(Normal P.O.V)

Peter wondered if he should go after Susan. But then he realised that it would be better not to. She was upset and clearly wanted to be alone. So, he decided that he would leave her be, but he would always be there for her if she needed him.

Peter went back downstairs to join Edmund and Lucy. Lucy smiled when she saw Peter.

"What's wrong with Susan?" she asked.

"I don't know," Peter sighed, sitting down on the couch. "I tried talking to her, but she got so upset and locked herself in the bathroom."

"Did she say anything?" Edmund asked.

"Yeah… she said something had happened at school. Then she ran off. Have you got any idea of what it could be, Lu?"

Lucy shook her head. "No, sorry. We're not in the same classes, so I don't get to see much of her."

Peter sighed again.

"Maybe I should try talking to her?" Lucy suggested.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Lu. I think we should all just give her some space for now."

Lucy nodded.

An hour later, Susan still hadn't come downstairs. Edmund was in the kitchen, making cups of tea, and Peter and Lucy were sitting silently in the living room. It was an awkward silence – neither of them knew what to say.

"That's been over an hour, Peter. Something's up. I'm going to go and check on her." Lucy decided suddenly, standing up and approaching the stairs.

Peter nodded. "Alright."

Lucy went up the stairs slowly. All of the doors were closed. Was Susan still in the bathroom, or had she gone back into her bedroom? Lucy knocked on the bathroom door.

"Susan?"

They was no reply. Lucy turned around and knocked on Susan's bedroom door.

"Susan? It's Lucy. Can I come in?"

There was silence for a few seconds, before Susan opened the door ever so slightly.

"Sorry, Lu. I'm just not in the mood to talk right now." Lucy heard her say.

"Oh…" Lucy was a little hurt by this rejection, but even more shocked that Susan didn't want to talk.

"Sorry." Susan repeated, before shutting the door.

Lucy retreated down the stairs. Peter looked up at her with a hopeful look on his face.

"She says she's not in the mood to talk." Lucy said miserably.

The hopeful look was wiped from Peter's face. "I'm going to have another go." he said. He stood up, went up the stairs and stopped outside Susan's bedroom door. He took a deep breath and then knocked.

"Susan, it's Peter. I know you told Lucy you didn't want to talk, but… please, just let me in."

After a few seconds, Susan opened the door fully. Peter gave her a small smile and she smiled back. Most of the make-up smudges were gone now, and her eyes were red from being rubbed with tissues.

Peter stepped into the room and gave Susan a hug.

"Sorry about earlier." Susan said, pulling away.

"That's alright. Please, Susan… please tell me what upset you."

Susan looked down at the ground and exhaled deeply. "Oh, I was just being stupid." she smiled, looking back up at Peter. "Overreacting, making a fuss over nothing…"

Susan tried her absolute best to look happy, but Peter could clearly see that her eyes were glassy.

"Susan…" he whispered.

A single tear fell down Susan's face. "It's nothing, really!" she insisted, wiping the tear away and continuing to smile.

"Please, Susan. Don't lie to me." Peter could always tell when his little sister was lying. She would speak in a very high-pitched voice and raise her eyebrows practically as high as the ceiling.

Susan sighed and sat on the bed. Peter sat down beside her.

"You know my friend Annabelle?"

Peter nodded.

"Well… she told me today that… that…" Susan struggled.

Peter put his arm round Susan to encourage her.

"She told me today that… her family had received a letter this morning telling them… that her father had died in war. And I'm just… really scared. Now that I actually know someone whose father has died… I'm just really scared. What if… what if Dad dies?" Susan said in a small whisper, before bursting into a fresh load of tears.

Peter pulled Susan into a hug. The four of them swore the day their father left that none of them would ever talk about him dying in war. It was just too painful to think about. But now, what with Susan's friend telling her that her father had died, it had obviously worried Susan very much about her own father.

Peter kissed Susan's head as she cried – again – onto his shoulder. "I don't want to hear talk like that, okay, Su? Not ever. Dad will be fine. He will. Honestly." he whispered.

(Peter's P.O.V)

I have never seen Susan cry like this before. Not over anything. It's quite a shock for me, to see her like this. Susan's always been the strong one, the one who supported us when we were upset. But now I think about it… when have I ever supported Susan? I remember, when we were little, helping her up and giving her a cuddle when she fell over and grazed her knees. I remember buying her a new doll with my saved-up pocket money when Edmund stole her most precious china doll and smashed it. But really… when have I ever really supported Susan? The truth is… there's never really been a time when I could have comforted her. Not one. I think this is the first time when I have actually, truly been able to comfort and support my little sister. And she deserves it. I'm her big brother. What big brother doesn't want to protect his little sister from harm? No big brother. That's the answer to that question. Yes, she is only slightly younger than me, and yes, she is the natural leader out of the four of us… but Susan is still my little sister. And I love her to death.