Rebecca noticed the glow of a candle pass by her door and she knew Eliwood was up and about again tonight. He did this often, even more so with the boys gone. She sat up and waited for the pain in her back to cease. It wasn't fun growing old.

She got up and went to the library where she would find him going through Ninian's journals. When she creaked the door open she found him sitting in his chair with an open book.

"I thought I was quiet. Sorry to wake you." His face was looking older by the day. His sickness and the added stress of the war were killing him each day.

"Oh Eliwood, my body is trained to wake up by now. I thought I told you to start a fire if you were going to do this. You will get sicker."

After she got the fire started she noticed tears glistening in Eliwood's eyes.

"How do you do it? How do you keep it together all the time?" The sadness in his voice would break anyone's heart.

Rebecca smiled sadly. "I don't." She walked over and hugged him.

"They're all dead. My beloved Ninian. Lyn, Hector, and your Lowen. Now our boys are out fighting a war. Is this fate crueler than death?"

"Only if you give into despair. We can only hope that our sons come back to us safe."

Rebecca wiped his tears away.

"You always were so helpful, Rebecca. You have been a good friend to me all these years."

"Thank you, as have you."

Rebecca wiped the tears from her own eyes. She wished Lowen could see Wolt now. He would be so proud.

"So what are we reading tonight?"

Eliwood smiled. "The time Roy tried to learn archery alongside Wolt and threw a fit because he lost."

They both laughed as they remembered the day like it was yesterday.

"Roy did go through that phase where he misbehaved a lot."

"Yeah, Ninian was so distraught. I just told her that it was the joys of raising a boy."

Rebecca laughed. "I bet she was surprised such a spirited boy came from you two well mannered stiffs."

"He certainly isn't shy."

Rebecca was glad Eliwood woke her up. It was comforting to forget about the pain and remember the good times, even if it was but only a moment.