Lon'qu never stopped loving Robin.

Every so often, he felt a pair of eyes trail his every single movement. The Swordsmaster did not care one bit. He knew whose crystal blue eyes they belonged to. The same eye shape, the same small nose. It was the child of his dearly beloved. And he absolutely couldn't turn her away one bit. The man knew how he was repulsive to Princess. He knew it all too well. But deep down, he wanted a relationship with her. At the very least, be good friends or comrades in arms. He knew he could never be of noble blood. He wasn't worthy enough. But in his dreams, he imagined a life with Robin with both Lucina and Inigo as siblings. The man would be a good Father, he decided then, if and only if Robin would hold his hand at the end of the day.

But there's a reason people call it a mere fantasy.

"Sire, Halt!" Lucina's high-pitched voice penetrated his ear drums. She was not one to go down easily. Not without a fight. Lon'qu wondered for a brief moment if her persistence was something she inherited from Chrom or Robin. "Face me now! This cannot wait!" she continued. The man heard Lucina drew out her sword. Was there really no way to avoid this? He could explain but words will just fail him.

Lon'qu could not bear to hurt Lucina.

"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" The Princess charged towards Lon'qu with no hesitation. Her blue boots pounded against the cold, damp ground. It was only the two of them. "Why would my Mother leave Father for you?!"

"Tch!" Lon'qu gnawed at his teeth as he blocked her Falchion just in the nick of time. An centimeter closer, his face would have been wounded with its blade. "I do not wish to harm you. Let's stop this pointless battle. It is unbecoming of a Princess to fight needlessly." he reasoned. "Your Mother and I have done nothing wrong." The man treated Lucina as his own. "I-It's alright, child. We will not speak of this anymore if you stop." He could not bear to raise a hand even if it cost him his life. Lon'qu wondered why she had been so agitated. He did not know why though he believed it must have been something he did in the future. A matter so grave that even Robin's child would seek vengeance. Normally, he could not care less about his own life. But now he had a son. Inigo.

"All this time my Brother and I waited for her return! She never did! Because you stole her away." Tears began to flow down Lucina's eyes as she pushed her blade farther. Both of their strengths had equaled to the point that their blades stopped moving. "Olivia would bring Inigo all the way to our home as if to mock us of what we lacked! I hate them! You took her away! In the future you stole my Mother from me! You couldn't be content with your family you had to ruin someone else's!"

Lon'qu lowered his blade down the moment Lucina started to do the same. "Robin would never abandon you for me. She loves you more than anything in this world. I am but her protector." Slowly, the man walked towards the crying princess and offered his red sash from his attire.

"Don't go near me!" Lucina's voice sounded petulant and childish. The woman, however, could not care any less. In her mind, she was still that strong-willed child who wished for a simple life with her family. True enough, she wished to lead Ylisse as the future Exalt. But deep down, all she ever thought about in her days were her family. She spent her whole life in the future dreaming of what it would be like to be held close by her Mother along with her dearly beloved Father beside her. Such a fragile, simple dream. To have her guidance, assurance and love. She could not bear to lose her once more and she was willing to do anything just to make her stay. "This is why... why I must teach you a lesson!" At this point, there was no use in reasoning with her. Her mind was set. "Hiyaaaaaaaaa!"

Lucina speeded up far too quickly that she was unable to anticipate a cliff behind Lon'qu. The latter, however, was able to move away in time. "Lucina!" the Swordsmaster called out before reaching out his arm. He shivered at the sight of his dearly beloved's daughter's eyes. The brand reflected upon the lone light flashing from a crack in the cave. It was enough to marvel at by just being able to see a glimpse of it. "Hnggh!" he pulled her with the strength of his arm strongly. There was no way he could allow her to get hurt. No way. Not as long as Robin existed in the crevices of his heart. Not as long as he drew breath.

"...!"

Lon'qu grabbed onto Lucina's hands. "I got you."

I would never do anything to harm you, Princess.

Lucina, 5. Morgan, 11 months.

The battle arena had become a home for Lon'qu much to his dismay.

Every so often, he was asked to come to Ylisse. However, in doing so, he only felt pain in return. Surely, the Exalt compensated far more than he was worth. He was paid far too much for his small family, but he accepted them anyway. Lon'qu felt proud that he was doing something for her. Of course, her. The woman he never stopped loving, Queen of Ylisse. Robin. The Swordsmaster cared for Olivia, too. But it did not compare to the way he felt about Inigo. He loved his soon very much so. But romantically, he leaned to Robin for his feelings. It was as though she held him by the neck. He would follow her every word and should she say jump, he would then follow up with, 'Where?'. It had been years since they last saw each other. Last time he heard, she had a son. A 'beautiful' son so called by Flavia. The wonder boy. The bees knees. Another blue-haired wonder progeny. And then there was Inigo.

Inigo. The 6 year-old boy who watched Olivia dance. Who did nothing but sit in front of his Mother and took lessons. He wondered if the boy was even his child. So meek and fragile.

"Lon'qu, Sir. Someone of high importance wishes to see you." A soldier spoke in a stern voice towards Basilio's most trusted man. The half-naked man wiped off his sweat with the cloth Olivia had packed for him earlier and threw the soaked cloth away. "It would be best to address the official as soon as possible for earlier convenience. You do not want to keep this person waiting."

Lon'qu sighed. What was this? Another job? He had just finished battling with Basilio. Who could bother him now when all he wanted was to bask in his thoughts and regrets? "Bring him in."

"Her, it's her, Lon'qu." A familiar voice that soothed his ears replied. "Or did you never really treat me like a woman because I threw figs at you like a monkey?"

You...!

Robin appeared before him. It was not the usual Tactician Robin with whom he was comfortable with but the Queen of Ylisse. In an instant, he turned and bowed his head even though it was very out of character for him to do so. An entourage appeared behind her but she quickly dismissed them with the wave of a hand. Her gown was long and beautiful with the many stones glimmering on its pattern. He could not believe his very eyes to the point that he squinted again and again to make sure it was really her. "R-Robin! W-What are you doing here? Is the Exalt with you? You've just given birth. Y-you must not be here."

"No. That's not it. I... I need to ask you for a favor." Robin shook her head almost in pain. She took a couple of steps towards him and pulled out a lace handkerchief from her coat. Tears began to pile up on her eyes as she looked around nervously. "I-Is Olivia around? Where's little Inigo? I bought him a couple of toys. And, I'm sorry if I am bothering you."

"... For you, anything." Lon'qu smiled kindly at the Queen. Instead of using her lace handkerchief for himself, he wiped Robin's tears with them instead.

I love you, Robin.

"I want you to take me away from Ylisse as far as possible."

Lucina, 9. Morgan, 4 1/2.

There had been many reports of Risen outbreaks from many nations. The end had come to a close.

"Father! Don't go!" Morgan cried out, his tears running down his cheeks one after the other. "Father, I've studied my tomes and I can read alphabets now! I promise to be a good boy and not run away during bath time!" the small boy sniffled, his shirt all wet from tears. "Father!"

"Morgan, stop being a crybaby. Father will come home soon." Lucina held his brother back even though she was on the verge of tears herself. "You need to be strong for Father and Mother. They're fighting this war for us."

"Then I'm coming with Father!" The young prince broke free from her sister's hold and ran up to Chrom who was beside Frederick at the castle entrance. "I'm going to look for Mother with Father and you can stay in this castle yourself, Lucy!"

"Morgan, come back!"

"Father, stay! Stay!" the child commanded.

"Don't cry, Morgan. You still have me!" The future Exalt caught up to her younger brother. "I'll protect you! I'm your big sis."

"Morgan... Lucina..." Chrom went down on his knees and pulled both of his children into a deep hug. "I'll be back. I promise. I'll bring your Mother home."

Every single person who saw the sight wept that night at the sight of the Exalt kissing his children goodbye. Forever.

It was a promise he could not fulfill.

(Author's Note: Comments? It would help a lot! Motivation, motivation! Let's do this!)