Flawed *EDITING* (Chronicles of Narnia & Harry Potter Crossover) (PeterxOC)

102- Birthdays

HOLY CRAP THIS STORY HAS REACHED 100k. 😲 I don't even know what to say, guys. You are the best thing readers ever. I read your comments and see your votes and feel all warm and fuzzy. Thinking 98% of the time, "Wow. Someone actually read what I wrote. They actually thought it was decent."

And you give me this tiny bit of hope and confidence that I need to continue writing. For that I am really grateful. You are the flipping best. :')

On another note, I've figured out what I'm calling the series: "Survival of Heros". Like it? Hate it?

Chapter Inspiration:

- Look At Me ~ Carrie Underwood

- Eyes Open ~ Taylor Swift

2021

Today was my twenty-first birthday. I woke up feeling incredibly old all of the sudden. Like only a few months ago I was still a child, an adolescent. And now, here I am, an adult. While I had been contemplating my life, Peter had surprised me breakfast in bed.

I spent the rest of the day relaxing, receiving phone calls with birthday wishes, owls from friends from the Wizard World, and watching TV. Now, I sat at a table with the six Pevensies and my family. Food was being passed around as well as stories. About me. "Oh, she was such a quiet baby. Almost never cried. I remember fearing that we were doing something wrong, but no. She was, and still is, a trooper." Mum gushed.

My cheeks were bright red from her memory. I slumped in my chair in hopes of my embarrassment going away. Peter chuckled and pulled me up so I sat at the table. I glared at him. I realized that he was going to launch into an even more embarrassing story than my mother's. He started before I could even stop him. That little snake! "I remember when I first met Laurel. It would be silly of me if I couldn't. That was the best day of my life, so far. She was just as strong and as beautiful as she is now. She showed me kindness when I felt unsafe and insecure. I trust her with my life and my heart."

My face was probably redder than my blood. It burned at an uncomfortable rate. I'm half-expected my father and, maybe, Edmund to roar with laughter at Peter's declarations. But no one objected to his words in any way. "Happy birthday, Laurel." Peter finished, grasping my hand and kissing the back of it then my palm.

I grinned, as they say, from ear to ear. More food was passed around and even a bit of wine. "Red wine? How'd you know?" I asked my parents incredulously. My father looked to Edmund, who coughed awkwardly into his fist. We laughed as his ears turned pink. Taking a sup of the glass, I had to bite back making a face at the pungent taste. "The Dwarvin kind is better." I breathed to Peter.

He grabbed my glass and took a sip. Wrinkling his nose for a heartbeat, he nodded. "Agreed. Not that this is that bad." I cocked an eyebrow. "I never said it wasn't." Peter shot me an exasperated look before looking back to the others. The cake was brought out and it took all my self-control to not grab it and run away with it. I really like cake.

"Is that red velvet?" My mouth watered. "Careful. We don't want a repeat of your fifteenth birthday!" Eva joked. My parents and siblings howled with laughter while I sat scowling at them. Lucy snickered, asking, "What happened?" My nostrils flared as Harry said, laughing still, "Moment she saw the cake she jumped up, grabbed it, and ran away with it. We found her in a broom cupboard stuffing her face."

The Pevensies laughed along, even Peter. My anger rose and I slapped his arm. "Stop laughing at me!" Peter sobered, though a smile still remained on his face. "Sorry. How come you never pulled anything like that at the Cair?" My eyes narrowed into slits. "Because I had learned my damn lesson by then! Besides, I didn't need any other reasons for the women of the world to think I was a savage." I hissed.

He held his hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry." I dismissed his apology, waiting for everyone else to stop laughing. "Can we please stop playing 'Let's All Embarrass Laurel'? I think you've won already." I scowled. Susan hugged me. "Oh alright. Sorry, Laure."

I leaned into her shoulder, suddenly thinking of how grown up she's become. Acting as if she's thirty instead of twenty. I wonder if going to Narnia hurt her more than helped. Though it certainly helped the Narnians. Maybe it was being High Queen. I bet having a country to run on your shoulders is hard to bear. I tried and couldn't do it. Imagine doing it for fifteen years compared to twelve days.

"Laurel?" Someone called. I jerked my head. "Sorry, what?" Helen Pevensie laughed softly. "I asked if you were going to eat your cake." I looked down and saw a huge slice sitting in front of me with ice cream on the side. I thanked her and started to eat my ice cream slowly. Edmund and Lucy wolfed theirs down, getting death glares from Susan.

I rolled my eyes at her when she wasn't looking. Peter and Susan ate slowly, as if they had all the time in the world. I suddenly didn't feel very hungry anymore. I pushed my cake around, feeling a bit sick. Peter nudged me. "You alright?" I mustered a smile, nodding. "Yeah, just not hungry anymore." He frowned, taking my plate and starting to eat my cake.

I got up from the table and went into the kitchen, getting a mug from the cabinet. Blowing out my cheeks, I prepared myself a quick tea. I downed it quickly, hoping that my sickness would go away quickly. Putting my cup in the sink, I turned to go back to the party. I jumped, seeing Peter in the doorway. He wore a strange expression, one I didn't really know how to describe.

"You alright?" he asked slowly. I nodded, my mouth lifting. Peter leaned forward and grabbed my hands, lacing them with his. He kissed me quickly before pulling me back to the party. It was present time! Secretly, this had always been my favorite part. (Pretty sure it was everyone else's too, but I never made it obvious.)

Eva went first, handing me a big box. I opened it to find at least ten books, some Muggle and some magical, and five movies I really wanted. "Oh, Ev! Thank you! You know how much I love 'wasting' time with books and movies." I gave her a hug and a kiss on the head. She flushed, sitting back next to Harry. Said brother went next, shooting me a cheeky grin. I raised my eyebrows at him and opened the gift. It was a combo box of Fever Fudge and Puking Pastilles.

"Harry!" I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose. He chuckled. "You work too much, Laure! I was hoping that Peter would sneak 'em into your food every once and a while." I rolled my eyes, not able to keep a straight face. Peter inspected the box, looking confused. "She won't actually get sick from these, right?"

I sniggered. "No, they're just a prank from George's joke shop." Eva stated, suddenly looking away from me. Harry averted his gaze to the ground. I swallowed hard. Somehow Fred had weaved himself into the conversation. I cleared my throat, waiting to open the next gift. The Pevensies, not including Peter, gave me a very pretty Tiffany bracelet.

My mouth hung open at how pretty it was. Peter chuckled and helped me fasten it to my wrist. "It's so beautiful! Thank you so much!" I went around giving everyone hugs. My parents, finally, handed me an envelop. There was a touching card inside with an extremely generous amount of money. My eyes widened and I all but attacked them in an embrace. "Thank you." Mum stroked my hair. "You deserve it, honey." I smiled, returning to my place on the couch.

I admired the bracelet on my wrist, feeling Peter drape his arm behind me on the couch. Though I wasn't going to ask, I wondered where Peter's gift was. Not that I needed one, but I knew that surely he wouldn't not get me one. As if reading my mind, he bent down and whispered against my ear, "I'll give you your present later." I turned my head so I could see his face better. His face gave nothing away save for the glint in his bright blue eyes.

We chatted a while longer before leaving my parents' house with the rest if the cake. While we drived back to our flat, I thought hard on what he could've gotten me. "You'll have to wait and see. I won't give you any hints." I scowled, slouching in my seat for the remainder of the car ride.