An: Thank you for clicking on my story! It's taken me a while to write it, and I've oiured in my heart and soul. I've been rewriting the first part of the story, and so far I'm caught up all the way through the Lion, The witch, and the Wardrobe I will be regularly updating about once a week as I continue the story Please R&R!

Chapter 1: The countryside and those she met there

"It's for their safety."

Tessa's head rested uncomfortably on the seat, she couldn't tell you how long it had been, or even how much longer she had to go. The dull English countryside simply faded into a vast eternity of the same dismal hills and the rare horse.

That's what the notice had said, at least that's what she understood it to have said, since her mother's shaking hands had distorted the small print and she had quickly closed it before Tessa had been given the chance to read it.

It wasn't fair, She believed, to leave her mother all alone in the midst of a war. The recent news of Tessa's father had nearly broken her mother, and she didn't even want to think about what would happen with her now shipped off to the middle of who-knows-where.

She absentmindedly fiddled with the sticker taped to her shirt, the edges peeling up from her incessant scratching. The label denoted her future home, at least until the Blitz was over. A label! She huffed a heavy breath. She wasn't livestock.

There wasn't room to stretch out due to the fact the train was full to the brim of Children, far too many in one compartment than normal.

After what seemed like an eternity, a woman who looked to be in her mid-twenties slid open the compartment door and looked over each of their numbers.

She focused on Tessa and smiled, gesturing for her to stand, "Your stop is coming up soon. Hand me your suitcase and follow me."

The lady was nice enough, and she attempted to answer Tessa's incessant questions (such as "How long will I be here?" "When will I see my mother again?" "Will I be able to write her?" "Are there other children that will be staying with me?" "Will we receive the news?" "Do we have to keep our label number?") to the best of her ability.

As the train began to slow to meet their stop, Tessa found herself next to 4 other children, who looked just as disgruntled as she.

They bid farewell to the stewardess and hobbled over to the crossroads, where they stood and waited.

When they heard the sound of a car coming, they hurried to catch it, but it just ended up driving past them. Looking in both directions, there were no cars in sight.

"The Professor knew we were coming," the older raven-haired girl admonished.

"Perhaps we've been incorrectly labeled," the younger boy added.

Tessa couldn't help but frown. Of course, she would be incorrectly labeled. The eldest boy looked as if he was going to say something, but the sound of hoofbeats turned their attention to the woman coming up in a horse-drawn wagon.

"Mrs. Macready?" the blonde boy asked cautiously and the woman nodded. .

"I'm afraid so," the woman answered sternly. "Is this it then? Haven't you brought anything else?"

"No, ma'am. It's just us."

"Small favors."

Her heart dropped. Who knows how long in the countryside with four strangers and a mean old woman? This was going to be worse than she feared.

The five of them got into the back wagon and headed to the house in silence. As they pulled up, Tessa's eyes widened. The house was massive!
At least 10 of her own homes could fit in the west wing alone.

Mrs. Macready stowed away the horse and the wagon and then escorted them inside.

"Professor Kirke is not accustomed to havin' children in his house. And as such, there are a few rules we need to follow. There will be no shoutin'. Or runnin'. No improper use of the dumbwaiter." The older girl reached out to touch one of the statues, but Mrs. Macready's sharp voice snapped, "NO touchin' of the historical artifacts!" The five children sighed, now realizing just what kind of place they were going to have to stay in for an indefinite amount of time. "And above all, there shall be no disturbin' of the Professor."

The woman showed each of them where they would be sleeping. The two boys slept in one room, while the two girls slept in another. Tessa had a room to herself.

Her suitcase clattered to the floor as she gazed upon her new bedroom. It was big, and unfamiliar, and she couldn't help the fact that her eyes filled with tears. It just wasn't fair that she had to be away from her mother and now live with four strangers, all of them siblings, a mean housekeeper, and a professor who didn't seem to really want them.

Composing herself once more and silently scolding herself for crying, She finished unpacking her things and went to go get to know the other children.

"Hello," she said as she poked her head through the door. "May I come in?"

"Sure," the older boy smiled. She felt her breath catch in her throat a bit. She hadn't really allowed herself to look him over before. He was handsome, and seemed about her age.

"I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Theresa, but I go by Tessa."

"I'm Peter," the boy responded, holding out his hand to shake hers, "this is my sister Susan, and the other ones are Edmund and Lucy."

"It's nice to meet you all."

"Nice to meet you too," Susan said to her. "How old are you?"

"I'm barely sixteen," Tessa nodded.

"Oh, so you're in between me and Peter!"

Tessa smiled a little.

"I should…go finish unpacking. I just wanted to say hello." She returned to her room and began putting away her clothes. For some reason, her face felt rather warm.

Maybe this whole thing wouldn't be as bad as she thought.

That night, after an uncomfortable dinner, Tessa found herself with Susan and Peter. Lucy was in bed and Edmund was on his way there, though he was proving to be a little difficult.

The sound of Lucy's quiet sniffling drew their attention over to the girl.

"The sheets feel scratchy," she said.

"Wars don't last forever, Lucy. We'll be home soon," Susan said softly.

"Yeah," Edmund said, coming into the room. "If home is still there."

"Isn't it time you were in bed?" Susan sighed.

"Yes, Mum!"

"Ed!" Peter snapped. He turned back to Lucy. "You saw the outside. This place is huge. We can do whatever we want here. Tomorrow's going to be great. Really."

Lucy eventually fell asleep and Edmund finally went to bed, leaving Susan, Peter, and Tessa the ones awake.

"So, I guess we can get to know each other a little," Susan said abruptly.

"I suppose," Peter added. "Well, we live in Finchley with our mum. Our father's fighting in the war."

"I live with my mum in Finchley too! My father…" Tessa fell silent for a moment. "Well, we received a notice about a week ago that he died in combat."

"Tessa, I'm so sorry," Susan leaned forward and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, and Tessa gave her a watery smile.

"It's war." There was a bit of silence before she added, "I hope you don't mind me being here. I have a feeling you weren't expecting another person to be staying with you."

"Of course not," Peter smiled. "It's not a problem at all."

The three of them talked for around an hour, before they decided that they all deserved to get some sleep. Tessa returned to her room and looked out the dusty window.

"Don't worry, Mum," she whispered to the stars. "The other children here are nice, and so far we're getting along. I think I'm going to be just fine. And Dad, you know, their father is fighting off in the war too. I wonder if you knew him. I miss you. But I'll do my best to make you proud."