I really wanted to finish this story before Pokémon X and Y came out…Stupid life why did you have to get in the way?

I know that I've kind of dragged on with this story. I didn't mean too, I was just trying to add in all the request and suggestions I got and before I know it I was already on chapter 13. Well no more, I now know who I want the father to be and the next few chapters shall be winding down this story.

Thank you to everyone who has stayed with the story for so long.

Ch. 13: Party Crashers

Walhart had been defeated and the war was over. It was a time for celebration and the camp was alive with the festivities. Everyone was in the mess hall being jolly and merry. Everyone but one lone man. Away from the camp and cheer Gerome stood next to the lake giving Minerva an impromptu bath. Despite being an anti-social guy he still felt like it was a time to forget everything and lose oneself to the merry-making but unfortunately for him he couldn't forget. His thoughts always wondered to Robin whenever he had downtime and nothing he tried would help him get rid of those pesky feelings.

Sighing for the umpteenth time he poured another bucket of water onto Minerva. She hissed at the cold water but let him continue, understanding his situation. Not even bathing his precious wyvern could distract him. When did he become such a love sick puppy?

A roar from Minerva broke him from his train of thoughts. She pushed him away and made sure to create some more distance. She was tired of the countless buckets of water being poured on her and she made it clear with another roar. All he could do was offer her apologies and an excuse in hopes of pleasing her.

After a few apologies he was allowed to approach her. Everything was going smoothly until someone shouted his name. Just as he turned to face his caller he was tackled to the ground. Dizzy and disoriented he was helpless to protect his precious mask from his attacker. It took him a few seconds for him to recover and realize that the person sitting on him was Robin.

A triumphant smile adored her features as she twirled her prize-his mask-just out of his reach. All coherent thought processes left him as his hormones put all focus on to the fact that the woman, he loved and was very much attracted to, was straddling his hips. He saw her lips move but nothing she said penetrated his haze; he was far too distracted thanking the blacksmith that made his armor for adding the long cloth that extended from his chest plate because it was helping to hide the unwanted guest.

The triumphant smile left her face to be replaced with a frown. Bending down she invaded his personal space even more as her face was just a mere few inches from his. He wasn't aware that he was blushing before but now that he could feel it burning his skin, it became the perfect (and only) distraction, though it only did so much.

"You weren't listening were you?" Her warm breath tickled his face sending a new wave of strange sensations throughout his body. That was the start of another strange spell she would have over him, and at that moment he wasn't sure if that was necessarily a bad thing. His breathing hitched as she shortened the distance even more to the point where her breath from just simply breathing tickled his skin. At that rate he was going to go insane.

"Robin!" he shouted, once he was able to gain some control over himself. Startled she sat up, giving him some space, but unfortunately it didn't give him the relief he thought it would provide, instead it just left him disappointment and longing.

"Yes?" she responded subconsciously. He still wasn't able to think clearly so no potential responses came to his mind and thus they stayed in awkward silence.

Suddenly realization smacked her in the face like a ton of bricks, out of pure reaction she jumped off of Gerome and created a big distance. With cheeks a blaze she fiddled with the hem of her sleeves and was unable to look at him. Gerome continued to stay on the ground until his wild thoughts calmed down. Neither would dare speak. After a few minutes he finally got up and put his mask that she had dropped on and in return she pulled her hood over her head as if it could hide her shame.

The awkward silence persisted because she was too lost in thought to speak and he contemplated on what to say. Finally he just decided to ask the obvious, "Are you drunk?"

"No," she squeaked and turned away from him. He stayed silence hoping that it would lead her to explaining her actions. The silence continued and he was finally able to notice that Minerva left him alone with Robin.

Unable to tolerate the quiet anymore and feeling some of her confidence return she explained, "I was just really happy. And when I noticed you weren't there, I came to find you and well…yeah…" He didn't want to but he just couldn't help himself, her statement brought him great joy and hope.

Silence once again descended on them but this time much less uncomfortable, it was almost bearable, almost. The two fidgeted as they tried to think of a safe conversation. Eventually she pulled back her hood, not liking the barrier anymore, and Gerome took more comfort in his mask. He hated her hood for hiding her beauty from him.

Knowing full well that Gerome rarely started a conversation that meant she had to do it and she started off by asking the question she had planned to ask before the whole embarrassing fiasco. "So, why aren't you with everybody, celebrating?"

He stiffened at her question. How was he supposed to tell her that he was totally in love with her? That he wanted to steal her away so no other man couldn't look at her. Or how he wanted to take a page out of Henry's book and hex her so she couldn't look at any other man? But he had to keep all that to himself because it was highly possible that one of his closest friends was in love with her too. How was he supposed to tell her all that? Now that he truly admitted his feelings, he had to admit he was a bit of the possessive type.

"…Because I shouldn't be celebrating a victory that I shouldn't have been a part of it." It was the only safe explanation he could think of but he knew Robing would not be pleased in the slightest; and when she sighed he knew it to be true.

"Not this crap again." Their distance was gone in a matter of just a few quick steps and he could feel the butterflies, in his stomach, taking flight again. Before he could step back and return to his state of longing, she grabbed his hand and started to drag him along.

"Wha? Unhand me woman!" He struggled ever-so-slightly, as he couldn't completely bring himself to break free from her grip. He never realized how small her hand was compared to his. Taking a moment he had to remind himself that Robin wasn't so weak and didn't needed his protection. "Release me!" he added, purely as a distraction.

"How surprising that the mighty 'Lone Wolf' can't break free from a weak, small woman's grasp," She teased and again he had to remind himself that she was, in fact, a very strong woman.

As they neared the line of trees that separated the lake from the camp the tactician continued with her teasing. He stayed quiet unable to convince himself that he hated it. He kept getting closing to closing his hand around hers but would chicken out at the last second. And he cursed both himself and her for his cowardice.

Displeased at his silence she spun around to face the young man. Her frown caught him off guard but he still didn't say anything adding to her annoyance. A smug smile danced on her lips and before he could react she snatched his mask off of his face and ran behind him.

She sung a triumphant little tune as she held it above her head beckoning for him to accept her challenge. Giving into his desire to just let go and relax he prepared to pounce. After an impromptu stretch he readied himself for the inevitable chase. One step forward and the color drained from her face, halting him in his tracks and he began a slew of apologies for things he didn't know.

Once again he was late to react and he was shoved out of the way. On the ground he heard a powerful smack and a growl. In alarm he was quick to get on his feet and see what happened; Robin laid on the ground a few feet away and wasn't moving and before him was a warrior Risen with an axe poised to strike.

Gerome didn't think, he didn't even acknowledge the Risen; his focus was entirely on getting to Robin. In no time at all he was at her side and roughly held her in his arms. Desperately he called her name over and over again for some kind of reaction but nothing. Shifting his hands around he felt a warm liquid on his fingers, he didn't need to see it to know that it was blood. In a calm state of mind he would have known better than to shake someone with a head injury but he was anything but calm so he shook her all while unaware of the Risen, chanting "Grima", approaching them.

The Risen's cry was cut short and the purple smoke that followed the death of it, alerted Gerome to the outside world. Inigo stood over the residual smoke a silver sword in his hand. He had a billion questions to ask his friend but when he saw Robin all those questions were replaced with new ones.

Bending down next to the two he did a quick check of Robin without touching her because Gerome wouldn't allow him. He had no idea if she was fine and that terrified him but when he noticed how panic stricken Gerome was he had no choice but to be the calm one. As he tried to think of what to do he could hear the steps and chants of other Risen approaching, making it very difficult to think.

First thing first, he had to calm Gerome down and get Robin to the healers. "Don't worry. She'll be fine." It was a lie and they both knew it, but it managed to calm the wyvern rider greatly. "We need to get her to the healers and alert the others."

Quickly, Inigo got onto to his feet and made the only barrier to protect his two weakened friends. He motioned for the other man to leave but the orange haired man was hesitant to leave. Words didn't need to be exchanged for his worry to be known. "I'll be fine," the male dancer tried to reassure but it brought little comfort. "It's stupid for us to both be here. And besides the lovely Robin is in serious need of a healer." He stressed the last part in hopes of it being the motivator his friend needed, which it did.

Gerome didn't say anything mostly because he didn't know what to say; besides words would have been pointless, Inigo already knew. Instead of worrying he just put all of his focus on getting to the camp. Holding Robin close to his chest he made a mad dash towards the forest.

Just as he was about to reach the cover of the tress a wyvern lord descended from the skies to impede his path. The sudden gust of wind knocked him off his feet but he managed to keep Robin secured in his arms. The dead wyvern roared in his face and he became painfully aware that all of his weapons were with Minerva.

The lord raised his axe ready to strike and Gerome could only watch fully aware that he had not time to get out of the way. Clutching her closer to him, he whispered an apology as he braced for impact. He could hear someone shouting his name but he didn't dare open his eyes.

It wasn't until he felt a firm grip on his shoulders that he opened his eyes to see his worry-stickered mother. Relief washed over him but it was quick to vanish when he felt Robin's blood drip on to his lap. Unable to find his voice he could only hold up the limp woman so his mother would see. When she called for the healers he was comforted a little.

Soon Libra and Brady were taking Robin off his hands because Lissa and Maribelle were a little too drunk to be of real use. Now free of his burdens, he felt empty. Without a weapon he couldn't fight and with no expertise for healing he couldn't do any more for the woman he loved. All he could do was watch the healers. He hadn't felt so useless since he was a child.

"Mother!" Morgan shouted in horror. He and Severa rushed towards his mother but before they could reach her Gerome had grabbed the young man. He struggled greatly, desperate to get to his mother, but the older man would not let go. Crying out and thrash, he did everything he could to get free. Overcome with great anger Severa headed for the battle to get revenge for both herself and her boyfriend.

"Morgan, calm down!" Gerome ordered and in retaliation he was elbowed in the face. When he could taste blood he knew it was time for a different approach. "She'll be fine." He had heard and repeated it to himself enough times that he was started to believe the lie. His strong belief transferred and Morgan went limp with all her anger and fears gone.

The sound of battle promptly reminded Gerome of the situation. Compared to humans Risen are relatively easy to fight, when they are not in large numbers, but when tactics were added to the mix battles with Risen could be finished so much more quickly; but with the tactician down and with almost half of the army drunk and unfit for battle the battle was going to be tough. Morgan could be their savior but the shock of seeing his mother in that state had left him weak and out of commission.

A loud, booming voice broke through the chaos barking the orders everyone was so grateful for. Laurent emerged from the thicket with more solders and spewed commands with confidence from having a great teacher. Gerome knew he should be grateful and relieved –and he was- but he couldn't help but feel bitter that his rival had such an edge over him.

Finished with issuing commands to the frontline, Laurent turned his attention onto the sidelines, namely the healers. He gave a quick glance to Gerome and Morgan before moving on. Thanks to the mage's presence Morgan greatly cheered up. Once he met up with the healers he stopped to observe in silence.

Upon seeing Robin's condition, his fists bawled tightly and it took him great effort to keep the snarl off of his face. He spared a glance at Libra and Brady; he saw their brows knitted together in deep concentration and sweat dripping down their faces causing him to be afraid to ask about her condition. So instead he turned away from the scene and returned his focus on the battle, in need of the distraction it would provide.

A familiar cry gave Gerome great comfort when Minerva nuzzled next to him with an axe in her mouth. Finally he could exact his revenge. Slowly he released Morgan just to make sure he was stable enough to stand on his own. Ready for battle Minerva let out a vicious roar letting everyone know that she was just as equal angry.

Giving a final look at Morgan the wyvern rider prepared to take flight but stopped when he heard a pained groan. All men ceased what they were doing to watch Robin. She groaned again and with great effort her eyes fluttered open. All at once all the men released their held breaths. With half-hidden eyes she scanned the area as best as she could; she couldn't speak and she didn't needed to, everyone knew she was confused.

"Mother!" Morgan cried. He was about to run to her but Minerva stopped him by biting his hood. He didn't struggle as he understood why he was stopped but he still pouted.

Just as earlier Laurent took control of the situation. In very quick steps he was at her side. Kneeling down he brushed a few strands of hair out of her face. She called out his name but it was horse. Offering a small smile, he said, "Don't worry, I shall handle this." Giving a slight nod to the healers he let them continue what they were doing.

Gerome could only watch as Laurent brought some comfort to Robin and he couldn't help but feel jealous. He couldn't think of anything to say to Robin. He couldn't even bring himself to thank her and apologize. Unable to watch anymore he pulled on Minerva's reigns and joined the battle.

So I have ideas for what to do after the father is confirmed but I'm not sure if I should just add it to this story or just start a new story for them. What do you guys think?

And thanks again for putting up with me. Reviews are much appreciated but I'll probably stop with adding all the suggestions and requests but still please leave me some.