A/N: I own nothing.

Ike sat by the stern of the boat, lost in his own thoughts. So much pain was to come…but at least he had the company to keep him occupied. Soren was always there for him to vent to, Titania and Oscar were there for guidance, and everyone else made him feel on top of the world. Especially…

"Ike, Ike! Princess Elincia asks for your presence." Mist said to him in her usual perky manner.

"May I ask why?" said the commander, smiling at the irony of his sister's sudden interruption of his thoughts.

Mist only shrugged and ran away to do goddess-knows-what.

Ike made his way to the cabins, wondering what Princess Crimea needed to speak to him about. He opened her cabin door (and thereafter realized that was incredibly rude of him) and found the beautiful woman pacing around the room. When he came in, however, she stopped and looked up at him. She smiled.

"My lord Ike…thank you for coming so quickly."

"Of course, Princess Elincia. Is there a problem?"

"No, not at all. But there is a matter on my mind I have been…struggling with lately."

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

Elincia sat down on her bed politely. "Yes, actually, there is. I want to know…if anything can become of us."

Ike was stunned. Princess Elincia was simply his employer…he never thought that she would ask for anything more. Trying not to let his voice reflect his vulnerability, he said, "You are my employer. Whatever you wish for…I must comply."

Elincia stood up and walked over to him, staring into his sapphire eyes. "Please…ignore the contract for the moment. I need to know, Ike. Do you love me?"

Of course he did. He could not go two minutes of a day without thinking of her. He knew – or, rather, thought – that nothing could happen. Ike accepted it as a part of life. He tried to move on…but it was much too difficult.

Ike tried not to choke as he spoke the words he had been dying to say to her, "Yes. I love you, Elincia…ever since the beginning." Not being able to wait another moment, he wrapped his arms around her waist and closed the space between their lips. Elincia soaked in the passionate moment by draping her arms around his neck. There was no war, no troubles, no needs…every problem had been forgotten in this one moment.

Ike, still holding onto Princess Crimea, walked to the bed where he laid her down and put himself on top of her. Nothing more. They hadn't changed positions…it was simply more passionate this way.

Suddenly, they could hear the door burst open. Before Ike had time to get off of the Princess, Mist had already started speaking. "Princess Crimea, I wanted to know-" She covered her mouth quickly when she saw that Elincia was a bit preoccupied at the moment. "I…um…I'll…come back…later." Mist ran off.

Ike and Elincia looked at each other for a moment, realizing they might have just scarred his little sister, and ran after Mist.

A/N: This is my first Fire Emblem fic…this is also the first romance story I've EVER written. I wanted to try something different. It probably isn't very good…but please review and CC is appreciated. Thanks!