A/N:
Dear readers,
Good morning/afternoon/evening! Here is 7/14's update. Tomorrow's update will be part 4 of "When you give a..."
So...cause I'm running low on stock, I'm using a story I wasn't planning on putting up yet, being I wanted to put it up all at once as a one-shot...however, that will not be. Because of the length, or planned length, the story will definitely not be finished by the end of July.
Being that this story is linked to Chopped (cooking show), I would like people's input on ingredients that should be used in the baskets. I need 12...no 11 (I already have the meat for the entree round), so please give your opinions!
Also...another sad thing...I got If/Fates...so guess where my life is going... I will do my best to finish this month strong though!
...Sorry for the rambling...
I hope you enjoy today's reading? Kudos and comments appreciated!
I do not own or have the rights to Fire Emblem Awakening or any of the characters. I do not own Chopped, or have any rights to the Food Network series.
Early morning, but it was a few hours before the sun would rise; Robin was sitting straight up in bed, breathing heavily. She didn't want to wake up, but she had. The dream wasn't bad, like the one's she had in her younger years, and intermittently now, but it had been…strange. Still, the dream hadn't finished, and she wanted to know how it ended. Would she ever find out? Probably not; when you wake up from a dream, it's not like leaving a movie on pause, or putting a bookmark to save your place. When a dream ends, it ends.
"Love, are you well?" Jumping out of her stupor, she noticed a warm hand on her thigh, and turned to see her husband looking at her. He was obviously groggy, but awake. Robin nodded. "One of those dreams again?" His hand gently rubbed her leg; similar to the movements when he rubbed her back after each nightmare.
They had known each other for thirteen years, been together for nine, and married for six. He had seen several episodes, the first within only a few months of dating. The moment she realized where she was, what was happening, it frightened her; not like the ominous dreams she always lived with, but the fact that another relationship would end because she was "crazy." But no, it didn't end; he stayed, he comforted, he listened. He was with her almost every episode following, reassuring her, giving her peace. Gladly, tonight was not one of those nights.
"No, not one of those dreams. I think it was the same, or a similar, world, but I wouldn't call it scary. It was just…strange."
Humming, he dragged himself closer, kissing her thigh, then finding a way to get his head on her lap. He wouldn't admit it, but that was one of his favorite views of her; seeing his lovely wife's smile from above, like a white-haired angel. "Care to share?"
"Well, it starts…"
ooo
"Mother!" Robin turned, seeing a teenage boy. "There you are! I was beginning to think we got separated." She stared at him. Yes, she had no memory of anything before two years prior, and maybe it was possible to have a son this age, assuming she was actually around thirty, and the years had been exceedingly good to her, but that didn't seem right. "Well, no harm done." He didn't seem to realize how lost to the conversation she was. "At least we can head home now. ...Goodness, the air here agrees with you! You look a decade younger, at least." He smiled warmly. The boy looked a bit like her; rounder face, the shape of his eyes, but…yes! That was it! His hair color, some hard to notice facial features, and a few of his expressions; they were her fiancée's. Of course, no one knew that they were engaged, being that she wanted to focus on her career before settling down, and the Valmese war started before they could formally announce their engagement; however, they were together. …So this was their child from the future.
"Did…did you travel back from the future with Lucina?"
ooo
"…Time travel?"
"Yes, time travel." Robin looked down at her lover's dark eyes.
"Time travel in a medieval-like setting?"
"Is there a problem with that?"
"No, it's just…different."
"I told you, it wasn't one of those dreams."
"And you have a fiancée as well?"
"Jealous are we?" A smirk on her lips.
"I'm not." She stared at him with her all-knowing eyes. "…Well, maybe a little."
"Getting jealous at yourself is cute, love."
"So, you'll marry me, even in your dreams then?" He smiled roguishly at her, making the platinum whack him on the chest, albeit playfully.
"And what if I did?"
He didn't answer, instead he stared at his wife's charming face. A soft smile, dark brown eyes, lovely silver hair framing her face. If he stared long enough, he knew that she would start blushing, which was extremely enchanting; however, if that happened, he would lose all sense of composure, so he continued the conversation. "Chrom's Lucina was there too?" The platinum nodded. "His seven year old daughter?"
"No, she's a young adult in this dream. Maybe a little older than the boy I just mentioned."
"Was the boy Morgan?"
"I'm getting to that part. Don't jump ahead of the story." Robin pokes his forehead, making the man smile. "It's so unlike you to be impatient; your interruptions are odd as well."
"This dream is different, more positive than your usual ones." Noticing Robin's frown, he kissed her stomach, looking at his wife remorsefully. "…I didn't mean it like that."
"…I know."
"So, was that Morgan?"
"Yes…" She sighed, giving in to her husband's unusual amount of curiosity. She started playing with his tousled hair, although, in his defense, things were a little "frenzied" earlier.
"A teenager, huh? Gladly we're years from that." He chuckled in her lap. Their son was only five years old. Although a handful, he wasn't as troublesome as some of their friend's children, like Chrom's younger daughter, Cynthia, or Lissa's Owain.
She hummed in agreement. "May I continue my dream now?"
"I'm all ears."
ooo
"Huh? Who's Lucina?" The boy's face looked at the platinum in confusion. "And did you seriously just ask me if I came from the future?" He finally perceived Robin's confused look. "...Why are you looking at me like that? Hello? It's me! Morgan!" He looked sad, worried, confused. He had taken the platinum's hands, staring straight into her eyes. The boy invaded her personal space quite easily, but she didn't mind for some reason; it felt familiar and almost normal. "...Your son? Love of your life and strapping young lad and all that?" He chuckled, trying to ease the tension. "Wow, you're really acting strange today. Let's go home and get you to bed." He took her hand and started leading her away. "Hmm, but which way is home?" He cocked his head. "Is it— Ngh! M-my head!" The boy curled, grabbing his head, obviously in pain.
"Easy—" Robin caught him before he fell, steadying him. "Don't try to force it! Just stay calm and listen to me. I know this sounds mad, but I believe that you came here from the future."
"Are…are you out of your mind? …That's not even possible!" The stare he returned, the "are you stupid?" stare, a signature of his father's, was being directed at her; something she hadn't received for several years.
"Actually, it is. Think about it. You said I looked younger, but look again. Closely. Do I look like I'm of an age where I could have a child as old as you?" He stared, cocking his head, trying to piece everything together. "At this point in time, in OUR time, you still haven't been born. In truth, we haven't even married."
"Y-you do look younger, but..." He swallowed, looking for something, anything that would prove he wasn't in the past; that this was his mother.
"It's hard, I know. And you don't have to believe me right this minute." She softly tussled the boy's hair; the thickness, fullness, and coarseness matching her lover's to the T. "But you must come with me. It's dangerous alone, especially if your memory is gone. I was in the same position once, you know. If Chrom, a very good friend of mine, hadn't found me lying in that field, who knows what would've happened to me..."
"Wait, you woke up in the middle of a field, too? Hah! Like mother, like son, huh? Oh, that's too funny!" Morgan smiled brightly, as if the previous conversation was forgotten.
"...Glad to see you inherited my blithe outlook. Just try to stay close will you?" She turned and started heading to the main group who were further ahead.
"Yes, ma'am!" He saluted, grin still on his face.
The platinum stopped, turning to her newly found son. She stared at him, looking over his outfit. "I think we need to do something about your class…"
"My class?" He stopped. It was odd to have a son, but what was more disturbing was the fact that he was already taller than her. Even though that made her happy, since he obviously got his father's height, it still bothered her…just a bit. "I like my class!" A pout crossed his handsome face. Staring at it longer, the more minute features of her lover became obvious.
"Still…at this point in time, no one knows about me and your father. Taking his class, seeing your hair color, everyone will find out."
"Is that really a bad thing? …Unless Father is forcing you into this!"
"No, no one's forcing me to do anything. We decided this together. We…I…I'm the tactician to Chrom's army. Having people know that I'm romantically involved with someone could make them lose their trust in me, in my skills. They might think me distracted with my beau; not giving a hundred and ten percent to this army. I can't have that happening, especially in the middle of a new campaign."
"You love Father though, right?"
"Of course I do! I may not wear his ring on my finger, but I carry it with me, always." The tactician pulled out a ring, hung on a silver chain. He stared at it and smiled, although the carefree look quickly turned into a meek one.
"Later then, maybe not today, but soon, will you introduce me to him?"
"Of course! I'm sure you'll know him when you meet the army. Even if you have no memories now, I'm sure, somewhere in that brain of yours, you'll be able to recognize him. As for your father, I'm sure he'll realize you're his son when he sees you. He might not be able to show it openly for a time, but I know he'll do everything he can to make you comfortable!"
"…Thanks, Mom." He embraced her, catching the platinum off-guard, but she returned the hug.
"Now, then," Robin smiled, letting go of the embrace to search her pockets. "How about a class change? Like a Tactician! You like hoods, right?" She held a blue and silver orb up to her son; a Second Seal which she was saving for a special occasion, and this was definitely special, wasn't it?
ooo
"So, we have an illicit romance, do we, Robin?" They had changed positions, his lovely wife lay on him, her legs wrapped around his torso, her hands and head on his chest. She stared at him in mock shock, even though she had long since lost her "innocence."
"I suppose you could see it like that…" She trailed, a similar action to what her fingers were doing across his chest.
"Was that all?"
"If it was, I wouldn't be left wondering…"
ooo
"This is your son! You're joking, right, Bubbles?" Gaius stared into the boy's brown eyes, trying to see into the hood. Morgan stared back, unperturbed by all the attention he was receiving.
"No, I'm not, Gaius. Morgan is my son. I'm certain."
"But…but you're not dating, or seeing anyone, are you, Robin?"
"Who knows, Olivia. A woman needs her secrets." The tactician gave a wink and a whimsical smile. Was she joking or serious? No one could tell, other than Robin herself. The tactician, who knew everything about the camp and its inhabitants, still, sometimes, remained an anomaly to even her closes comrades. Maybe Chrom could tell, but he seemed to not care.
"He takes after you, doesn't he, Robin? A Tactician…an army can always use another swift thinker." The lord smiled, looking over the young man.
"How are your skills with weapons?" Morgan turned, seeing a heavily clad knight standing next to him; Frederick, if he remembered correctly. The look he gave, although strict, also carried a gleam of curiosity, albeit a bit of wariness as well. The brunet eyed his Steel Sword, but made no comment to the Thunder tome he held.
"I'm proficient with magic, sir, but I definitely prefer more physical fights." He slightly raised the sword-in-scabbard at his hip. "I enjoy swordplay, but I'm not a one-trick pony."
The knight sized up the young man, then shrugged. "You seem competent enough, at the very least."
"Yah! So maybe the Teach can teach ya something, little man." The blond had his arm around Morgan, grinning. In turn, the young man reciprocated a smile.
"Hold your horses, Vaike! We have another dilemma to deal with, namely who Morgan's father is!" Lissa stomped, staring at the shirtless goof.
"Maybe we could tell if he removed his hood. His hair color could be different than Robin's."
"The Vaike can do it, Stahl, my man!" The blond started reaching for the hood, then stopped, realizing a sword was at his neck.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Teach." Although Morgan remained smiling, it sent a chill up the blonde's back. Where had he seen that look before?
"Now, now, you two," Robin giggled, separating the men. "Don't cause trouble, love." She patted her son's hand.
"…Yes, Mother." The boy re-sheathed his sword.
"Anyway, Morgan becomes very shy when you remove his hood, so I ask that you leave him be." The boy nodded vigorously. Although most knew she was bluffing, they didn't want to face the tactician's wrath.
"Do you remember your father, Morgan?"
"Ricken, was it?" The mage nodded. "Sorry to say, but I only remember Mother, nothing about my Father or the future that I supposedly come from. I just remember spending time with Mother, like studying tactics or being read stories."
"Lucina, do you know anything?" Sumia linked her arms with her daughter, who stood at the edge of the group. Although no eyes turned, ears perked around the mother-daughter conversation.
"I'm sorry to say I don't, Mother. Robin never married in my timeline, so I have no clue to who Morgan's father could be."
"Let's skip ahead in this, Bubbles. Just say who you like, and I'm sure they'll marry ya on the spot, isn't that right, Junior?" The ginger looped his arm around the boy's neck. The Thief so wanted to pull the boy's hood off, but he felt Robin's "I will kill you" stare, as well as another coming from nearby.
"The Teach would totally marry ya, if ya asked Robin." Once again, a bronzed arm slung itself over the boy.
"Definitely, Robin!" The young mage stood in front of the tactician, obviously excited.
"Myself as well, milady." The green haired knight added, to Robin's left.
The four men in front of her started arguing, causing laughter to come from various other Shepherds, but a groan from Robin.
"Never realized you were so popular, Robin." Chrom chuckled, his arm on her shoulder.
"Yah, yah." She waved the cobalt off, then almost came crashing down. Gladly, Chrom caught her, but there was no thanks for a certain Dark Mage.
"I will not let anyone else have you…" The tactician heard a hiss in her ear; Tharja clung to the back of her coat.
"She can marry who she likes, Tharja."
"You stay out of this, Chrom. This is between me and any man, woman, or thing who gets in the way of…our love."
"Do I really not have a say who I get to marry?" Arguments continue and wagers on who the Shepherd's tactician marries start. "…I guess not, then."
"Why not have a contest, Robin?" The noise of the Shepherds subsides, heads turning to the red head who spoke. "Like, maybe, a cooking contest; winner marries Robin."
"The Vaike's in!"
"Ditto."
"Me too!"
"Don't forget me!"
"Really now, don't I get a say?"
"Well, if you really don't want to marry these strapping young lads, why don't we change it to a date? After all, they say the way to a person's heart is through food." The merchant winked at Robin.
"…I really rather not."
"Just go with it, Robin. Anyway, I'm curious about Morgan's father as well."
"Seriously, Chrom?"
"Well, this is one of the first secrets you've kept from me, since you obviously know who his dad is. Anyway, knowing our group, we won't refocus until this 'mystery' is solved."
The platinum thought it over for a several seconds, but she finally sighed. "Fine, fine. Let's just get this over with."
The red head smiled. "I happen to know the perfect venue for this challenge. Let's head to the Outrealm!"