Chrom stood before a solid wood door in Castle Ylisstol and sighed.

This was supposed to be the easy part. The nobles and officers, they were supposed to be the problem, doubting him and attacking his decisions at every turn. Meanwhile, the man behind the door? That was just asking his best friend in this gods-damned world to come to a party.

But the nobles had to ruin their end by being all for the war hero and heir to take the throne, the sooner the better. Meanwhile, getting his tactician to take in an ounce of fresh air was taking all day.

"Robin! If you don't open the door, I swear by Naga and any other god at hand I am going to break it down, so help me!"

The door creaked open and a hand darted back. Chrom stepped inside.

The floor was crammed with papers and notebooks. Chrom glanced at some of them.

"Plegian war plans"

"Peasant uprising countermeasures"

"Valm Invasion"

"Valm Invasion plan: Naval (IMPORTANT: GET BOATS SOMEHOW!)"

Chrom coughed. He knew his friend had been busy, but this seemed… questionable.

"Robin?"

"Chrom! I'm sorry that I didn't open the door. I've been busy for the last couple of hours. Working on strategies."

"Couple of hours? How long do you think you've been in here?"

"Well, I saw Lucina being born, so… since yesterday?"

"It's been a week, Robin."

Robin looked around.

"Oh."

"You should wash up at some point. Gods, this is a mess."

"I just wanted… you said you… I had some ideas. They might have spiraled a little."

"Is this about what we should do if… Sully's cooking formed an army and rose against humanity?"

"Maybe. The last few nights are a blur."

Chrom sighed. His tactician had been one of the only people in the war he could trust to stay more or less sane. And now this.

"The nobles are holding a ceremony to accept the handover of power and pretend most of them didn't fall like a stack of cards when Plegia invaded. I need people I can trust."

"Please say I'm not going to be the only one."

"All the Shepherds will be there. Flavia even allowed Lon'qu and Olivia a leave of absence for the ceremony. And the ball after."

"Wait. There's a dance?"

"I'm not any happier about it than you are."

Robin grimaced.

"At least you have a crying infant as an excuse when things go wrong. And you're spending an evening with your (lovely) wife, whereas I'm going to stand alone in a corner."

"Take Lissa, then."

"Gods. This day keeps getting better."

"She doesn't have anyone to go with, it's a position of honor, and she likes you. There's a lot of worse people to spend time with."

"If you like having frogs dumped in your hair, I can't think of anyone better. I'll get cleaned up."

"Thank you. It will mean a lot to her."

Chrom walked out of the room, and Robin shoved a pile of notes off his desk. No point in obsessing, judging from the current crop of plans. He'd failed his best friend. He'd fail again, odds were. But spending his entire life in this room wouldn't help with it.

Shave. Wash. Blast the robe with a little wind magic to clean it off to presentable status. Thank whoever was listening that the thing didn't carry any odors or stains no matter what he did to it.

He looked at the table. Not clean. So, really, another few strategies wouldn't hurt…

Three hours later, he had a fifty page article on the applications of wind magic. It was a relief when Lissa came into the room.

She was in a beautiful dress. And normally, Lissa was a pleasant looking girl. In theory, this should have been a moment out of one of Sumia's trashier novels. The male lead sees the girl he's been ignoring romantically in a formal dress, sees how beautiful she is, and things go about how you would expect from there.

Those novels had never met Lissa. It felt wrong that the most gifted tailors in the land, working with a pleasant and upscale budget, would make something that took away from a girl's natural appeal, but there you were. Some people just weren't meant to look formal.

Robin shuffled to his feet.

"Lissa! I'm sorry about… I got distracted by… Look. Just promise you don't have any poor unfortunate amphibians with you and we can get to the thing."

"I don't have any frogs with me, Robin. I don't see why you're worrying. *snort*"

"You snorted. Right now. Drop the frog. Let it run off and live a happy frog life."

"What frog?"

Robin looked at the ground. Something hopped away.

"Ah. My mistake. Chrom asked me to escort you. I haven't done a very good job so far. I guess I assumed Maribelle would do my job for me."

He smiled.

Lissa looked around the room.

"You did all of this?"

"I had some time."

"Geesh! And I thought Frederick needed to learn how to relax."

"I can relax! You just never see it because you keep ruining it with frogs!"

Robin cleared his throat.

"Err, we should get going. There's a ceremony, right?"

The pair reached the audience chamber of the palace without incident. Robin looked over the audience. It was mostly nobles in their finest. He saw Maribelle with her family, Ricken and his, and scores like them.

It made him stand out. Greatcoats weren't the standard attire, even ignoring the combat boots. Fortunately, he wasn't alone. A young looking girl in scales, a woman with rabbit ears and armor, a pig farmer who looked it, a shirtless man flexing any time anyone looked in his general direction.

The Shepherds. Robin smiled. The best comrades a man could have. Not the best people for a formal political event that mostly consisted of polite half truth, but they kept him from falling asleep. Especially Tharja. Just keeping out of her view was a full time job.

Oh gods, she was looking at him. Robin ducked. Lissa snorted. Lissa could do what she wanted. She didn't have a psychotic stalker.

Really, he'd been a little proud of the whole thing at first. A beautiful woman more interested in him than anyone else in the army? Well, it was nice.

Then the stealing locks of hair, the watching him sleep, the 'love poems', and the rest started. About that time, Robin decided they should see other people. Or at least, he should get as far out of Tharja's eyesight as possible. It was hell on his theoretical dating life, but at least he still had a life, period.

After a few moments, he sighed. She was looking away. He could breathe again.

Other than ducking Tharja, the whole event passed without incident. Chrom tried his best to maintain the dignity of the ceremony, the new hierarch was anxious enough about the circumstances of his promotion to avoid making things awkward, and anyone with doubts was close enough to a Shepherd to keep them to themselves.

"And thus by the grace of Naga, Holsety, and Yudu the one-above-all, I proclaim Chrom of Ylisse fit to rule in his sister's stead."

Robin stood and clapped with the rest of the crowd. His best friend was king now, for all practical purposes. Assuming another year or so could pass without incident, the acting heirarch would be the actual heirarch, and Chrom would be the Exalt. Nice and neat.

"So, it's over?"

"Yes, Lissa. It's over."

"Which means you're taking me to the dance."

Crap.

"I suppose it does. No frogs? Wait. Don't answer that."

Lissa just smiled.

Robin winced.

"I shouldn't have asked. Let's see. For the appointment, it's...reverse standard order of procession. Chrom and Sumia first, then the next heir and his or her escort. That's us. Come on."

"You mean immediately?"

"Yes."

"Oh. That's fine!"

Robin decided not to ask any questions. They slid down to the ballroom, waited through Chrom and Sumia's first dance to something on the harp, and stepped on the floor. Lissa had two left feet, but Robin felt like he had three rights. There wasn't much to praise for either party. It was a relief when the rest of the floor filled and left them far from the center of attention.

He passed by Chrom.

"Having a good time?"

"Lissa hasn't dropped any frogs on me yet. Better than I expected."

"Well, good enough. Care to leave some of the fun to everyone else? The most perfect woman in Ylisse has been halfway to falling all night so far."

Sumia winced.

"Sorry."

"It just adds to your charm. But it does mean a little time off the floor would be good. You said you'd like to talk more with Lissa, anyway."

Lissa smiled.

"We can talk about little Lucina! I bet she's going to be talking way sooner than most babies."

"Err…"

The two women walked towards a corner of the room. Chrom nodded to his friend and drifted towards the drinks. Then he nodded towards Lissa.

"You know, she likes you. You're both single, and you're spending every waking hour here already. It would be nice to have you in the family."

"She likes me as a target."

"Which is better than you're doing with anyone else right now. Well, excluding that Plegian mage. Who, as your best friend, I'd recommend against."

Robin chuckled.

"Is this 'Get thee a wife' again? Because Sumia said the same thing. Or she's been hinting."

"All I'm saying is that you could use someone to keep you from disappearing into your study for all hours, and your tastes seem to run more towards wife than husband from what I've seen of them. Of course, I think at this point wyvern would be fine, if it kept you going outside."

"Ha. Ha. Ha. I'm fine."

"Tell that to Mirabelle. You said, and I quote, that her wedding to Libra was…"

"I was drunk! You can't...you know what, that's not necessary. You and Sumia are happy. Good for you. But I think there's something that needs my attention. Over there. "

"The wall?"

"Do I need to explain the strategic implications of walls? Walls are the center of thousands of legendary battles."

"Lissa will be disappointed."

"Once she's done, she can find me. I've never managed to get away from her before. No matter how much I run."

Chrom laughed.

"You two were made for each other."

"Gods, wouldn't that be my luck."

'Hey, Robin!"

Robin winced.

"Right on cue."

"Made for each other."

"Look. Even assuming soul mates are a thing, which I won't grant, getting TWO deep and lasting emotional bonds on a predetermined level in the same family is statistically insane."

"No destiny. Just…"

"No need to quote me back at me. Fine. I'll spend a little more time with Lissa. If it makes you both happy."

"Thank you."

"Oh, before I forget…"

Robin reached into his sleeve.

"I got some things for the occasion. Well, and for forgetting Lucina's christening gifts. Let's see, for her, I found a falchion replica in the market. Child safe, and very durable."

"Durable?"

"If she takes after you, it has to be. For Sumia, I managed to find something else by the author of Ribald Tales of the Faith Wars. Saga of the Crying Halo. It's not as good, but this was the only copy I could find. Banned by a few major religions over the years, and finding a copy unburnt was a minor miracle. She'll love it."

"I really don't know what she sees in some of these."

"Which is why you don't get invited to the book clubs. As for you, that was tricky."

"You don't need to…"

"But I did. Notice how Frederick hasn't been around much lately?"

"Yes. He had something come up. It's made life much easier, as much as I hate to insult him."

"You're welcome. Now, if you'll excuse me, Lissa's waiting."

Robin nodded towards Lissa and returned to his obligations. The dancing didn't go much better, but Sully was on the floor. No matter what he did, Sully would be a worse dancer. If he didn't like her enough already, that would seal it.

"So, what were you and my brother talking about?"

"He thinks I should, er…"

"Yeah?"

"Ask you out."

Lissa snickered. Then she snorted. Then she started laughing. Very, very hard.

"He thinks I'm interested… HAHAHAHAHA!"

"Hey! I didn't say you were! And why wouldn't you be? Tharja thinks I'm a catch."

Lissa just kept laughing.

Robin sighed.

"Okay, yes. She's insane and can't be taken as a valid character witness."

"*Snort* No, you're… fine. You're Chrom's best friend, though. It would feel weird!"

"And you're the bratty, obnoxious kid sister I probably never had. I'd feel weirder."

"Hey! Who are you calling bratty?"

"You, apparently. Come on. We've got a night to waste, and if you're enjoying this, I have a sacred almost-sort-of-siblingly duty to keep things going."

"I'm not."

"Thank the gods. I'm not either. I mean, DONNEL seems to be having a better time, and Sully has slammed him into every single possible target in the entire country."

'Tharja is having a better time with a little doll of you."

Robin looked. Yes, she was. Well, a doll and a sucker. Correction. Two suckers, the one in her mouth and the one that gave the first.

"You know, in the interests of not killing the mood for everyone else and mutual self preservation, why don't we head outside?"

Lissa took the lead. The night air was crisp and cold. The stars felt close. And Lissa was shivering already.

"I'm sorry. This might have been a bad idea. You can go back inside."

"I can take it just as long as you can, mister."

"I'm wearing three layers of robe. You're in a party dress. Even if we had the same tolerance, you'd give in before I would. And for all you know, I grew up in Regna Ferox. I might love the cold."

Lissa grinned.

"I've seen you in the snow.."

"Okay. Maybe not Regna Ferox. Still. Somewhere. Maybe even somewhere cold."

"Yeah. *snort*."

"Well, I practiced. You haven't. For so long. So very long."

Lissa's smile faded.

"Oh. Right. When you and Sully were…"

"That's the time. I wish it had ended better. But it wasn't going to work from the start."

"Because you couldn't keep up?"

"I got closer than most people! But that was only half the issue, at most. I was an awful excuse for a boyfriend. Really, you shouldn't date someone while pining after someone else. Cordelia made it look so easy!"

Lissa's eyes lit up through the shivering.

"Who?"

"I said too much already."

"Come ooonnnnnnn. You know you can trust me!"

"If the pond wasn't frozen, I'd be knee deep in frogs right now. Trust is not the word I'd use."

"But you know what I would do, and you trust me to do it!"

"I should never have tried that class on logic. Well, I can tell you this much. It's no-one you wouldn't approve of."

"Mirabelle? Ohmygosh, but she married Libra! And you didn't say anything!"

"Close. But no. The OTHER woman I've seen you with a crush on."

"What? I mean, WHAT?"

Robin smiled. One end of his mouth went much higher than the other.

"You don't remember? 'Thank you for saving me Marth' 'Oh, Marth, you're so dreamy!' 'Oh, Marth, I want to kiss you on the mouth'"

"I didn't…"

"You did."

"I didn't know. I thought she was a guy!"

"I didn't say I blamed you. She's amazing. I was thinking the same thing the first time we met."

"Uh, I thought you didn't…"

"I was willing to make an exception if he was. I mean, I don't believe in love at first sight. But every time I saw her, I was more impressed. Gods, the things she must have seen, and she still keeps going. Her bladework is impeccable, I've barely seen her slip up in stances, and of course she's one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen. On top of..."

Robin paused.

"Did you hear someone?"

Lissa shook her head.

"I didn't…"

A bush rustled

"Okay. Now I did."

"I'll check. You can go back inside. If you get into any trouble, Chrom would kill me."

"No he wouldn't."

"No. But I'd probably ask him to. And then no-one would be happy. I have a sword, a spellbook, and sturdy robes. You're in a party dress. I think I'm in a better position to investigate suspicious noises right now. It's not that you're delicate. It's that I'm going to do something borderline stupid, and bringing someone else would be fully stupid."

"If you say so."

"I do. Look. If you do this, I won't mention the frog that you obviously have up your sleeve somehow, despite everything. Deal?"

Lissa's face went through a variety of exotic patterns before it fell into a nod. And Robin was alone.

He tapped on his sword hilt. In place. Books, in the sleeve holsters. Boots on tight. Fear reflexes, accounted for. If Risen were waiting in the woods, he was set. If a lot of Risen were waiting in the woods, he could probably run away before they devoured him.

Silent approach. Being polite was much less important than having the initiative. The walking dead didn't hand out do-overs for good manners.

A twig snapped in two. Robin's blade snapped to attention. A sword at his throat. His at someone else's.

His next words were slow to come.

"I can't see you, but I think we don't want to kill each other."

A gasp came before a response, and the blade fell.

"No. We don't."

"Marth?"

"...Yes."

Robin's sword fell to the ground.

"I didn't expect to see you here. Stargazing?"

"No. I heard that that Chrom had a daughter."

Robin smiled.

"A week ago. A step for a brighter future, I hope? Still. I'd think a prophet would have been here on time."

"I expected her to be born somewhere else. A Plegian battlefield. It took a while to find the right place."

"Born on a battlefield? That would be a nightmare. Even with the best luck in the world, any child in those circumstances would need a lifetime of therapy. I'd hate to meet…"

Marth frowned. Robin lifted his hands.

"Oh. Oh gods. I'm sorry."

"I've been through worse. Believe me."

"That's no excuse for an insult. And it means I was very wrong. I would want to meet someone born under the circumstances. In fact, there's almost no-one I'm more glad I've met. Would be more glad to meet? Gods. What I mean is you're amazing."

Robin thanked anyone listening for the dark. Having Marth see him blush this much would just do wonders for his dignity.

"Thank you."

Aaand now he was blushing even more. Perfect!

"It's not half the compliments you deserve. We'd all be worse off without you. More dead in the war, Chrom crippled. Plegia a wasteland."

"I still fear the worst."

"Well, I'm glad you're looking out for the rest of us."

"And I know that might not be enough."

"Hey. I'm a tactician. If anyone knows about making due with insufficient resources, I should. And any plan with you involved is much more likely to succeed."

"Well, I'm not a patch on… ah."

"Naga herself if she took mortal form? Because that's the only way I can see someone being THAT much better than you. Better, yes. I'm sure there's a few people with that kind of skill. I've heard about an island where the greatest soldiers in the world hold tournaments. I think you're right. They could beat you. But you'd give them a fight."

"That's not who I had in mind."

"Well, I'd be impressed to meet who you did. Chrom and Sumia, two on one, and they barely managed. And they're two of the more reliable members of our little band. Um… I have a question, thinking of. If it's not too forward."

"I suppose there's no harm if you ask."

"It's peacetime. I know that. And I know I'm just being paranoid, planning for a war that could never come. But a good soldier could help our training. Chrom's our best, and your style seems like a more refined relative of his. Pay wouldn't be an issue, if you're worried about it. And I'm sure we'd all be glad to have you around."

"It's a… generous offer. But I'm sure someone would object."

"I can't think who. Chrom wouldn't mind, you saved enough of our lives for his count. Lissa wouldn't, she's on that list. And I know I'd…"

Robin stopped himself. No need to be stupid. No need to make things as awkward for her as they already were for him.

"I know I wouldn't object."

"I can't. I've spent too much time here already. Interfered too much, and not enough."

"Oh."

Robin paused for words.

" I'm glad I could see you again tonight. It made up for a dull evening, believe me."

He coughed.

"The stars are nice, anyway."

"They're beautiful. I've never seen them this bright before."

"Second most beautiful th...at I've seen. They're amazing."

They sat in the silent dark for an eternity. Robin never felt so at peace.

And then, without a word, she was gone.

Robin stumbled to his feet, looked back at the world, and sighed.

Then he walked back into the warm light of the party. Well, he wasn't getting everything. But really, he didn't expect that much.

All in all, an excellent night.

(Author's notes: Well, I said there probably wouldn't be another entry this year, and that was going to be true. Then I found this lying around in an old file folder. Just a light bit set in the two year timeskip, but it seemed to have enough good moments to be worth putting up, and it fit the time of year when I found it.

Seemed a good stopgap while working on the next entry, so here we are.

As always, thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed the story, and have a pleasant whatever time of year it is when you read this.)