When baby Lucina was born the entire kingdom praised her arrival.
She was small at birth with blue eyes and blue hair, which made Robin breathe a sigh of relief. She was Chrom's baby, no denying it. She was surrounded by love the moment she entered the world, and brought love with her.
Robin smiled every day when she went to pick up her precious baby. Even being with Chrom was easier with her around. He was actually quite the doting father, offering to take care of her when she cried in the night. Robin would sometimes get up too and watch the two together. Chrom was so good with her, always managed to get her back to sleep. Then they'd go back to bed together and she'd snuggle close to him, falling asleep in his arms.
She figured it was her life now, and it was one she could get used to. Baby Lucina brought her the love and happiness she needed, just seeing her face filled her heart with joy. Chrom was easier to live with too, she no longer felt the same fear she felt before. She actually found herself smiling when he'd come into the room, found herself talking to him more, kissing him more, touching him more.
All of that was almost enough to make her forget about Ricken's absence.
He barely got to see Robin, if at all. She was always locked away in the castle with her baby and her husband. He was happy she was happy with Lucina, the few times he had seen the baby she was beautiful like her mother. He still couldn't get over Chrom though.
They barely saw each other. The army marched forward towards Plegia and he was with them. His frustration culminated in aggression, and everyone noticed the mage get more brutal in battle. Each strike of thunder was deliberate, a shock big enough to kill. Even after the battles he would still be quite frustrated, and no one understood why.
Everything changed for both of them one day after Robin put Lucina down for her nap, now four months old. She leaves her room and is faced with Chrom.
"My love…" He said and then paused. "We must discuss Lucina's future."
"Her future?" Robin asked and walked across the room. "She's still a baby, what could we have to discuss?"
"Us leaving her at the castle," he said bluntly.
She turned back to him. "Leave Lucina? Why would we do that?"
He sighed and walked over to her, taking her hands. "The army needs us. I'm the Exalt and you're the best tactician. You know we can't stay here forever…"
She dropped his hands. "She's our daughter, Chrom."
"She's a baby, she'll barely notice we're gone," he said and she turned away and shook her head, trying not to believe what she heard. "Lissa and I had wet nurses growing up, and Lucina will have the same. She will be fine Robin."
She glared at him, and then walked away before he could see the sadness in her eyes.
They left that week.
Robin got back into normal routine with the army, although she missed her daughter dearly. After one battle though it was clear she really was needed, which soothed the pain a little bit. They were building a better future for Lucina, fighting the war so she wouldn't have to. Still, the resentment towards Chrom was back, but this time he could feel it.
After a battle, Robin walks through camp by herself, going to put her sword away. It's stained with blood. She gets to the weapons tent to wipe it off but stops when she sees who's inside.
Ricken.
He looks up and smiles lightly. "Robin…" He says and walks right over to her, hugging her. She hugs him back but not with the same enthusiasm as the mage. He looks at her. "What's wrong?"
She sighs. "My heart is back in a castle hundreds of miles from here," she says and goes to wipe off her sword. "I don't want to be here."
He feels a twitch of anger, not at her but at Chrom again. She was happy with Lucina. "He won't let you go back?"
"I'm doing my duty for the army. And as you know, I've done worse for them," she swallows. "I miss her so much."
He sighs. "Well of course you would. She's your daughter… She's going to be alright."
"I know that!" She snaps and then throws her blade down to the dirt. "I know she's going to be fine but I want to be there for her!"
He takes a step back and nods. "I'm sorry Robin…"
She shakes her head and sighs, picking the sword up. "Don't be. I'm just… I don't know what I am."
"Sad. And it's understandable." He says and walks over to her, taking her hands in his. "Is there any way I can help you? I hate to see you upset…"
"No," she says and pulls her hands away. "I'm married, Ricken."
He pauses. "You were married before."
"I have a child now!"
"A child he took away!" Ricken snaps back. "Run away with me Robin! You and Lucina, I can keep you safe!"
"Ricken I can't do this again," she groans. "We will be killed! I'll be taken away from my baby for good! I can't risk any of that anymore!"
"But you can risk being with a horrible tyrant who keeps you from your child? He knows it makes you miserable and yet he does it anyway!"
"I am doing my duty-"
"Fuck your duty!"
The two glare at each other, but it's clear the frustration has simply built up against Chrom for him. He isn't angry at her, he's angry at everything surrounding her.
"You don't understand how much I want everything to be that simple Ricken. I wish I could take Lucina, run with you, but I will not risk my child for this. I love her too much." Robin says quietly.
He sighs. "And I would never want you to risk her…"
She walks over to him. "I love you Ricken. You're the only person who seems to care for me most times…"
She leans down and kisses him slowly, taking no precaution to avoid being caught. She pulls him close to her and he wraps his arms around her as he kisses back. It's the first time in months he's felt her lips on his, felt their skin touch. She feels the tears that roll down her cheeks and continues to kiss her to give her the idle comfort. It may be the last time they kiss for a time, perhaps for the rest of time.
But the moment can't last. "What are you two doing?!"
The pair breaks apart and spins around to see Lissa standing at the entrance to the weapons tent, her eyes wide, and her healing rod having dropped to the ground.
