A/N: This is a short birthday present I'm preparing for a friend. It's supposed to be set sometime in the very beginning of Part 4 although I will not exactly follow the real story line. And I apologize now for the OOC-ness because I'm portraying the character as my friend thinks they really are like.

R.K.'s birthday countdown: 11 days.

All italics is flashback

Bold is emphasis

'This is a thought'

And no, I don't own Fire Emblem…so unfortunate…

11 HOURS

IKE

'I love you, Elincia.' Ike said softly.

'Oh, Ike…' she hugged him.

Ike pulled her back, 'But please understand…' he said as she caressed her cheek.

The Queen shivered, her eyes wanting to fill with tears, 'I…I…Please…'

'I wish you the best…'

Ike stared at the scarf in his hands. It had once belonged to Elincia until she had given it to him way back when they first met. He sniffed it, remembering her sweet aroma even though it was no longer there. His eyes closed as he kept remembering that day and his fist were now crumpling one of his most precious belongings.

'Ike!" Geoffrey yelled at him.

Oscar pulled Ike away.

"DO NOT INTERFERE, OSCAR!" Geoffrey yelled even louder as he started to walk towards them.

Kieran and Lucia had just appeared and Oscar, not daring to look at Ike, went to intercept them.

"Geoffrey, stop!" Lucia cried as Oscar shook his head.

"Commander, this…" Kieran tried to yell but Oscar had raised his hand, indicating him to be quiet.

Ike had turned around and both men were now face to face.

"I don't care who you think you are but I will not let you hurt Elincia."

"What happens between us isn't your concern."

Geoffrey pushed Ike, "If it involves her, it sure as hell is."

The other three had run to them, Oscar and Kieran holding back Ike and Lucia pushing Geoffrey away.

"Stop it, please Geoffrey." Lucia said staring at her brother.

"Don't worry about it Lucia," Ike said, "The Commander wouldn't know what to do anyway."

Geoffrey ran towards Ike but Lucia held him back. "I'll effing show you."

"Come on, Geoffrey," Ike said trying to break free from Oscar and Kieran, "If you really want to try, I'm right here."

Lucia held him tighter. "Please, Geoffrey…"

Geoffrey stared at his sister for a moment and then sighed, "Only because you asked me to…"

Ike laughed out loud, "Aw, what happened, Commander?" he said the last word very sarcastically, "I thought you came here to put me in my place…"

Geoffrey struggled with Lucia, who shook her head in plea. Oscar and Kieran looked at each other, not daring to loosen their grip.

"It's okay Geoffrey if you want to admit you're afraid. Elincia understood perfectly…"

Geoffrey pushed Lucia away and tackled Ike who was freed in time to be able to defend himself. As both men fell to the floor, Oscar and Kieran jumped away, the second pulling Lucia back as she tried to grab Geoffrey again.

Ike pushed Geoffrey off him by punching him the face.

"Geoffrey!" Lucia yelled as the Knight stumbled to his knees but was able to punch with his left fist. Ike grabbed Geoffrey by his shoulders and threw him back, being able to land a second hit.

"Ike, STOP!" Oscar yelled.

Geoffrey was able to kick Ike in the knee making him fall down. They both tried to get up to hit their opponent.

"Oscar, Kieran, break them up!" Lucia yelled frantically.

Both men were now taking and giving a series of hits as they rolled on the ground.

"STOP!" Elincia yelled at them. Oscar ran and grabbed Ike, struggling just as Kieran struggled to pick Geoffrey up. Lucia stood in front of both of them.

Elincia ran towards them, shocked. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Your Commander started it." Ike said as blood ran down his nose. Oscar grabbed him tighter even though Ike was not struggling.

Geoffrey answered at the same time, "That bastard needed to be taught a lesson." Kieran barely being able to hold him back even though Geoffrey could hardly see due to the blood covering his eye.

"Queen Elincia, I can explain," Lucia piped up, hoping Elincia hadn't heard either of the two.

Ike shook his head as laughed at his memory. He now understood what Geoffrey had tried to accomplish, he even applauded his effort. Slowly, his grip on the scarf was loosening. After contemplating it one more time, he folded it neatly and placed it on his pillow. Then he got up and walked out of his tent.

Just as he stepped out, he saw that Geoffrey was coming in his direction. Ike took a step forward, both men being a distance of ten footsteps away.

"The word around is that Elincia is going marry Commander Geoffrey." Kieran told Oscar one night at dinner.

Another step forward, being nine away from each other.

"I love you, Ike." Elincia said as they hugged.

Eight steps away. Both men tried hard not show their dislike towards one another.

"I can't stay with her, Soren. And what makes it worse is that I really want to…"

Seven steps away. Ike remembered the first time they had kissed.

Five steps away.

"Geoffrey is a such a good looking man," Mist said, "If I were Elincia, I would chose him."

Boyd frowned at her sentence.

"Your sister is an airhead, Ike..." Soren whispered to him, "and I say that with all the respect in the world…"

Two steps away.

Geoffrey played with a broach Ike knew belonged to Elincia.

'If I kill him, right now…' Ike thought to himself trying hard to keep a straight face.

One step away.

'We want to see Elincia happy, remember?'

Ike and Geoffrey were now right next to each other. They pushed the other one with their shoulder.

"Second place," Ike coughed.

"And yet she's with me…"

Ike stopped and turned around not being able to control himself, "But she is in love with me…"

Geoffrey also stopped and turned around, "Not anymore…"

"Whatever lets you sleep at night…"

Geoffrey readied his lance, "Say that one more time…"

Ike smirked, "Come on, Commander. Are you really that insecure? Shit, no wonder she fell for me."

Geoffrey attacked Ike with the lance, nearly hitting his ear. Ike pulled out his sword and pushed the lance away.

"Ha! That's the best you can do?"

Geoffrey frowned and attacked again. Ike ducked and stretched out his arm attacking Geoffrey with the sword. The Knight jumped back, avoiding the attack.

"Stop!" Elincia cried out.

Both men were staring at a nervous looking Elincia.

"Queen, why don't you put a leash on your little lap dog. Maybe then he'll stop trying to bite." Ike said as he put his sword away.

"You bastard, how dare you speak to her in that tone!"

"Geoffrey, enough!" Elincia commanded him.

The Knight bowed his head and excused himself.

Ike faced Elincia and bowed. He turned to look at Geoffrey once more before walking away. After he was a good distance away from him, he heard Elincia raise her voice.

Ike sighed heavily knowing that it was all his fault. His chest felt oppressed as he thought about the pain he was causing her. Ike knew well enough that he was too scared to be with Elincia and too selfish to let her go…

For everyone else: If you enjoyed it let me know. If you don't like it, still let me know. Criticism is much appreciated.