Robin's eyes jerked open as a baby's crying filled the air. Bolting upright in his chair he saw that the culprit was Morgan, the newborn bawling her eyes out from within her crib. An instant later Marc began to wail at the top of his lungs, woken up by the screaming of his twin sister.
"Lucina," Robin groaned, rubbing his eyes. Staggering forward he went to pick up the two children, cooing softly to calm them. In the chair next to him Lucina stirred, raising her head groggily. Dark rings surrounded her eyes, her hair a matted mess. Not that he looked any less ragged. Afterall, neither of them had gotten more than a couple hours of sleep a night for, gods, what had to be almost a month now. Being kept wide awake caring for the two infants around the clock would tend to do that.
"Here, they're probably hungry again," Lucina slurred, taking the two children off Robin's hands.
Sighing in thanks, Robin ran a hand through the tangled mess that was his hair and slumped back into his chair. Sun streamed in through the window, the morning having arrived some time ago. Last he remembered the sun had just been peeking out over the horizon. He and Lucina must have dozed off, maybe an hour ago.
"I'll get us some tea," Robin murmured, standing.
"Alright," Lucina affirmed, too exhausted to say more.
Stooping he kissed Lucina on the forehead, then turned to go, leaving his wife to feed the squirming infants.
Heading down the hall he made his way to the dining hall, figuring that breakfast had already been laid out some time ago. Sure enough a wide assortment of food had been spread out over the long table. At the far end he spied Sumia seated in one of the chairs. She did not seem to notice him at first, her attention focused on slowly pouring herself a cup of tea. Giving her tendency to trip up or otherwise fumble, it was probably for the best she was taking her time.
"Oh, hi Robin," Sumia greeted, smiling cheerfully. The Ylissian queen hummed to herself as she added cream and sugar to her steaming teacup.
"Gaaaaaah," Robin moaned, staggering over to the table. He at once began fumbling for the tea cups, nearly knocking over one of the saucers of milk.
"Woah, that bad, huh?" Sumia "I take it the little ones have been keeping you up at night? Either that or you've been turned into a slightly healthier looking Risen. Grunt once if you're alive, twice if you're undead."
Robin grunted three times, a smile tugged at the corners of his lips despite how damn tired he felt.
"Ah, that completely explains it then." Sumia rolled her eyes, though her expression and tone remained as chipper as ever. "You and Lucina really have been looking rather down in the dumps the past couple days. Parenthood harder than you thought?"
"Everything I read before hand said it would be difficult, but this…" He trailed off, giving an almost insane laugh. "Give me a thousand battles to plan in a week and I'd take it in a heartbeat."
Sumia laughed at that. "You're telling me. Lucina was just as bad for the month before the Valm war broke out. Not that Cynthia's been any better. Chrom's watching her right now. Her older self's been a huge help too."
"Heh, I wish Morgan and Marc could pitch in more, but they've been busy with the Shepherds. Morgan particularly, being the new tactician and all," Robin said, referring to the twin's older, time traveling counterparts.
"How is Morgan doing, by the way?" Sumia asked.
"Better, all things considered. I thinking being in charge of the Shepherds is giving her something to keep her mind off Inigo leaving," Robin replied. He sighed running his hands over his face. "As much as part of me would like her help, this is probably better than her."
"Well, if you want I'd be happy to take the them off your hands for a day or two. I've seen you and Lucy: the two of you look like you could really use a break," Sumia offered.
"No, I couldn't. You already have enough of a handful with a newborn of your own. It wouldn't be fair," Robin argued quickly. Turning back to the table he poured two cups of tea for himself and Lucina.
The sound of heavy footsteps marked the approach of Chrom, a bundle of cloth and blue hair cradled in his arms. "Morning Robin," the Exalt greeted, stopping to kiss his wife before turning to the tactician proper.
"Morning," Robin mumbled in kind, his voice devolving into little more than grumble by the end of the word.
"Oh, that bad, huh?" Chrom asked, mirroring his wife's earlier comment.
"Yeah. Seems like he and Lucy have been up most of the night," Sumia answered for him, taking her infant daughter from her husband's arms. By comparison to Robin's own children, little Cynthia seem remarkably well behaved. "I was actually just offering to watch the little ones for a day or two so they could get some proper rest."
"Hmm," Chrom grunted, eyeing Robin up and down. "Yeah, I can see why that would be needed. I take it he refused?"
"I just couldn't. It's our responsibility and-" Robin started to argue, though was silenced by a Chrom's raised hand.
"Robin, am I going to have to order you as Exalt to take a break, or will you be reasonable this time? As your friend and as Lucina's father, I am going to have to insist on this one. You do need the rest," Chrom said, his voice stern.
"But what about my other duties here?" Robin countered, grasping for some argument he could use to justify refusing the offer.
"You mean the same tactician duties that have kept Morgan and Marc from helping out with the little ones?" Chrom countered, crossing his arms as he gave Robin a flat stare.
Darn, he had him there. He didn't exactly have any real work to be done. He'd made sure of that so he could focus his attention to caring for the newborns.
"But…" Robin started to argue again, regardless of how badly he was losing.
"It's really not any if things get to be too much of a handful we can always get one of maids to help us," Chrom interjected. A knowing smile tugged at the edges of his lips. "Besides, I am sure Sumia would be besides herself at the chance to spend some time with our grandchildren."
"Would I? Is that even a question?" Sumia exclaimed. She bobbed her head, looking as though she was having to keep herself from bouncing up and down in excitement. "I haven't really gotten a chance to be a grandmother yet. I mean, for the little ones. I've spent plenty of time with the older two, but it's not the same, you know?" She gave Robin a pleading, puppy dog-like look.
Robin opened his mouth to argue, then stopped himself, exhaling his breath in a defeated sigh. "Right… a tactician has to know when he's defeated. I'm not going to win this argument, am I?"
"Nope," Chrom answered, grinning. He turned to Sumia. "See, he is learning."
"I never said he wasn't," Sumia said, smiling too. Her smile however still seemed more as one of excitement than anything else.
"If anything it's that you two have learned how to get under my skin," Robin said, sighing a second time. "Pulling the Exalt card and guilting me into it…" he added, grumbling.
"So it's a deal then?" Chrom asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Robin waved a hand in weary surrender. "You're right too, I suppose. At this rate Lucina and I are going to drop dead at any moment."
"Good, good," Chrom said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "In that case we'll start looking after them for you this evening so you two can get a good night's rest. That's an order."
"Yeah, yeah. I heard you the first time," Robin said, holding his hands up with palms out in surrender. Sighing wearily he scooped up his and Lucina's teacups then turned to leave. "I'll let Lucina know you're giving us the next day or two off. See how she want's to spend it." With that he headed out of the dining hall, Sumia waving cheerily as he left.
Ascending the stairs that led to the room where his wife was undoubtedly waiting for him, Robin could not help but be torn in regards to the unexpected turn of events. On one hand he and Lucina really did need time to relax and recharge before they were completely broken down. Chrom and Sumia were right in that regard. Yet he could not help but worry that something might happen while he and Lucina were absent, and that terrified him. He guessed Lucina would feel much the same.
Stop being stupid, Robin. You can trust Chrom and Sumia to take good care of the twins. We are at peace with no wars or fell dragons around to muck that up. So relax and take a well deserved break.
Forcing a smile onto his lips, Robin mounted the last few steps and went to tell Lucina the news.
. . . . .
The sound of leaves waving in the wind and the rustle of the swaying grass filled the air, mixing with the sweet music of a stream bubbling away from where it ran alongside the the quiet country road. The song was joined by the chirping of the birds that flittered among the branches overhead in search of the the insects that dwelt there. Overhead the sun shone down, high and warm, but not uncomfortably so, balanced by the cool breeze that blew over the rolling Ylissian countryside.
Robin and Lucina walked in silence, not wanting to spoil the pleasant calm. Besides, words were not needed between them when merely being in each other's presence and the touch of their intertwined hands were enough. The soft crunch of their boots in the dirt and the rustle of their clothes rippling in the breeze too added their own notes to the music of the world around them.
After some discussion the night before, the two of them decided to spend the next couple days traveling outside the capital to one of the smaller towns further sound. While in part the decision had been made to give them a change of pace from being cooped up inside the castle all day, it had also been decided so they would not be tempted to go back on their agreed upon vacation. If they were still in the city Robin had feared he would end up insisting on cutting it short to resume looking after the little ones. Not that their choice was a chore by any means: being able to spend time to themselves away from it all was truly a blessing
Which was why they'd decided to take the scenic route away from the more traveled roads. While it would add a couple hours to the journey, being able to take a relaxing walk through the peaceful countryside together more than made up for it in his book.
They had been going for sometime before Robin glanced to his wife. A good night's rest had already done wonders for her. No longer could dark bags be seen hanging under her eyelids, and her skin had returned to it's usual hue. Even her hair seemed brighter and more lustrous than it had the days before. However it was a glimpse of her expression that gave him pause. While she was smiling, there was a hint of worry. Her smile didn't spread all the way to her eyes, whose gaze seemed slightly removed from the waking world.
"Worried?" Robin asked, broaching the silence.
Lucina dipped her head in a nod. "I know it's foolish to worry so. My father and mother will do a fine job: finer perhaps than we have been doing. But still, I cannot help but feel like we are being selfish for not being there to look after them, even with the insistence that we relax for the time."
"I know how you feel, but they are right you know. We do need a break," Robin agreed. "Besides, what's this about your parents doing a better job of taking care of them? I don't think we were doing that terrible a job."
"I did not mean to say we were, just that both of them have far more experience. They make it look easy," Lucina corrected. "In comparison we were such a mess as a result of our efforts, where we not?"
"Which is why we need this break, at the rate things were going it was only a matter of time before our exhaustion made us more of a danger. I realized that this morning once I was rested enough to think clearly," Robin replied.
"I know, I'm just… this is the first time I've been apart from Morgan and Marc since they were born. I can't help but worry and miss them," Lucina admitted, her shoulders slumping if ever so slightly. She looked back over her shoulder, where miles away their newborn children were in the care of their grandparents.
"And you wouldn't be as wonderful a mother are you are if you didn't feel that way, just as I would be a poor father if I didn't," Robin reassured her, squeezing her hand a bit tighter. "The best we can do now is to enjoy ourselves so we are refreshed and at one-hundred and ten percent when we return to them."
Lucina slowed her pace a bit as she moved a bit closer, leaning her head against his shoulder. "I know. But I suppose it is a mother's duty to worry. Still, I still fully intend to make the most of and enjoy our time alone together."
"Good to hear," Robin murmured, pressing his face into her hair to give a quick kiss on the top if her head. "Just remember that it'll only be a few days. It's not like we're just abandoning them somewhere to grow up on their own," Robin joked, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"We'd have to be quite the terrible parents to even think of doing such a thing, regardless of the circumstances," Lucina laughed, her eyes brightening. She smiled, this one more full than the one she'd worn but minutes before. "Thank you, Robin, even if I can not keep from worrying, you have nonetheless lightened my heart."
"It's not a problem. I'd even say it's in my job description at this point, having married you and all." He smiled back at her, then turned his eyes to the wide countryside that stretched out before them. "We still have a ways to go before we reach town. Shall we?"
With that the two resumed their previous pace. Even though they could not fully escape from worry, they could instead focus on enjoying eachother's company and the tranquil peace of their stroll. For that moment they could feel content, know that the hard fought peace and happiness lay before them. And that was something they would never let go of.
Author's Note: Well then, I was originally planning to wait a bit longer on this chapter to allow myself to get ahead of schedule, but I was frankly so excited to get it out that I couldn't help but post it early.
I really appreciate all of the reviews left on the first chapter, and always I will do my best to respond to each one through PMs (unless of course you have PMs disabled or are a guest reviewer). If you would rather give feedback in private please feel free to PM me instead. Regardless your feedback and comments mean the world to me.
Next chapter will likely be out in about two weeks, so look forward to that. Until then, take care everyone and have a wonderful day.