Hello there! It's been awhile, hasn't it? Sorry for my sudden disappearance. The world decided to work against me and...ah screw it. I was lazy, I didn't want to bother with the story, and I took a break. That being said, here's another story. Intended to be a one-shot, I thought maybe three or four chapters would be better. I'll get back to A Mother Who You Forgot soon. I promise!...probably.

Lissa stared out the window of her chamber. Ever since that fated battle with Grima, when Shimei made the sacrifice to ensure the god's demise, it had become a way to spend her evenings. She would always just look at the hills in the landscape, praying that he might be walking down them.

Shimei, what's taking you so long? D-didn't you tell me yourself that you'd come back?! She thought.

As she continued her inner rant, Lissa thought back to her and her husband's last conversation.

The back of Grima's back began to fade. It was an ethereal feeling; we were practically suspended by nothing. However, along with Grima, Shimei began to fade. He had taken a severe wound to the chest from Grima. While Chrom and he argued over whom to make the final blow, Grima decided to counterattack. It happened so fast, all Shimei could do was push Chrom aside. I watched Shimei struggle to breathe as Chrom and Ayaka practically engulfed him with harsh words and tears. Shimei was smiling. I knew that he wouldn't have had it any other way. When Shimei noticed me, he began to speak.

"L-Lissa...*cough*...we did it..."

"..."

" Come on...*cough*...don't ...be like that."

"...how..."

"...how?"

"HOW COULD YOU DECIDE TO LEAVE US? DID EVER CONSIDER HOW WE FEEL?!"

"..."

"I-I...*sniff*...I just don't..."

"Lissa..."

I looked up to see that he had almost completely faded.

"I-I'll be...ight...ck..."

Lissa returned from her thoughts. She gazed over to the cloak hanging on one of the poles of her dresser mirror.

"Shimei, Naga wasn't wrong was she? Are our bonds strong enough for you to return?" Lissa mumbled.

"Sounds like you're the one who needs to come back." A voice called to her.

She turned to see her greeter was Chrom.

"Oh, Chrom, watcha up too?" She asked with a fake smile.

He had taken notice of Lissa's behavior. It was only natural. The first war had taken her sister, and the conclusion of the second stole her husband from her as well. However, Shimei wouldn't want her to be depressed all the time. Even learning of her sister's miraculous survival only kept her happy for a while. Shimei lay deep in heart, and now a part of it was missing.

Is that why you said you'd return? To keep us from falling into depression? Are you really out there? No. No, I can't think like that. Especially not in front of Lissa. Chrom thought.

"I actually came for your help, Lissa." Chrom stated. He needed to stay on topic.

"Mine? What for?" Lissa asked.

"We're reuniting the Shepherds! The holiday of Grima's defeat is fast approaching." Chrom continued.

"R-right, it'll have been one year now..." Lissa mumbled looking downward.

Chrom wanted to punch himself in the face. Then again, that's what he had his wife for. Sully would generally knock him around to keep him in line, or just out of boredom. Chrom cleared his throat and continued.

"Yes, well-I'd better start sending letters and such. We've got a week before the festival! ...Do you think you could round up a few yourself?"

"Yeah, I can. I'll go now." Lissa stated.

After parting, Chrom stood outside the door. He gave a heavy sigh and walked off consoling himself.

The next week was spent locating and gathering the once brothers in arms. Some were easy to locate, others remained distant for a reason or another. However, the siblings managed to gather them all in the end. They met at the mess hall in the garrison for a quick reunion and toast. They toasted to those that fell in previous war, of course that would only be Shimei. After the war, Chrom and Lissa learned that Emmeryn survived her execution, but with her memory and speech in shambles. Even Say'ri was once again reunited with her brother, or more precisely, an alternate timeline of Yen'fay.

"Alright, everyone, I hope you know why I called you all here." Chrom declared to the Shepherds.

"It's for the festival, right?!" Nowi exclaimed.

"Nowi, come on, try to simmer down woulda'?" Her husband, Donnel, asked.

"~Festival, Festival! Buy some food and eat al'~!" Nowi chanted while bouncing on the bench.

It was refreshing that she was still as upbeat as ever; refreshing...to some extent.

"*Ahem* Yes, well, that IS the main reason. However, this is in the honor of Shimei. While I want you to relax and enjoy yourself, remember, your behavior is of key-importance." Chrom warned.

He specifically stared at Donnel and Nowi, who began to slump in their chairs when the noticed the glare. The rest of the Shepherds gave a few words in Shimei's name and then left for the festival. It was to be held in the fields where Chrom, Lissa, and Fredrick first met Shimei. As the group walked, a few could be seen chatting amongst themselves.

"They're really pulling all the stops out, aren't they?" Stahl asked Cherche, as the couple move forward in the crowd.

"Well, only such is necessary. Besides, aren't you one to talk? Didn't spend weeks learning my culture just to impress me?" Cherche responded with a giggle.

"H-hey! I was desperate okay?" Stahl stammered with a slight blush. As he looked the opposite direction, he noticed Ayaka in the crowd.

Haven't talked with her since the big fight... Stahl thought to himself.

"Hey, I'm going to go speak with Ayaka." Stahl stated to Cherche. His voice was demanding, but seemed more like a question of approval.

"Alright, go ahead. Just remember our golden rule. Try any of that fiery passion on another girl and..." Cherche trailed off. As she spoke she made a hand sign that looked like a dragon.

Stahl gulped, nodded, and went over to Ayaka.

Ayaka's appearance seemed like she handled Shimei's choice well. She was prepared to sacrifice herself, but Shimei never gave her the chance. Ayaka bared the Heart of Grima as well, but that faded after the battle. Since then she's been rather distant and quite. She said very little as if she was ill and never really smiled when she thought she was by herself. However, when someone talked to her, she would put a fake smile and pretend nothing was wrong. Stahl was determined to break her from her depression. He didn't know Ayaka personally like Henry or Libra, but it wasn't in his nature to leave a friend in need.

Stahl wasn't the only one who wanted to speak with Ayaka. Virion had set his sights on her as well, since all of his other "destined partners" had been married off and had future kids. The former Duke was in high spirits for someone who lost his power to his previous assistant, Cherche.

Along with the Archest of Archers was Tharja. Tharja never got over her affiliation for Ayaka, even after marrying Libra. It was rather creepy, actually, but then what wasn't creepy about Tharja? A year of separation turned Tharja into a lost puppy after seeing Ayaka; a lost, stalker puppy.

Ayaka didn't mind the constant hollow compliments or unsettling stalking, because her mind was clouded. For the first week after the war, she wouldn't stop cursing Shimei's name. A year later, she just questions if he'll ever return. Shimei was the only family member she had left. She had never settled down like Shimei had planned to do with Lissa, and as such turned into a bit of a sloth. Since she was now an in-law, Chrom and Lissa gave her lodging in the castle. Ayaka just nodded. She never was sure why Shimei's disappearance had done this to her. Maybe it was the fact that someone with so much waiting for him, gave all of it up when she could have instead. Maybe it was the loss of a cherished brother. Regardless how she appeared was contradicting how she felt.

Stahl approached Ayaka with that same, plain smile.

"Ho there Ayaka!" Stahl yelled getting her attention.

"Oh, Stahl. Hey there, how have you been?" Ayaka asked in response.

"Eh, same old same old, how about you?" Stahl replied.

"O-oh...um, good." Ayaka stated. Her response was unsettling. She had hoped to avoid how she had been.

"Hey, so I was wondering...do you want to hang out at the festival?" Stahl asked calmly.

"Wouldn't Cherche be mad at you for going out with some girl other than her?" Ayaka asked pointing behind him.

Stahl turned to the crowd behind him. Cherche stood out instantly. He took notice of her innocent-looking face as she mouthed something.

Dead. Man.

A sweat rolled down Stahl's neck.

"Oh, yeah..." Stahl mumbled nervously.

"It's alright Stahl, thank you though. It's nice to have someone checking on me." Ayaka stated with a chuckle.

"MY dear, all you need to do is ask, and I will cater to EVERY whim! Even those more dark o-OOF" Virion tried to state out of the blue, before being punched by Ayaka.

"Again though, thank you. Now, you'd better run off, I think Cherche is unsheathing a sword..." Ayaka stated.

Stahl turned to confirm this and quickly ran to his wife.

"C-Cherche, please! Put the sword down!" he yelled.

Ayaka turned back to the exit of the Garrison. She then silently followed the crowd to the festival.

"It's going to be a long night..." Ayaka mumbled.

"Only if you want it to-" Virion stated, before Ayaka drop kicked him.