"Robin! Hurry Up!"

"It's the middle of the gods forsaken night Chrom. Give me a break"

"Would you rather my wife run you through with her lance after I tell her you wanted to sleep through the birth of our child?"

The words "my wife," stung like Virion's arrows on one of his good days. It had been close to a year since Robin and Cordelia had started courting, yet seeing Chrom and Sumia together still broke his heart. He so desperately wants to love Cordelia and only her, but there is just something in the back of his mind that refuses to let go. The sad thing in his mind is that the only reason why Cordelia put up with his desires for another woman, a married one no less, was because she felt the exact same way for Chrom. But just what is it that is holding him back? After all he did lose the-"

"ROBIN! GET BACK OVER HERE!"

Chrom's voice came from behind the pondering tactician. Realizing that he had overshot the corridor to the medical chambers, he cursed his inattentiveness and ran back to Chrom, before bending over in exhaustion.

"Now isn't the time to rest Robin. You used to be able to run distances much further than this during the war with Plegia. Is wartime the only time you thrive?"

"Shove it your highness. I was sound asleep in my room, which is across the entire damn castle I might add, before you so rudely woke me up. You on the other hand, have been a nervous bundle of energy for the past month. Exactly how much sleep have you had the week? You look like a wreck. I would suggest a shower and a trip to the royal barber unless you want your new child to believe you are a slob of a king."

"Why you…" Robin could see the wheels turning in his friend's head for the first time in a long while behind the enraged stare. Nobody, not Robin, not Frederick, not even Sumia could get through to him in the previous week. Not that anyone could blame Chrom. The birth of his child was a big deal after all. "You are right as usual. I just have not had much time to think about anyone but Sumia and our unborn child."

"Nobody is blaming you for your actions. You should be stressed. But remember, the physicians have all said that the child sounds healthy, and every priest and cleric in Ylisse is praying for the safe birth of your child." Robin placed his hand on Chrom's shoulder with his well practiced fake smile, "Now let's get moving. Sumia has been quite moody lately."

As they ran towards the birthing chambers, Robin reached towards the object in his pocket. Here he was yet again and couldn't help but wonder if this time would be any different. Sadly, he found himself return to thinking how much he wanted to trade places with Chrom.


"You know you should really hasten things with Robin. You never know when another woman will come in and steal him away from you," Sumia was able to breath out.

Was her best friend really this naïve? Or did she know and was simply torturing her? Cordelia forced herself to smile as she tried to comfort the soon to be mother. She gave a knowing nod and stared at her friends hand.

"I know, but we decided that we want didn't want to rush. He is the head tactician of the army and I've been promoted to captain of the Pegasus Knights. If either of us were to forsake our duties to be with the other, it would slow the rebuilding of Ylisse, and I want the royal child, the child of my best friend, to be able to live in a beautiful city, not burnt ruins." While all of this was technically true, Cordelia's guilt continued to grow and grow. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew that the reason she hadn't pressured Robin, much less acted herself, was because her heart desired another man… the father of the child about to be born in front of her very eyes.

As a lone tear ran down her face, Sumia caught it and a look of concern shot across her already pained face. "Cordelia? I know Robin will make his move soon. I have seen the way he acts around you after all."

"Oh… It's not that. I'm just so happy that you are having a child. I just know that you and Chrom will make such great parents." Yet another lie. When would she be able to stop? "Your child will become a great ruler one day. I just know OW OW OW… Don't squeeze so hard."

"Sorry, I can't help it." A slight grin was quickly replaced by another painful yell. "Besides… one day I'll tell you the exact same thing."

Everything that she had ever felt leading up to that, all her jealousy, all her rage, all the pain she had bottled up inside her, she wanted Sumia to hurt like she did. As she opened her mouth to let everything floods out of her…

"Wow oh wow… that was a loud one." Lissa, followed by Maribelle, Libra and the rest of the royal physicians entered the room, all looking eager to participate in the birth of the next heir to the throne. All the extra attention was enough incentive for Cordelia to hold back.

"Oooo I can't wait to meet my new niece or nephew. They are going to be soooooo cute. I'm going to spoil them rotten." Lissa was practically jumping in excitement before Maribelle was able to calm her.

"Indeed, and I shall gladly be there to straighten them out and teach the ways of being a proper noble if need be."

"Thank you Maribelle. Knowing Lissa, I am sure we will need it. You both will be great Aunts. I'm sure of…" Her latest thoughts cut short by another contraction.

"My lady, it is time." As Libra was speaking in his usual calming voice, He began constructing a small shrine. "I may not be able to help very much, but I shall pray to Naga that this birth is without complications."

Sumia almost leaped out of bed in worry. "But… but Chrom… Chrom isn't here yet."

"I'm sure Robin is dragging my brother here as we speak. We don't have time to wait anyway. The baby is on its way now."

"HOLD ON SUMIA! ALMOST THERE!"

Chrom burst into the room, shortly followed by an breathless Robin, only to rush right into his wife's predicament, and as quickly as he entered, he fell backwards, a glazed look in his eyes.

"Are you serious? You drag me all the way across the castle only to faint?" Gasping for air, Robin knew that this would hurt Chrom's reputation and his standings with his wife. "For crying out loud… everyone work on… that. I'll find a way to drag this fool out of the way." Looking around at the occupants of the birthing chamber, he noticed that the one person he needed to see was missing. "By the way, where is Cordelia? I figured she would be here."

This broke everyone's trance, eyes breaking away from the once great warrior. Looking around, Sumia's face had become laced with worry. "I was sure she was still here. Maybe she stepped out for air?"

"Maybe… after I move the proud father, I'll go search for her." Robin only said this to calm Sumia, as she was the one who needed it the most right now. As much as he wanted to stay and comfort the woman before him, he knew Cordelia was in pain right now, and she had been increasingly depressed the last few months.


He had been running through the halls of the castle for the last twenty minutes. Just where could she be? It's not like she could have gotten very far. Robin knew that of everyone in the shepherds, Cordelia was the worst runner. It was the whole reason she became a Pegasus Knight. Maybe if she really wanted to get away from everything, she would try to get as close to the sky as possible. Heading up to the roof, Robin's mind could not suppress the worry in his mind.

The night sky was cool and refreshing for the exhausted tactician, but there was some sense of foreboding hanging in the air. Robin bent over to take a second to catch his breath, sweat dripping onto the floor. It didn't take long to find Cordelia who was sitting against the outer wall, arms around her legs, and head in between her knees. Robin couldn't see her face, but he knew it would be stained with tears. As he approached he could hear saddened whispers.

"It should have been so easy… why couldn't I do it…"

"Cordelia…"

"Why was I so scared?"

"Cordelia, you were watching your best friend give birth to the child of the man you love. Your fear is natural."

"It should have been so easy… I'm not afraid of heights… why? Why? Why?"

This revelation hit him hard. Not afraid of heights? But that would mean… Looking down at the ground around her, Robin noticed small fragments of the stone above her. Stone that formed the barrier between the roof floor and empty air. She planned on… No. He refused to believe that she was that weak. Watching the desperate woman on the ground, he couldn't help but notice her trembling. Taking off his jacket, he placed it over her shoulders. She lightly jumped at the contact but quickly settled seeing that it was Robin sitting down offering her comfort yet again.

"How much of it did you hear?"

"Enough to know…"

"I see…"

A fresh batch of tears began running down her face. "I'm so tired of everything, Robin. I'm tired of seeing them so happy. I'm tired of wondering if I could ever have the same. I'm tired of failing you… I know you're trying so hard. So am I… but I just can't seem to get him out of my mind and yet here we are… me crying in your arms."

"Cordelia, please listen…"

"No you listen. For once in your life take an order. Go find someone else. I've seen how other women look at you. They adore you and they should. I'm a lost cause. Stop worrying about me and worry about yourself. Go find someone who will love you and only you. You of all people deserve it."

Robin had heard enough. How could she not see it? She was the one who deserved to be happy. People had given their lives to allow her to live and she was willing to throw it all away. And for what? A man who would never see her and some… some… heartless… thing so caught up in the past that he shunned such an amazing woman. An amazing woman who could be his only chance for happiness, after all, how many chances does one get in a lifetime? At that point, tears were streaming down his face. He was the one who failed her and he knew he couldn't continue like this.

With his new resolution in mind, there was only one thing to do. Something that he should have done that night an eternity ago. He reached out, grasping her behind her scarlet hair, and pulled her in for a kiss. Though surprised, she didn't try to pull away and soon closed her eyes to enjoy the moment. This wasn't their first kiss, and Robin promised himself it wouldn't be the last, but all others felt nothing like this one. All others felt rehearsed, only to keep up appearances. A small peck on the cheek; a kiss on the forehead for comfort, once or twice on the lips around someone skeptical, but even those were quick and empty. This one…this time he felt her heat, her passion. He could feel her desire, her need to be seen by another. And he could feel her understanding everything. His insecurities all seemed to disappear in that moment.

He slowly released her, allowing them to catch their breaths. In that split second he could see her eyes, all he saw was himself. Did this mean that she had forgotten him? Did she only have eyes for him now? And most importantly, did he share the same look? Robin didn't have much time to ponder for as soon as he pulled away he felt her arms wrap around the back of his head. Knowing exactly what she wanted, he braced himself for another round, which couldn't come fast enough.

There they sat for the next five minutes knowing that no matter what happened in the future they would stand side by side. Reaching for his pocket, Robin began playing with the small box. Would now be a good time? It wasn't exactly the setting he wanted. Cordelia noticed his fidgeting and began wondering what was troubling her new found love.

"Is… is there something wrong?"

"It's… nothing. We should head back before the others really start to worry. I'm sure everyone has seen the baby by now."

"You're probably right. Sumia did say she wanted me to be the first to hold her firstborn."

The two began the trek back to the birthing chambers. However, Robin's mind kept replaying those ten minutes which seemed like a lifetime. Was now really the best time? After he had seen her so desperate? He didn't even know if it was what she wanted. They had only traveled a third of the way but Robin abruptly stopped in the middle of the hallway.

"Something is wrong isn't it? If you want to pretend that nothing happened between us, I understand. I'll try to forget…" Cordelia's face began to give in to sadness but she possessed no more tears to cry with. Robin could see the how much she needed him in her life and that was all the reason he needed.

"Actually… I have something important I need to ask you."


Robin and Cordelia arrived in the birthing chamber arm in arm. The room was bustling with life, despite the sun only beginning to rise. As they entered, they were greeted by two glaring new aunts.

"Look who finally decided to join us."

"I expected better of you two. You know it is rude to not be punctual for the birth of a child."

"Lissa, Maribelle, please lower your voices. Besides, I'm sure those two had something they needed to take care of. Now then Cordelia, I did promise you would be the first one to hold her."

Cordelia rushed over to her friend's side, gently picking up the new heir. "She is so beautiful… just like her mother. What is her name?"

"Lucina…"

"She is so beautiful."

"Don't worry… I'm sure yours will be just as beautiful. I just have one question though. What happened to taking it slow?"

Cordelia couldn't help but smile at Robin, knowing that her oblivious friend was right. Someday, they will have the most beautiful children. Someday.


Random Gibberish (Authors Notes):

And it is… FINITO. As a person, I must say that I am sorely underestimating my writing. I expect some things to be short and boom, it's the longest one yet. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? YOU DECIDE! It was also much more depressing than I ever imagined. Seriously, I went from plotting to murder my best friend to attempted suicide. What is wrong with me? Good thing I decided to end on a good note… yet again. Hmm… I go from depressing to sickly sweet. Maybe I am a bipolar writer? Who knows. Not me XP. Now it is time for spoiler fun time. Next up is war. Bloody, messy, horrible war. I LOVE IT NYAHAHA

Damn it Henry. You may be my favorite character but I'm never letting you do the spoilers again. Besides, no one is going to die in this story. Why are you looking at me like that? What was that? What did you just mutter? Did you curse me? I don't feel so good... *blech* Did I just barf rainbows? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Well now that that's over, by all means, follow it, ignore it, favorite it, hate it, frame it or print it out just to burn it, its all good. But please leave a review. Reviews tell me what I need work on so I can make future works even better.

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters, the setting, the other literary stuff I used or the monkey in the closet.