Everything That Mattered - Chapter 19
Title: Everything That Mattered (19/21)
Pairing: Caspian/Edmund
Rating: PG-13
Summary: There was always something there, some feeling that Edmund had always acknowledged. As the feeling escalates, he and Caspian find themselves swept into something that neither of them had ever dared to dream of before.
A/N: I'm going to try and post the last remaining chapters in the next couple of days. I'll be going away after Christmas, and I'd like to get it all posted before then. :P
Notes: Thanks to my awesome beta xxlucyferxx for kicking my arse into gear. :)
( Chapter 1: 'A Fool's Hope' ) ( Chapter 2: 'Stubborn Man' ) ( Chapter 3: 'A Walk In The Park' ) ( Chapter 4: 'Closer' )( Chapter 5: 'High King Peter the Overprotective' ) ( Chapter 6: 'Be Civil, Peter!' ) ( Chapter 7: 'Nothing To Do With Engineering' )( Chapter 8: 'Galmian Relations' ) ( Chapter 9: 'A Little Bit More About Engineering' )( Chapter 10: 'Ow' )( Chapter 11: 'Tidings From Ettinsmoor' )( Chapter 12: 'Memories' )( Chapter 13: 'King Edmund the Interior Designer' )( Chapter 14: 'Taking Control' )( Chapter 15: 'All Hell Breaks Loose' )( Chapter 16: 'Things Take A Turn for the Worse' )( Chapter 17: 'Looking Up' )( Chapter 18: 'Welcome Home' )
Chapter 19: ‘Beloved’
Edmund smiled sleepily and snuggled further into the bed, his eyes shut against the sunlight that filtered into the room. A gentle hand stroked his hair and he sighed contentedly, cuddling closer to the body next to him. He felt gentle lips pressed to his forehead and a hand running down his side, stroking his skin gently.
His eyelids fluttered open and he was met with the sight of warm, dark eyes and a loving smile. He smiled in return and pressed his face against Caspian’s warm chest, listening to the pounding heart and breathing in his lover’s scent. Edmund shifted slightly, realising that their legs were entwined and, though it was not proper by any means, he could not bring himself to care.
“Good morning, my sweet,” Caspian practically purred. Edmund’s heart swelled and he smiled brightly at the Telmarine.
“Good morning,” Edmund replied. His fingers caressed Caspian’s cheeks, running along his jaw line, and Edmund’s eyes showed tenderness that he had yet to voice.
Caspian grinned, a rather wicked look reaching his eyes. A tanned hand began to run up Edmund’s thigh, making him smile as well. Caspian propped himself up, leaning forward to kiss Edmund’s neck. “How about a proper good morning?”
- - - - - - - - - - -
Some time later, Edmund found himself hand in hand with Caspian, walking through the gardens. It had become a ritual for them, and one that they adhered to whenever given the opportunity. Edmund was slightly disappointed when Caspian released his hand, but smiled again as an arm was swung around his waist, pulling him close. Caspian’s familiar scent washed over him and Edmund grinned, resting his hand on top of the arm wrapped around him.
He was lead over to the bench in which he and Caspian had first spoken of their feelings, and a feeling of nostalgia flowed through him. It had been a while since they had sat there together.
Edmund smiled as he felt Caspian begin to kiss him on the cheek, his lips running to his temple, to his jaw, and finally reaching his lips. Their lips touched gently before Caspian pulled away, laying his head on Edmund’s shoulder, their hands entwined in Edmund’s lap.
A cool wind swept through Edmund’s hair and he shivered slightly, pressing closer to Caspian. How was it that the other man was always warm? Edmund’s eyes closed and he sighed happily, pressing his face into Caspian’s hair.
After all this time, he still found it hard to believe that Caspian returned his feelings. Edmund knew he had his good points, but he was nothing compared to his siblings. Peter was truly magnificent, and a good, kind, man, braver than Edmund could ever be. Susan was beautiful both inside and out, with such kindness and compassion; such a wonderful, gentle woman. Lucy was a light through the darkest of times; ever sweet and warm, and always so valiant. Edmund considered himself the one that kept the out of harm’s way while they were too noble for their own safety. He was the colder one, the crueller one and he could scarcely believe that he was fortunate enough to be part of their lives. And now the noble, strong, kind Caspian was his lover? It made Edmund wonder if he’d used some sort of magic to make himself seem attractive.
“You are thinking too much,” Caspian said. He lifted his head off Edmund’s shoulder to look him in the eyes, his brow creased.
“It’s nothing,” Edmund said, shrugging. He refused to make eye contact, choosing to stare at his hands instead.
“What is wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m just peachy.”
“But why so sad?”
“I’m fine, Caspian. Really,” Edmund smiled. Caspian took his hands, playing with his fingers, as he always did. Edmund noticed a flicker of determination cross his face, only to be replaced with a look of anxiety.
“Caspian?” Edmund asked, tilting his head to the side.
“Edmund, I-”, Caspian hesitated, nervousness etched into his handsome face. Edmund gazed at him in what he hoped was an encouraging manner. “I… I love you.”
Edmund blinked, staring at the increasingly nervous looking Caspian. He wracked his brains, trying to think if he had ever actually told Caspian how he felt, but came up blank. He mentally slapped himself for his foolishness; how could he not have said it? He glanced back at Caspian, surprised to see the nerves slowly being replaced by a look of pure panic.
“I love you too,” Edmund said, smiling affectionately at him. “Even if you are a blind twat.”
“What do you mean?” Caspian asked, confusion breaking through his utter relief and happiness.
“I’ve only been in love with you for ages,” Edmund said, rolling his eyes. “I had feelings for you as soon as we met you.”
“You did?” Caspian looked rather shocked, staring at Edmund in a whole new light.
“You’re blind. Has anyone ever told you that?”
“But… so long? And you never told me?”
“Why would I? You were obsessed with Susan, you didn’t have the time of day for little old me.”
“I am sorry, Edmund.” Caspian looked genuinely regretful.
“Don’t be. Everyone’s obsessed with Susan.”
“Does it bother you?”
“No, of course not. Susan’s beautiful, why would people be staring at me?”
“You are beautiful,” Caspian murmured, running a hand down Edmund’s cheek.
A hot blush stained Edmund’s cheeks, to Caspian’s apparent enjoyment. He grinned, kissing both the cheeks as Edmund stared at him in shock, though his heart swelled at the words.
“So are you,” he replied as he finally managed to force down his blush.
“I prefer handsome,” Caspian grinned, looking rather mischievous.
“Hey!” Edmund protested. Caspian laughed, swooping down to give him a quick kiss.
“I love you,” he said again, gazing at Edmund expectantly.
“And I love you,” Edmund smiled. Caspian grinned pulling Edmund against his chest and cradling him close, ignoring Edmund’s half-hearted protests. Edmund settled in his arms, listening to his heartbeat, feeling the steady rise and fall of the firm chest. Kisses were placed on the top of his head every so often, firm but gentle hands rubbing his back. Edmund smiled, allowing himself to relax in Caspian’s hold. As long as he had Caspian, Edmund was content.
Pairing: Caspian/Edmund
Rating: PG-13
Summary: There was always something there, some feeling that Edmund had always acknowledged. As the feeling escalates, he and Caspian find themselves swept into something that neither of them had ever dared to dream of before.
A/N: I'm going to try and post the last remaining chapters in the next couple of days. I'll be going away after Christmas, and I'd like to get it all posted before then. :P
Notes: Thanks to my awesome beta xxlucyferxx for kicking my arse into gear. :)
( Chapter 1: 'A Fool's Hope' ) ( Chapter 2: 'Stubborn Man' ) ( Chapter 3: 'A Walk In The Park' ) ( Chapter 4: 'Closer' )( Chapter 5: 'High King Peter the Overprotective' ) ( Chapter 6: 'Be Civil, Peter!' ) ( Chapter 7: 'Nothing To Do With Engineering' )( Chapter 8: 'Galmian Relations' ) ( Chapter 9: 'A Little Bit More About Engineering' )( Chapter 10: 'Ow' )( Chapter 11: 'Tidings From Ettinsmoor' )( Chapter 12: 'Memories' )( Chapter 13: 'King Edmund the Interior Designer' )( Chapter 14: 'Taking Control' )( Chapter 15: 'All Hell Breaks Loose' )( Chapter 16: 'Things Take A Turn for the Worse' )( Chapter 17: 'Looking Up' )( Chapter 18: 'Welcome Home' )
Chapter 19: ‘Beloved’
Edmund smiled sleepily and snuggled further into the bed, his eyes shut against the sunlight that filtered into the room. A gentle hand stroked his hair and he sighed contentedly, cuddling closer to the body next to him. He felt gentle lips pressed to his forehead and a hand running down his side, stroking his skin gently.
His eyelids fluttered open and he was met with the sight of warm, dark eyes and a loving smile. He smiled in return and pressed his face against Caspian’s warm chest, listening to the pounding heart and breathing in his lover’s scent. Edmund shifted slightly, realising that their legs were entwined and, though it was not proper by any means, he could not bring himself to care.
“Good morning, my sweet,” Caspian practically purred. Edmund’s heart swelled and he smiled brightly at the Telmarine.
“Good morning,” Edmund replied. His fingers caressed Caspian’s cheeks, running along his jaw line, and Edmund’s eyes showed tenderness that he had yet to voice.
Caspian grinned, a rather wicked look reaching his eyes. A tanned hand began to run up Edmund’s thigh, making him smile as well. Caspian propped himself up, leaning forward to kiss Edmund’s neck. “How about a proper good morning?”
- - - - - - - - - - -
Some time later, Edmund found himself hand in hand with Caspian, walking through the gardens. It had become a ritual for them, and one that they adhered to whenever given the opportunity. Edmund was slightly disappointed when Caspian released his hand, but smiled again as an arm was swung around his waist, pulling him close. Caspian’s familiar scent washed over him and Edmund grinned, resting his hand on top of the arm wrapped around him.
He was lead over to the bench in which he and Caspian had first spoken of their feelings, and a feeling of nostalgia flowed through him. It had been a while since they had sat there together.
Edmund smiled as he felt Caspian begin to kiss him on the cheek, his lips running to his temple, to his jaw, and finally reaching his lips. Their lips touched gently before Caspian pulled away, laying his head on Edmund’s shoulder, their hands entwined in Edmund’s lap.
A cool wind swept through Edmund’s hair and he shivered slightly, pressing closer to Caspian. How was it that the other man was always warm? Edmund’s eyes closed and he sighed happily, pressing his face into Caspian’s hair.
After all this time, he still found it hard to believe that Caspian returned his feelings. Edmund knew he had his good points, but he was nothing compared to his siblings. Peter was truly magnificent, and a good, kind, man, braver than Edmund could ever be. Susan was beautiful both inside and out, with such kindness and compassion; such a wonderful, gentle woman. Lucy was a light through the darkest of times; ever sweet and warm, and always so valiant. Edmund considered himself the one that kept the out of harm’s way while they were too noble for their own safety. He was the colder one, the crueller one and he could scarcely believe that he was fortunate enough to be part of their lives. And now the noble, strong, kind Caspian was his lover? It made Edmund wonder if he’d used some sort of magic to make himself seem attractive.
“You are thinking too much,” Caspian said. He lifted his head off Edmund’s shoulder to look him in the eyes, his brow creased.
“It’s nothing,” Edmund said, shrugging. He refused to make eye contact, choosing to stare at his hands instead.
“What is wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m just peachy.”
“But why so sad?”
“I’m fine, Caspian. Really,” Edmund smiled. Caspian took his hands, playing with his fingers, as he always did. Edmund noticed a flicker of determination cross his face, only to be replaced with a look of anxiety.
“Caspian?” Edmund asked, tilting his head to the side.
“Edmund, I-”, Caspian hesitated, nervousness etched into his handsome face. Edmund gazed at him in what he hoped was an encouraging manner. “I… I love you.”
Edmund blinked, staring at the increasingly nervous looking Caspian. He wracked his brains, trying to think if he had ever actually told Caspian how he felt, but came up blank. He mentally slapped himself for his foolishness; how could he not have said it? He glanced back at Caspian, surprised to see the nerves slowly being replaced by a look of pure panic.
“I love you too,” Edmund said, smiling affectionately at him. “Even if you are a blind twat.”
“What do you mean?” Caspian asked, confusion breaking through his utter relief and happiness.
“I’ve only been in love with you for ages,” Edmund said, rolling his eyes. “I had feelings for you as soon as we met you.”
“You did?” Caspian looked rather shocked, staring at Edmund in a whole new light.
“You’re blind. Has anyone ever told you that?”
“But… so long? And you never told me?”
“Why would I? You were obsessed with Susan, you didn’t have the time of day for little old me.”
“I am sorry, Edmund.” Caspian looked genuinely regretful.
“Don’t be. Everyone’s obsessed with Susan.”
“Does it bother you?”
“No, of course not. Susan’s beautiful, why would people be staring at me?”
“You are beautiful,” Caspian murmured, running a hand down Edmund’s cheek.
A hot blush stained Edmund’s cheeks, to Caspian’s apparent enjoyment. He grinned, kissing both the cheeks as Edmund stared at him in shock, though his heart swelled at the words.
“So are you,” he replied as he finally managed to force down his blush.
“I prefer handsome,” Caspian grinned, looking rather mischievous.
“Hey!” Edmund protested. Caspian laughed, swooping down to give him a quick kiss.
“I love you,” he said again, gazing at Edmund expectantly.
“And I love you,” Edmund smiled. Caspian grinned pulling Edmund against his chest and cradling him close, ignoring Edmund’s half-hearted protests. Edmund settled in his arms, listening to his heartbeat, feeling the steady rise and fall of the firm chest. Kisses were placed on the top of his head every so often, firm but gentle hands rubbing his back. Edmund smiled, allowing himself to relax in Caspian’s hold. As long as he had Caspian, Edmund was content.