Hello!

This is going to be the last Awakening chapter for a while, as I'm planning to do a few chapters for FE7 after this- I hope you're excited! Also, I should be getting Fates pretty soon, so chapters for that will happen in the future.

Onwards!

Chapter 44

Three knocks sounded through the hall. Smiling, Anna headed to the door and opened it. She was greeted by a happy-looking Chrom, his wife Robin at his side, without their royal guards for once.

"Chrom! Robin! Nice to see you!" The redhead grinned. "Come on in."

"Nice to see you too." He returned the greeting as he walked in.

"Hmm? Anna, who is it?" Emmeryn poked her head through the doorway, her blue eyes wide and curious.

"Oh! Chrom!" She stepped through the door and embraced her brother. She hadn't seen him in weeks- the last time they'd met was the day after she recovered her memory, when all the Shepherds had thrown a party in her honour.

"How've you been?" The blonde asked, smiling.

"Stressed, mostly." Chrom admitted. "Being Exalt's more stressful than you made it look."

"I think you're doing fine, really." Emmeryn reassured. "You'll make an amazing Exalt with time."

The blue-haired man shrugged. "If you say so. But enough about me- how've you been?"

As the siblings chatted happily, Robin moved over to Anna and stood next to her.

"Long time no see, Robin." Anna smiled. "How's the royal life treating you?"

The tactician smirked. "A tad boring, honestly. I know I'm the Royal Tactician, but when the most that happens is a skirmish with some bandits every now and again, I don't get much chance to do anything, really."

Laughing, the merchant shot back: "At least you've got servants to wait on you all the time. It can't be that bad, right?"

"True." Robin nodded. "I dowish for the quiet life sometimes, though."

"What, when you've got all that money?" Anna turned to her, mock astonishment on her features. Both of them laughed.

"So... Chrom..." Emmeryn fidgeted. "I..."

"Emm?" Chrom looked concerned. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, yes, I'm fine." The blonde waved a hand dismissively. "Me and Anna just wanted to... Tell you something, since you're here."

Robin poked her head in curiously.

"This sounds important. Should I hear this?" She asked.

"Yes. Come on in." The former Exalt gestured for her to enter. As the tactician sat, Anna also took a seat next to the blonde.

"So... Chrom..." Emmeryn began. "I know you can... Overreact sometimes, especially when it comes to me. But don't worry!" She added, noticing her brother's frown. "It's nothing bad." She took a deep breath, and looked right at Chrom. "Me and Anna... We're a couple."

For a moment, everyone was silent. Surprisingly, the blue-haired Exalt seemed to stay calm.

Robin was the first to speak again. "I... I'm so happy for you two!" She stood, pulling the two of them into a group hug. Eventually, she stepped back, still smiling. "You two are going to be great together. I know it!"

"Thanks, Robin!" Anna replied, still smiling. Emmeryn looked over at the still-silent Chrom, wondering what his reaction might be.

Smiling, the Exalt sighed.

"I know that I have a... Reputation for being very protective." He began, almost hesitantly. "But... I can see how happy Emm is. How can I argue with that?"

Almost laughing with relief, Emmeryn threw her arms around her brother's shoulders.

"Thank you, Chrom." She smiled.

"So... Uh... Anna..." Chrom fidgeted. "I didn't want to bring this up earlier, but we should discuss your fee..."

"Hm? Oh, that." Anna looked over at him. "I- I won't need one from now on." She almost seemed to struggle just saying it.

The Exalt's jaw dropped. "E-Excuse me?"

"Yeah. Your sister's kinda... Made me realise that things besides money are valuable. I've been thinking about it." The merchant explained. "So... So I'm gonna start by not charging you money to stay with someone I love."

"A-Are you sure?" Chrom asked, still not recovered from the shock of Anna refusing money. The redhead nodded, casting a quick glance over at Emmeryn.

"Well... If you're sure..."

"Come on, dear!" Robin called from the door. "Frederick's gonna call a nationwide alert if we're not back soon!"

The blue-haired man stood, starting to move to the door. He stopped, and turned to the merchant.

"...Take care of my sister, okay?"

"Of course." Anna replied. "I'd never do anything to hurt someone like her."

Satisfied, Chrom left.