This belated chapter is brought to you by the song 'Death of A Bachelor'. Also writing Owain is both hilarious and ridiculous. Enjoy.

Lucina had said as they were sharing the sweets that they could not afford to be distracted at such a crucial point in the war against Valm. She reminded Inigo that discretion was key-people could not know that this was going on. It was not proper, on one front, and on the other front, Lucina was a woman of propriety and power. She could not be seen as a person who was more interested in men.

However-

Inigo wasn't quite so sure how discreet they were being with their arms locked around each other and their mouths pressing to one another behind the supply cart but-

Well, he wasn't quite willing to argue about it, in the end.

The sound of laughter nearby causes him to pull back abruptly though, his fingers gripping Lucina's sides tightly. He gulps, waits a tense moment, and then the source of the laughter fades. His fingers fall from Lucina's sides and his shoulders fall slack. Lucina coughs, tugging down the hem of her tunic and adjusts her sword belt.

"Well…"

Inigo attempts to flatten his hair down after he mutters that. His heart is still thudding rather loudly and he can still feel the pressure of Lucina's lips on his own. He watches as she runs her fingers through her hair to right it, and then she straightens. Her face sets into the solemn face of business and his heart lurches for a moment-urging him to kiss the seriousness away-but he stops his body before he can act on the impulse.

"Well, I shall see you later, Inigo."

"Um yes! Later then, Lucina," Inigo fumbles through his words as Lucina spares him the smallest of smiles as she leaves him behind. His heart flips in his chest and he's certain this whole tryst is going to be the end of him. He's either going to end up with Falchion jammed into his chest, or his heart will give out first.

Given Lucina's family, he's fairly certain the first option is more likely at this point. Even still-he straightens out his tunic and sword belt and makes his way back to the center of camp, where Chrom and Robin were standing, and where Lucina was heading. Seeing that Inigo made the decision that he needed to be…

Well-anywhere but where Lucina's parents were really.

"Inigo! My brother in war and tribulations! Join me!"

Owain's voice was a savior-Inigo finds himself glad to hear it for almost the first time in his life. He turns, and Owain closes the distance between them. His grin is almost splitting his face and his eyes are bright. Inigo takes a step back, grimacing a bit at the pure enthusiasm Owain seems to be oozing.

"What is it Owain?"

"My comrade, my dear fellow in arms- rejoice with me for today I have learned that we shall be embarking on a journey that shall lead us into the very arms of legend and heroism! We shall be remembered as those who vanquished the greatest evils in the land-"

"Owain, if you do not get to the point right now I will hit you."

Owain deflates at this, frowning. Inigo would feel bad about taking the wind from his sails if this wasn't such a normal occurrence. Owain straightens and smirks once more, squaring his stance. "My Exalted Uncle has declared that we shall make for the Conqueror's stronghold on the morrow!" He claps his hands over Inigo's shoulders, giving them a slight shake, "We ride at dawn!"

Inigo opens his mouth to clarify, but Owain has already scurried off, having caught sight of Gerome out of the corner of his eye. Inigo watches as he ambushes the poor man before turning to see Lucina and her parents in the center of camp. He doesn't need to be a marksman to see the tightness in Lucina's shoulders as her father speaks to her. He watches as her mother rests a hand on Lucina's shoulder and kisses her forehead before the two walk off towards the strategy tent.

He makes his way to Lucina quickly, his blood chilled and his heart racing. The last major battle had been taking down Yen'fay, but since then there hadn't been any major advancement. This was huge. Especially in the face losing Basilio after their retreat from the last battle. He knows how it weighs on Lucina that Basilio had still decided to go forward with being the decoy.

"Luci-"

Inigo doesn't even get the chance to finish calling her name before her glare causes the utterance to die in his throat. She clears her own throat and faces him squarely.

"We leave tomorrow morning with the sun. Father asked me to get our companions ready. Can you help tell the rest of the boys?" Lucina's voice is even but Inigo sees the unease in her eyes. She attempts to move past him but Inigo follows her, leaning close.

"Lucina, what aren't you telling me? What's going on?" Inigo hisses into her ear, dodging a soldier walking by with a horse. The misstep almost makes him loose Lucina, who was moving faster than she ought to. He waits for the answer, hopes, but Lucina continues forward. Inigo's eyes flicker to the supply tent, and the small space in between it and the strategy tent. He furrows his brow, counts to three and then grabs Lucina's arm and hauls her into the small space.

"Wh-Inigo let me go this instant!"

"Lucina."

She struggles against his grip for a moment more, glaring up at him, before she finally stops moving.

"What did your parents say?"

Inigo watches her face, watches as she averts her eyes, bites her lip, and lets out a shaky breath that scares him because Lucina doesn't get scared-she scares others. His own grip loosens on her arm and instantly her free hand goes to massage the spot he had been rough with. He waits, listening to the sounds of the camp around them mutely.

"We're marching towards the stronghold of the Conqueror. Which means our time in Valm will be ending."

"Good riddance to Valm and Walhart. You should be happy Lucina, we're going home after this."

Lucina frowns, "Yes, and what happened when the war with Valm ended in our time?"

Inigo opens his mouth to retort but his blood ran cold. For him a great deal of the war had been won. Both his father and mother had survived the war-which was more than he could say for having been a young boy years ago. The war with Valm had lasted a great deal longer in their time without the aid from Plegia. As such, the list of dead Shepherds grew every day. His parents had died early in the campaign. He knew only so much-but what he did know was that his parents had already beaten fate.

Lucina's parents destiny had yet to be averted. Her father had fought for a long time before his death-her mother had never been found, but the whispers were enough to cause alarm. Lucina couldn't afford to relax, and Inigo knows that Lucina can see it on his face.

"You understand why I cannot be distracted by you and your frivolity right now," Lucina's voice is low and grave as she pushes past Inigo. Anger flares in his stomach and he stalks after her.

"Frivolity? My worrying about you is frivolous?" Inigo's voice is a hiss and he can feel his mind churning and telling him this is a poor idea but he can't stop himself-he's tired of being pushed aside.

"Why are you doing this right now? I don't have the time-"

"The time?" Inigo feels his voice rising, "Lucina we've been out of time since before we even came back in time," he spins on his heel to stop her way. Lucina's eyes are wide, and Inigo's shoulders rise and he balls his hands into fists, "You are so preoccupied with your damn time that you can't even see what's in front of you!"

He's yelling now, his cheeks flushed, shoulders tense, "Stop acting like you're the only one whose bearing this damn war!" He grits his teeth and he's suddenly aware of all the passing Shepherds staring at them. His shoulders go slack as he looks at Lucina's face and he feels guilt roll in his chest immediately. He'd never seen her look so hurt before. His voice dies in his throat, "Luci-"

"Excuse me," Her voice is tight as she pushes past him towards the barrack tents. Inigo lets her shove him because he can't think of any way to apologize for his outburst. There was a moment of suspended quiet in the camp before everyone went back along their way and Inigo felt his face burn with shame.

"Well, I certainly never thought I would see that happen. It's usually my daughter who yells at people and leaves them wanting to cry."

Inigo's blood runs cold at the sound of Robin's voice. He turns mechanically and gulps as the woman takes even strides up to him-an amused smile on her face. He wishes he could suddenly burst into flames so he could get out of this conversation. But he's trapped.

"M-Ma'am."

Robin laughed-a light and airy thing, and she waves him away with a loose hand, "Oh please, Inigo, no need for that. Robin will do, as it always has. Just because you're courting my daughter doesn't mean you have to suddenly get shy on me." Her eyes twinkled and Inigo is left suddenly fearing the knowledge this woman has.

"Ho-how did you-?"

"Know? My daughter would like to think she can sneak around without being seen, but she's no trickster. I've noticed how the two of you duck away all the time. And she's been smiling more than I'd ever seen. And before you ask her father does not know. Chrom is about as perceptive as a bag of rocks, Naga bless him."

Inigo still stands ramrod straight, and Robin finally sighs and places a hand on his shoulder. He jolts, but after a moment lets his shoulders relax. He hazards a weak smile and Robin's smile grows a tad wider and warmer. He relaxes even further as she gives the shoulder a light squeeze.

"Let's take a walk, shall we?" Inigo falls in step with Robin as she walks towards the edge of the camp, "I'm sure everyone would love to have some new gossip, and I know Lucina isn't the best at being teased."

"No she is not," Inigo agrees with a weary chuckle, thinking back to years of fierce blushes and bruises on his arms and chest from Lucina taking offense to any tease he or their friends sent her way. He always remembered it fondly whenever he thought about his turbulent childhood.

"So, despite the claims that I know everything there is to know, I'm afraid I'm quite clueless when it comes to my children. Lucian in particular." Robin's smile grows a bit amused as the walk towards the edge of camp, "Despite wearing her emotions on her sleeve, I'm likely the last person in camp she would share her thoughts with."

Inigo nods. He'd noticed it many times in the past how unlike the rest of their ilk she was about her parents. Only Gerome was so taciturn about it as well, and even he had thawed out eventually. It remained only Lucina who had so much trouble with her parents.

Robin sends a sidelong glance to Inigo and smirks, "I get the feeling you know why too, Don't you, Inigo?"

Inigo gulps, and feels his skin go cold. It wasn't his place to say was it? He wasn't going to be the one to ruin the fragile relationship Lucina had-he couldn't . He ducks his head instead.

"It isn't my place to say, really. I…" He struggles with the words, trying to find the easiest way to say 'your daughter thinks you're going to kill her father'-but instead what he blurts out is different altogether-"She loves you, you know."

Robin's face transforms into a mask of a sad sort of gratitude. Her smile weakens, and Inigo is struck by how much Lucina favored her mother in the face-he'd seen that smile too many times to count. Robin sighs, and faces out towards beyond camp. "I know." She whispers. "Gods know I don't deserve it after all we've put her through."

Inigo shakes his head, "But that wasn't you. Not really. It's not the same." His voice drops too, and his heart clenches. All of the children knew that. These weren't their real parents. They wore the same clothes, looked and sounded the same, but the memories, the familiarity-none of it was there. It was one of the hardest things about it all. Lucina's words from earlier echo in his head-

"I'm their daughter and yet I'm not their daughter. I'm starting to see why Gerome never wanted to come back because I'm happy and yet-"

Robin shook her head, "That's the root of it, isn't it? I'm not really her mother. Not the she remembers at least. And whatever I did to her then...its left marks. Some things can't be fixed with just smiles and hugs, I'm afraid."

Inigo turns to face Robin fully and for the first time doesn't see the veteran tactician that everyone looked up to. He doesn't see his Queen. He sees a tired and worn down mother, her clothing caked in mud and grime, and her hair messy from marching. He feels the weight of the world on her shoulders-and he suddenly knows where Lucina's gotten it from.

"That's not true. A smile can go a long way." Inigo blurts out, clenching his fists, "Smiling-it makes others happy. It can change a person's whole day!" Lucina's small smile after Inigo had kissed her goodnight the night they shared sweets had kept him grinning like a fool for days after at the thought. Cynthia had always crowed in joy everytime Gerome smiled.

"Is that why you're always smiling Inigo?" Robin asks, and Inigo gulps and averts his eyes, "I'm sorry. That's not fair to ask. But you're right. I've seen it happen." The woman straightens and Inigo sees the change in her instantly-her moment of weakness through. She claspes a hand to Inigo's shoulder, a grateful smile on her face.

"Thank you for the talk, Inigo. It helped more than you know. As for my daughter...I approve of you trying to make her happy. She deserves it. Keep at it. If she's anything like me and her father it will take her some time to admit what she feels." Robin chuckles a little, lost in a memory. "However, break my little girl's heart and I will not hesitate to make you suffer."

Inigo gulps again and nods fervently, "Y-yes, ma'am."

Robin's smile turns almost sickly sweet, "Good! Glad we understand each other." She pats his shoulder and turns without another word, leaving Inigo with his thoughts as he watched camp begin to bustle around to pack up for the march the next morning.

He catches a glimpse of long cobalt hair heading towards the weapons tent and makes to follow. It takes him only a minute to catch up and enter behind her. The tent is surprisingly empty considering the bustle outside. But it suits Inigo just fine.

Lucina bristles as soon as she sees who has entered. Her nose is still red from crying, and her face is screwed in a scowl. Inigo notices her hands ball into fists and readies himself to be hit.

"What do you need, Inigo?"

Her voice is cutting, and Inigo flinches. He takes a hesitant step forward, and watches and Lucina braces herself for him to come closer. The distance between them seems insurmountable.

"I wanted to apologize. I was angry and I...it wasn't right for me to yell at you. I know that your burdens are...pretty big."

Lucina's frown lessens, and she crosses her arms over her chest. She huffs. "Intentions aside, Inigo, you made a scene in front of the whole camp." She shakes her head, "I wish you hadn't done that."

"I'm sorry." Inigo repeated weakly. He was silent for a moment before speaking again, "I just want you to be happy. To not be so stuck in the past. To be here right now."

Lucina bites her lip and casts her eyes downward. Her fingers flex against her arms and her silence is unnerving. She finally shakes her head, and her voice cracks when she speaks.

"I can't. If I stop now it will all have been for nothing. I can't let that happen Inigo, I can't."

Inigo feels his heart break a little at how small the normally so tall girl seems. He closes the distance between them in a heartbeat and folds her into his arms. She falls almost slack against him, all the tension she had been holding gone in a moment as she clung to the back of his vest for all she was worth.

"You don't have to be the strongest person in the world, Lucina. We're all here for you. Your parents, your brother, our friends." He pauses, licking his lips-dry all of the sudden as his heart pounds, "And me. I'm here too. Always."

"You shouldn't make promises you can't keep." Comes the muffled and watery reply. Lucina's breath hot against his neck, and her tears were warm against his skin. She sighs, and Inigo shivers at the feeling.

"I don't make promises I can't keep. I promise, Lucina. I want to make you smile all the time, I want you to be happy." He would repeat it as many times as he needed to. If anyone deserves happiness-it was her.

Lucina's grip on his back grows ever tighter and she takes in a shaky breath. Inigo peers down at her and watches as she slowly raises her head to look at him. Her eyes are still glossy with tears and her nose is red, but Inigo has never-never-seen such a perfect person. Her eyelashes flutter with moisture as she sniffs, but she tilts her head and begins to lean up-and Inigo leans down to meet her half way-

"Hey! The Vaike is here to help-eh?"

The two teenagers jump apart without a thought as Vaike loudly enters the tent. The two look anywhere but each other as Vaike takes in the scene before him. He sniffs, rubbing the back of his neck, "Did the Vaike interrupt anything?"

"N-No! No, I was uh...just looking for Owain's whetstone!" Inigo babbles, wincing as his own ears find his excuse terrible, "But-it uh-doesn't look like it's here! So, I'll be going! Bye!" He ducks his head and scurries out of the tent-ears burning.

He misses the small smile the curls over Lucina's lips as he leaves.