Robin walked into the throne room of Ylisstol's castle. He saw Chrom there talking with Frederick and Lissa. When Chrom noticed him, he smiled and walked up to him.

"Been too long, Robin," he said. The two friends shook hands.

"Only about a month or so."

"Feels like forever to me. Especially when I'm stuck doing nothing but paperwork while you get all the fun stuff."

"Speaking of fun stuff, I thought you'd like an update on the Shepherds."

"I'd love one. Come, I'll have someone bring drinks." He put an arm around Robin's shoulder and ushered him to the others. "Tell me everything. Is Stahl still eating all the rations? Has Vaike broken anymore equipment? Any new recruits?"

"Well, for starters-"

"My lord." The two men turned around to see a soldier approach them. "Messenger from Regna Ferox."

Chrom nodded. "See them in." The soldier saluted and left. Soon after, Raimi, one of Flavia's generals entered the throne room.

"Prince Chrom," she said, "I come on behalf of Khan Flavia."

"Flavia? This is a surprise. What does she need?"

"Our westerly neighbors, Valm, have begun to stop acting so neighborly. Someone called the Conqueror has launched fleets at us."

"The Conqueror," Robin said. His voice was so quiet, Chrom barely heard him.

"Weren't you getting reports about Valm, Robin?" he asked.

"I was. However, with the recent uprising of Risen and becoming a father, it was something I put aside. It didn't seem like too much of a threat. That's what I get for ignoring a perfectly good warning."

"What do you mean?"

"Never mind." Robin looked at Raimi. "I take it Flavia needs my master tactician skills?"

"Um, yes. She requests all the Shepherds come."

Chrom raised a brow at Robin and chuckled. "When the hell did you get so cocky?"

"Hey, I have a kid to set an example for. I need to show confidence at all times."

"Yeah, but the 'full of himself' motif doesn't really work for you."

Robin sighed. "Sumia doesn't think so either. She actually laughed last time I tried."

Chrom did his best to stifle his own laughter and looked at Raimi. "We'll set off as soon as we're ready. Robin and I have to round up a few of the other Shepherds."

Raimi nodded. "Thank you, milord." She left without another word.

"So, who are you going to have babysit, Lucina?" Robin asked.

"What do you mean? Sully's going to stay with her."

"The hell I am!" Sully shouted. Robin smiled as Chrom visibly flinched. Sully walked up to them holding baby Lucina. She smiled at Robin. "Hey, Luce, look. Uncle Robin came to visit." Lucina smiled at Robin and giggled. "Can you hold her for a moment?" Robin nodded and took the infant. "And you!" Sully said to Chrom. "If you expect me to stay home and fluff pillows or bake pies, you got another thing coming."

"B-but, Lucina needs you right now. She's only a couple months old." Lucina started to giggle again at this point.

Robin smiled at the infant. "Yes, Lucy, it is funny watching your daddy try and argue with your mom."

"Quiet you!" Chrom shouted at him. Lucina just kept laughing with Robin trying and failing to contain his chuckles.

Robin walked into his house. "Sumia, I'm-"

"Ssssshhh!" Sumia rushed down the stairs holding a finger to her lip. "I finally got Cindy to take a nap," she whispered. "Don't wake her up."

"Right. Sorry," Robin whispered. "Although, we're downstairs. Do we have to whisper?"

Sumia just looked at him for a moment. "Hm. Guess not." She brought her voice back to normal speaking level. She kissed Robin's cheek. "So, how was your day, sweetheart? You're home earlier than usual."

"Came home to start packing. I'm leaving for Regna Ferox."

"Alone?"

"The Shepherds are coming. I leave tomorrow."

"Well, what are we waiting for? We have to pack our things."

Robin raised a brow. "You want to come?"

"Well, of course. You don't expect me to let my husband go travelling alone."

"I thought you'd want to stay with the baby."

"I do to be honest. However, if this is something that requires you to take all the Shepherds I get the feeling it's big."

"It is. Valm is knocking at our door. I think that war is finally coming."

"Oh, no." Sumia put her hands over her mouth. She looked nervous for a moment and Robin was about to hug her when she put her hands by her side, clenched her fists, and nodded with a determined look on her face. "Well, in that case, I'm definitely coming along. I'm not letting you fight in a war without me."

"But Cindy-"

"Can be looked after by someone else."

"No, I'm not worried about who takes care of her while we're gone. I'm worried about the possibility we don't come back. Cindy's just a baby. I don't want her to grow up not knowing us." Robin also wanted to bring up the fact that they hadn't had Morgan yet but he knew older Cynthia wouldn't want him to divulge that little fact yet.

"I know you're worried." Sumia put her hands on his chest. "I am too. That's why we both need to go. To look out for each other. No one can stop us when we're together, right?"

"You've been reading cheesy romance novels again, haven't you?"

Sumia smiled. "Am I wrong?"

"No, I suppose not." Robin chuckled then put his hands on her shoulders. "Promise you'll be careful?"

Sumia nodded. "Yeah. You be careful too."

Chrom agreed to let Cynthia stay at the castle to be watched over there. Robin and Sumia stood outside the castle entrance holding their baby. Cynthia was looking around curiously. Sumia was trying to not start crying.

"I wish we didn't have to leave her," she said.

"It isn't like we're abandoning her," Robin said. "We'll be back. I promise." He put a hand on Cynthia's head and she looked at him and smiled. "Be good, okay? Mommy and Daddy won't be gone long." Cynthia smiled at him.

"My darling," Sumia said. "I'm going to miss you." She kissed Cynthia's head. "Try not to grow up too much while we're gone." Cynthia giggled in response. Sumia regretfully handed her precious baby to one of the castle maids. "You'll take good care of her won't you?"

The maid nodded. "As if she were my own, Milady." Sumia smiled at that. She gently put her hand on Cynthia's cheek and giggled when the infant grabbed her fingers.

"Come on, Sumia. Let's go," Robin said. He put an arm around her and led her to the other Shepherds. They small army began to set off to Regna Ferox. After a few minutes, Robin began to take his horse closer to Chrom. "I need to talk to Chrom for a moment, okay?"

Sumia nodded. "Alright." Robin rode up to Chrom while Sully pulled back and rode closer to Sumia.

"Any reason you aren't flying?" she asked. It was then that Sumia noticed she was riding her Pegasus on the ground.

"Oh, I didn't realize. My mind is a little addled right now."

"Miss your kid?" Sumia nodded. "Yeah, I miss mine too. Feels wrong not being near her. Damn maternal instincts." Sumia chuckled. "But our gals are tough, right? Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if Lucina's already swinging a sword by the time we get back."

"But don't you want to be the one to teach her?"

Sully sighed. "Yeah, I would. Don't tell anyone this, but I cried my eyes out before we left."

"Really? You?"

"Hey, I might be rough around the edges, but I'm still a mom. I only told you because you're the only other woman here who's a mom. Figured you could relate."

"I do. Your secret is safe with me. I'll probably be crying later anyway."

Sully reached over and put an arm around her shoulder. "Well, I'll be there to cheer you up or cry with you when that time comes. Us moms gotta stick together, yeah?"

Sumia chuckled. "Yeah."

I'm not going to be strictly following the game's events from here on out. Chapters will be chronological but I will focus on what I feel like focusing on. Anyway, thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed.

P.S. Finally figured out it might be a good idea to put the author's notes in bold print. Go figure.