Author's Note: I'm sorry for the very large delay of this chapter. Writing these last few chapters will be extremely difficult, so please be paitent. Before this chapter begins, Cecilia is 23 years old. Here's another 2200 word chapter. Enjoy.

(Back at the camp)

Chrom looked around at the carnage that was happening all around him. People were rushing about, carrying crates, chairs, and even bowls of food to and fro across the camp in preparation of Cecilia's party. Stahl had specified exactly what the theme of said party was, so the prince had assigned Lissa as party planner. She was with Frederick, who was barking orders as per usual.

The mess tent had been expanded to accomondate the sheer size of the buffet Lissa had planned for the hungry paladin and tiny tactician. Every soldier was doing some type of work. Maribelle was chosen as cook this time, and Gaius had down-right begged for the job of designing the cake. Where are they? The prince thought. I guess the got distracted on that hill. The couple was at least half a hour late.

Frederick saw him loitering around, and yelled at him. "Chrom! I don't care if you're prince or not, just get to work!" Chrom sighed in response and picked up a chair to carry to the lunch tent. He honestly didn't know what to expect from his sister's plan, but the scene before him stuck him hard with shock. Blue and green banners crossed above his head, and three tables were filled with a wide array of food and drinks for the growing force of the Shepards. Dessert is always important at camp, but Gaius may have gone a little overboard with it. The sweet-thief had at least a hundred cakes made, and the birthday cake was still being completed.

Chrom thought to himself, I hope Stahl and Cecilia had a very small lunch. He chuckled and ran a hand through his blue hair. Gods, who can eat this much and still move.

He set the chair down at a table and continued on about his job.

(The bottom of the oak hill)

Stahl finally noticed just exactly how late they were for the party, and spurred the horse to a hard gallop down the last of the hill. The time they spent on the hill was still playing in his mind, and he could still taste Celia's lips on his even now.

The tactician's body leaned grogily against his bare back helped him remember it more vividly. The small woman's arms were wrapped around his abdomen for safety reasons, but Stahl also thought Celia was having fun with her hands. Every once in a while, her hands will trace out the muscles of his chest, and the paladin could sometimes hear a quiet moan escape Cecilia when her hands fell near his groin. The sound feuled him even more to get to camp faster, so he could have her for himself again after the party.

Cecilia loved her current situation with her husband. She got to be close to the soldier , so she took advantage of this closeness. She deliberately put her hands near his crotch, getting closer each time. She sat up and brought her face to where his neck met his shoulders, and planted a light kiss on his neck, lightly biting the pale flesh. This caused Stahl to growl in pleasure at the feeling, and when Celia lightly breathed on his neck she thought he might stop the horse right there. She continued to kiss down his back, and each time he stirred.

Cecilia hadn't noticed exactly how far they had traveled. The were at least 5 minutes away from camp, and she could see people racing from tent to tent, some with objects in thier hands. Everybody seemed to be heading towards the mess tent for some reason. She looked at her husband with a confused look, her head cocked to the side.

"What is happening? Did someone sprout wings or something?" Stahl chuckled at the last question. There was a girl who could actually turn into a dragon, but Nowi wasn't the center of attention, it was her. "You'll see soon enough. Here, come on. I've got somethin' to show you." Hebslipped bafk on his shirt and held out a large hand towards her. Celia took it, and the paladin started to drag her towards the mess tent where everybody was. He lifted up the entrance flap and pushed her into it.

As soon as they entered, Lissa blew a small horn to the left of Celia, and everybody shouted,"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CECILIA!" The small lady jumped in surprise, and then she realized what her friends had done.

The room was decorated in blue and green everythong really. From banners spanning across the room to even tablecloths rolled across all the tables. Blue was Cecilia's favorite color, and she guessed the green was to represent her husband, who wore green-tinted steel plate armor while in battle.

Her cheecks flushed pink, and her jaw was hanging as she turned towards her husband. He smiled a knowing grin, and said, "I told you I had a special day planned, didn't I? So happy birthday beautiful!" He barely got the last word out before Celia ran at him and planted a kiss square on his lips. They tumbled to the floor, and laid there for a few momemts, thier lips entrapped in a kiss. She pulled away from him and stood up to survey the scene around her. The large group of soldiers had parted to reveal a massive buffet of food whole table filled with desserts to the side. Then, a large mass of people started to gather around the small woman to talk to her. Chrom was first; he walked up and wrapped his arms around her neck and told her happy birthday. Then came Frederick, Lissa, Sully, Vaike, and Virion all at once. They all gave her a hug at the same time until Celia asked them for space. The rest of the Shepards came to her and said various versions of the same thing Chrom said. Gaius and Maribelle were last. The two got closer to her and told her that they had planned out this meal especially for her and Stahl and that they hope she enjoys it.

When everbody had came forward (even Lon'qu, the swordsman who was terrified of women), Cecilia looked at nobody in particular and said, "Thank you, everybody for this fantastic celebration, and now let's eat until we're sick!" Everyone cheered and started to line up for food. Celia and Stahl got to go first, and the knight couldn't be happier. There was chicken, duck, beef, and even bear meat to choose from, and farther along tne line was bread and fruits and vegetables to make a hearty meal that was even fit for Vaike and Gregor.

Stahl had piled a small mountain of food on his plate and proceeded to sit down. There was two coushioned chairs had been placed in the middle of the extra long table for the special couple. Celia noticed she didn't even glance at the dessert table, so she turned in her chair to look at the sweet treats. It was then she noticed the very large one-layer cake in the center of the table. It looked like a short wedding cake. She stood up to look at the top of the cake. Written in beautiful caligrophy was "happy birthday Cecilia" in white frosting. Next to the words were pictures of a lightning tome and a iron sword made also in different colored frosting. The cake represented the diversity of the woman of which it was for. Celia could effectively use magic and swords in combat, and that capability seemed to awe the rest of the tactician's friends. She guessed that the design was Gaius's because he did love sweet things, and the writing was definitely Maribelle's.

She sat back down and picked up her fork. She began to eat the small salad she had constructed out of the many foods that were available, and sipped her Plegian wine to wash it down. While she ate slowly, Crom, Stahl, and Frederick were having a race to see which man ate the fastest. Stahl actually came in second this time, only losing by half a second to Chrom, who belched loudly to accent his victory. Cecilia and Lissa laughed when Maribelle yelled at them with complaints of how barbaric these contests were. Then the noblewoman's husband, Gregor, joined the fun with a loud burp of his own that sent the whole table into a laughing fit.

Lissa giggled some more and took a sip of her tea at the same time, causing tea to come out of her nose. Cecilia pounded her hand on the table and laughed until tears formed in her eyes. She finished eating her first plate and stood up to go get some cake.

When Stahl noticed her, he shot up and ran to intercept her. He souted over the noise of the room, "Everybody, Cecilia's getting a piece of cake! It's time to sing!" Oh gods. Please don't let Frederick sing. My ears still hurt from the last time. But of course everybody began to sing happy birthday, even Frederick and the other half-drunk men. Cecilia's face must have been the color of a strawberry because everybody stopped singing when she turned around to look at them. Oh thank Naga. She didn't know how much more she could have taken of that slurred version of a kid's song. She turned back around and started to cut off a piece of cake. The inside was chocolate, as she had expected. Saliva formed in her mouth at the sight of the dark filling and all but rushed back to her seat to eat it.

Stahl saw her destroying the cake and chuckled. I knew chocolate was a good choice, he thought to himself, women always love the stuff. He prodded her with his finger, and Celia looked up at him after swollowing a large bite. "You do know there's other cakes over there right?" She nodded. "Well, how 'bout I get you some?" She nodded more. "Yeah," she said her mouth full, "go get some." Then she returned to her plate and starting eating again.

Stahl came back with lemon, strawberry, and vanilla tarts and sat the tray down in front of her. She looked up at the sweets and smiled an evil grin. She grabbed one and ate it. Then, something shocking happened: Stahl refused to eat one! Chrom looked at him curiously. "What's wrong? If you don't eat those soon, I swear i will take them."

Stahl looked at the prince and smiled. "Believe it or not, I'm not relly hungry right now." The whole table gasped. "What? It's not that rare!" Sumia was the first to respond. "Actually, yeah it is that rare." The whole table erupted in laughter at the remark, even Stahl himself.

After a hour or two, everybody had finished eating and started to chat amongst themselves. Stahl looked at the ceiling and realized everybody almost forgot something. "Everybody, we almost forgot the presents!" He pulled Cecilia by the hand over to the far side of the room where several colorful boxes awaited. He picked up a small box and handed it to the tactician. "Here. It's from me." She looked at the small box in her hands and shook it a little before ripping the red paper off of it. She opened it, and saw possibly the prettiest necklace ever. It was a silver pendent with a large amethyst placed inside of it. On the back, inscribed into the metal, was one one saying: Forever and always, Stahl.

Tears welled up in her eayes as she looked back up at her husband. "Honey, this is beautiful! Thank you. I love you !" She hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. She stepped back, and the paladin looked at the rest of the Shepards. "Now, all of you can come and give Cecilia your presents." Chrom came first and handed her a sword whose blade was shaped like a bolt of lightning. "I believe this is a Levin sword. Hope you enjoy." Celia swung the sword around for a little bit, testing the wieght. It was perfectly balanced, and the blade to seem to emit an electrical current constantly. Everybody came up and gave the lady her presents. She recieced a couple of rarer books, a rug of sorts, a exsquisite tea set, a new cloak that was similar to the one she had now, and many other things that fit her particular personality.

When all presents were given out, Stahl told his wife, "All your presents will pe put in a safe place until tomorrow, but I have one last present before the night is over." He turned back to the crowd. "We've had a great time here, but the party is over, sorry. We may not see you all again until the march tomorrow, so good night." He took Cecilia by the hand yet again and took her outside.

The small genius thought, More presents? Gods, you relly did plan a lot, didn't you?