scolded.

"Okay, shutting up now," Edmund said as he nodded his head and pursed his lips shut.

Avalon shook her head at his antics when she remembered something and furrowed her brows.

"If you don't mind me asking… what did you mean when you said you weren't good at keeping people's trust?" she asked curiously.

Edmund froze.

FLASHBACK

A young Edmund slept peacefully inside one of the tents. The bed he lay on was like a safe haven compared to the cold, hard ground Witch's prison cells. His eyes fluttered open and immediately the aches in his body made themselves known. He groaned as he raised his hand to gently massage the bruise on his face – it was a small reminder from the Witch of what would be done to those who questioned her authority.

Edmund could not forget the fear and the betrayal that swam in the eyes of the fox just seconds before he was turned into nothing but another on of the Witch's statue. He'd backed down the minute the Witch struck him for questioning her actions. He should have done something more. He should have stopped the Witch. But he was too much of a coward to do anything except sit there and watch.

It was all his fault.

"Your Majesty", the fox had called him. He was not worthy to be his king. He betrayed him, the Narnians, his family – his own blood. For that he would never strip himself of the title of traitor.

Edmund vowed he would do everything in his power to try to make up for the mistake that would never and should never be forgiven.

He groaned as he stood from the warmth and comfort of the bed when he heard voices arguing from outside his tent.

"He betrayed them sire," came the voice of Mr. Beaver.

"Then he has betrayed us all!" someone screamed making Edmund wince. But what hurt the most was the murmur of agreement from the crowd. His heart sank. Of course he wouldn't be forgiven. It was his fault that the Witch knew.

"Enough," roared Aslan commandingly, "I shall speak to the boy myself,"

The footfalls of the crowd grew quieter and Edmund knew that the crowd had dispersed but he'd caught bits of broken conversation.

"How can Aslan place his trust on a traitor?"

"I will never proclaim him as my King,"

"He'll do it again. I reckon he's a spy for the old witch,"

END OF FLASHBACK

"Let's just say that I was a stupid 10-year-old who made some pretty bad choices and my family and a lot of innocent people had to pay the price," Edmund said after a while refusing to look at the girl sitting next to him in shame.

Avalon was quiet for a while, taking in his words. "You were just a child Ed, I'm sure you hadn't known any better," Avalon said, carefully choosing her words, as she sensed she was treading on a very touchy subject.

He breathed a long sigh. "You wouldn't understand… it's complicated," Edmund stated.

"Yes, because someone like me wouldn't even be able to fathom the problems of you upper class," Avalon bit back spitefully.

"That's not what I meant!" Edmund said as he whipped his head around defensively, "why do you always have to think this has something to do with social statuses? For once in your life Avalon stop thinking and acting like you're the only victim in the situation!"

"Then what did you mean? You know you have a lot of nerve to ask me questions about my life and meddle around in it and not expect me to do the same!"

"It's not that I don't want to tell you, it's just I don't know how!" Edmund shouted so loudly that the girl was taken aback.

An uncomfortable silence fell.

"I don't want to fight anymore," Avalon said tiredly fiddling with her hands

"It seems it's the only thing we can do," Edmund said, his voice finally calmed down.

"We're both pretty messed up, aren't we?" Avalon said with a small chuckle.

Edmund stared at the queer girl beside him whose gaze was now on the clouds and who, just seconds ago, was about to wring his neck.

"Yes, I suppose we are," he said agreeing.

Things were weird, so to speak.

A few weeks had gone by and nothing tragic had happened which of course made Avalon even more uneasy and on guard than she normally was.

Edmund was almost always with McKenna who – much to Avalon's protests – was still his girlfriend because according to Edmund it was the only way to get McKenna off her back. This led to an entire dispute between the two who consulted Charlotte and Seth. Charlotte got it into her head that Edmund could be their double agent into "the inside".

"Come on, how often do we get the chance to dig up dirt the she-devil? She's got to have a ton of secrets in her head, it's probably why her hair is so big." She had argued.

Avalon was know counting on Seth who in the event of a tie would allow her time to think of something to get her way. But surprisingly Seth, the deciding vote, sided with Edmund. The two never seemed to get only except for when it came to Avalon and her safety.

Suffice it to say, it was almost… normal.

Which was weird.

"Where is he?" Avalon said looking at the crowd of people walking out of their classrooms to lunch.

"I don't know but," Charlotte said stopping midsentence as she shoved a handful of potato chips into her mouth and swallowed, "he's late."

"Can we jut go already?" Seth said as he pushed himself off a tree they were standing by. It was where they met up with Edmund whenever he could get away from McKenna.

"NO!" both girls exclaimed with a scolding look at the male as they continued to look for the fourth member of their party in the mass of students.

"Fine," he huffed as he leaned back onto the tree.

"There he is!" Charlotte said as she caught sight of the familiar mop of dark brown hair quickly making its way towards them.

"Hello," Edmund greeted, looking down at Avalon, his cheeks slightly flushed from the heat of the day.

"Hey," Avalon said with a small smile.

Seth glared from his spot at the exchange and sulked in the background. Now normally would have gone unnoticed but ever since Charlotte knew of his er, feelings for Avalon she'd become more observant and realized just how smitten the boy was with her best friend.

Honestly, she felt bad for him.

She knew Avalon like the back of her hand and she knew that Avalon only thought of Seth as a brother. "Besides," she thought eying Edmund and Avalon, "I'm pretty sure there's something going on between those two and they're just to proud to say it."

Charlotte sighed. Once again it was up to her to do a little matchmaking. For those two and Seth. She had a lot of work ahead of her.

Peter paced back and forth in the throne room of Cair Paravel as both Susan and Lucy watched him worriedly.

His blonde hair was defying gravity and the crown that lay on top of his head was slightly crooked.

"Are you certain about this, Oreius?" he said looking straight into the eyes of the centaur searching for any form of doubt.

"I'm afraid so, Your Majesty."

Peter exhaled deeply.

"How many men did we lose?" Peter asked, bracing himself for the worst.

"All but one," Oreius said grimly.

Peter cussed and Lucy let out a choked sob as she clutched onto Susan whose face was pale as a sheet.

"Get Maugrim," Peter commanded as Oreius nodded and left.

"Peter," Susan called out cautiously while still holding Lucy.

Peter spun around to look at Susan. "We're going to have to stop the searches aren't we?" he asked like a child who didn't want to go to bed yet but knew he had to.

Susan nodded her head.

"Aslan, watch over him." Peter begged in a whisper having made up his mind on his next course of action. Sometimes he wished he wasn't the High King of Narnia. Life would be so much easier.

"Sire?"

The three monarchs turned to face Edmund's most trusted soldier and confidant.

"I suppose you've heard what happened, Maugrim?" Peter asked as the wolf nodded his head solemnly.

"It's unfortunate." Was all he said as he took in the appearance of his leaders.

"It may be too quick to jump to conclusions but I suspect war is upon us again," Peter said as he pushed his hair back and adjusted his crown, "inform the troops, tighten security at the boarders and in the villages. I shall send word to Caspian. Narnia and Telmar shall join forces against this threat."

Maugrim nodded his head slowly.

"Speak, friend, there is something on your mind," Peter said noticing the look that flashed across the wolf's features.

"What of King Edmund, sire?"

"We'll stop searching, for now. Narnia's safety is my top priority. You are dismissed." Peter said.

Maugrim nodded as he padded out of the throne room, letting his thoughts run.

The wolf knew that without Edmund it would be very difficult to eliminate this threat. He had full faith in his monarchs but all Narnians knew that the 4 siblings together were a force to be reckoned with and if you took any one out of the equation… well it wouldn't be good.

He was worried about the boy. Edmund was first and foremost his dearest friend. When Edmund was crowned, he had absolved him and the other repentant wolves of all the crimes they had committed under the leadership of the White Witch. Edmund understood, forgave and looked beyond what they did when no one else did. For that Maugrim would always be indebted to the boy, which is probably why he always got himself roped up in the boys shenanigans - though he would not have it any other way. He missed the bloke.

"You'd better return all in one piece before this escalates any more than it already has, boy." He muttered under his breath as if Edmund could hear him.

SOOOOO?

How'd y'all like it? Tell me in the review section because it makes me happy and makes me want to write because I get all guilty for making all of you wonderful people wait.

I can't tell you when my next update will be but hopefully soon because Christmas break is coming up so maybe I'll have more time.

I really apologize for disappearing all the time but I don't want to be an author that promises to update and doesn't so Imma just keep it real.

I won't be able to update often. BUT I WILL ALWAYS UPDATE EVENTUALLY. I've had this story in my head for a very very very VERY VERY VERY long time and I'm too attached to give it up. So please just bear with me :)

Love all you past, present and future readers to the moon and back 3

Ciao!

phoenix0723