Chapter 4: The Strong Bonds

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After much huffing and puffing, the children finally made their way out in the open in safety. They thanked Mr. Beaver as he went back to the way he came. The enemy was far gone as the children stopped to take a minute of break.

Peter plopped down on the snow as his ragged breath indicating he had been running. Susan bend down and put her hands on her knees as she wheezed. Leah and Edmond collapsed unto the snow as soon as the word break was heard. All of the children were tired and a bit breathless from all the running. Peter suggested calling it a night. Leah agreed and thought it'd be a better idea that they find a place to sleep, away from danger. Peter nodded as the four set out on their journey once again.

To pass time, Leah tried to start a conversation.

"So......" She paused, pondering the choice of her words before she spoke. "What is it like to be living in England? I'm from America so I don't really know your way of life. Since we'll be living together from now on, it's necessary for me to get to know your country first."

"Well," Susan begin. She's the bookworm of the family so she has a lot more knowledge about cultures than the rest of her family. "Where we live, we have tea at 3:00 every day in the afternoon."

Leah nodded. She noticed the Pevensies always gather around at 3:00 as they shared a kettle of tea. She never understood why until now.

Seeing the conversation dying down, Leah refused to give up. "So what are your ages? If you don't mind me asking."

Peter was the first one to reply. "I'm 16"

Susan came next. "I'm 14." She said.

"And I'm 12. With Lu being the youngest. She's 10." Edmond responded.

Leah held back a gasp. She knew Edmond looked like he's the same age as her but she didn't realize that he is the same age as her.

"How old are you?" Edmond asked her back with interest.

"Same age as you. 12, going on 13 in April 18th." Leah replied.

Edmond grinned."We're the same age! I thought you're Lucy's age! You seriously look young for your age ya know?"

Leah sighed."I get that a lot." She said. "I'm a Chinese American."

Everyone gasped.

"But your parents are American! I've always wondered why they're white and you're different." Edmond said."Not to be rude or anything, but how?"

Leah grinned. She loved to tell other people her story.

"Well, it's a long story. If you're okay with my rant then I'm more than happy to tell you more about myself."

Peter Susan, and Edmond looked at her with interest. Leah took that as a yes and continued.

"I was abandoned as an orphan three days after I was born. But then I was being fostered by a couple who can't have children of their own. So they raised me until I was 7, since they're fostering me, they can't claim me as their child so they put me up for adoption. I was then adopted into the McMaster's family. And that's the end of my story."

After Leah finished her story, silence fell upon the Pevensie children. Leah was afraid that she had done something wrong. Immediately she told them some other things she had never told others about.

"I've always been the only child. I wanted a brother or even a sister....... Seeing you guys made me yearn for a sibling of my own. But my adoptive parents are never able to have children of their own so that's why I'm adopted........ "

A tear escaped the corner of Leah's eyes. She quickly wiped it away but was still too late. Peter managed to catch up on her and gave her a hug from behind her.

"I see you as one of us Leah." He whispered. "I saw how you made Lucy happy, it made me happy too. Lucy's always been the one being left out by other kids. It means a lot that you made yourself available for Lucy. She's never been happier."

Susan came up as well. "Peter's right. We've never seen her happier. Thank you for being a good friend to her."

"So basically, you just claimed me as your sister?" Leah raised her head to look at Peter and Susan.

They both laughed. "Yeah, you're one of us now. Even though you're a McMaster, you'll forever be a Pevensie to us." Peter smiled.

"Well, you're my friend to me. We're the same age so you can't be my sibling." Edmond pipped up. Leah pulled away from the hug and raised an eyebrow in amusement as she stared at him.

"Oh? So now you see me as a friend. What about when we were on the train? You didn't want to be friends then!" Leah teased.

Edmond looked away in embarrassment."Let's forget about earlier. I want to be friends. Can we be friends?" He begged with his big, soft brown eyes. Leah laughed and nodded her head.

The rest of the walk was pleasant as the children laughed and joked. At last, a small cave can be found.

"Let's rest there." Peter said. "And we'll proceed tomorrow."

By that time, Leah was shivering as her teeth chattered against the cold of night. Edmond noticed this and offered her his coat. She declined and pointed out that he'll get sick if he give her his coat.

Peter and Susan had already collapsed on the floor and was already sleeping peacefully. Just as Leah was wondering about what to do when Edmond suddenly wrapped her up in a hug as he opened his coat to bring Leah warmth. Both children blushed.

"Hope you're feeling warmer." Edmond said. His hot breath brushed against her face.

"Y...... Yeah, definitely......" Leah stuttered as she tried to look away from Edmond's face. But exhaustion had gotten the better of her as she drifted off to sleep leaning against Edmond's chest.

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