"Alright," Robin cleared his throat as the Shepherds had finished with the cleanup, "I'm sure you're curious about our newest recruit." Said recruit was currently hopping rapidly up and down as if practically vibrating. Lucina looked at her in a mix of emotions that might be summed up as confused concern with perhaps some embarrassment thrown in, but Robin put that aside for now. One thing at a time.
"This," Robin put his hand on top of her head to stop her bouncing, "Is Morgan. She'll be traveling with us for the rest of the trip."
"You'll just let someone you just met join the Shepherds?" Gerome raised a brow. He must not have been up to speed on Chrom's recruitment policy.
"She looks…familiar," Severa contemplated. At least Morgan's Falchion was concealed by her coat. The same coat Severa kept looking at alternatingly with Robin's own as she put the pieces together, "No way!"
"Ahem," Lucina cleared her throat, "Her story appears to be true. As far as we can tell."
"Surely you of all people know how that Robin never had a child in our world, nor did she come with us," Laurent adjusted his glasses.
"I know," Lucina sighed.
"We might as well show them," Robin admitted, and Lucina nodded in consent. Robin then turned to his daughter, "Show them."
Morgan almost gleefully pulled out her blade and held it high much like both her mother and grandfather when they wanted to rally others. It may have not had a rallying effect here, but it certainly had an effect.
"You mean…" Owain trailed off in shock.
"She's…" Inigo stammered.
"Both of yours kid?" Severa managed to finish.
"Wasn't expectin' that," Brady cocked a brow.
"Indeed," Laurent lowered the hem of his hat.
"Explain," Gerome cut to the point.
"We…aren't really certain," Lucina started, "But her Falchion is the genuine article. I can't explain it, but she has it and can use it. She is of exalted blood at the very least."
"What if it's some sort of trap," Yarne pondered aloud.
"Yeah," Nah agreed, "For all we know it's a ploy to gain your confidence."
"The sword is nearly identical," Lucina explained, "I know it well. It's weight, it's feel; I know it like an extension of my own arm. Save for a few extra scuffs and scratches on the hilt, it's identical to my own. Including damages done after I inherited it that are not on father's."
"So let me get this straight," Severa had recovered from her shock, "So you and Robin got it on and produced this?" Severa gestured to the bubbly bluenette.
"Crude, but relatively accurate I suppose," Robin sighed.
"Wait, were you two already together?"
"No…." Robin replied slowly. It was technically true, "Why?"
"Ugh, never mind," Severa huffed angrily at the wasted planning. Now what where they supposed to do with their shipping machinations?
"So, uh, does she need a bodyguard while she's with us?" Inigo asked in a way that sent shivers up Robin's spine.
"No, and she could eviscerate you with ease. As could both I and Lucina. In case you were wondering."
"Understood," Inigo quickly fell back in line.
"Good," Robin nodded, "Camp anyone?"
That night, Robin and Lucina took a bit of a reprieve from the two camps rule to discuss what had transpired that day. Well, they did. If anything, Robin was even more adamant about separate camps now.
That said, as the two sat between the light of the mirrored campfires, neither really knew what to say. They practically had whiplash from being forced from the goofy smiles phase to having a child together. It was a bit much. At least the others were already married before they knew they had "future children."
Lucina's biggest concerns were telling her parents, and, yeah, that was kind of Robin's too. He could handle the teasing from the others, but Chrom was an unknown. Sumia would probably love having a granddaughter, but Robin just was not sure how Chrom was going to take this. Having been a father for all of an evening, he now was determined he would not be happy in the same situation.
"So…" Robin trailed off awkwardly.
"Indeed," Lucina replied just as much so.
"What now?"
"I don't know. A daughter. It feels so surreal."
"In a bad way?" Robin asked somewhat afraid of the answer.
"No! No, I just do not know how to process it all."
"That's fair. I admit to feeling rather similar. Though…if it was going to happen, I'm glad it was with you."
Before Lucina could respond, their attention was cast on a scream coming from the girls' camp. Namely, Morgan's scream. The two new parents rushed over only to find Morgan clutching her head as she sobbed.
"Morgan!" Lucina was quickly on the ground cradling her, "What happened?"
"Mother?" Morgan looked up weakly.
"I'm here," Lucina reassured, "I'm here."
"Oh mother," Morgan clutched Lucina tightly, "I was looking into the fire, and I don't know what happened. I was overcome with dread and fear, and…and I didn't know where you were. I thought you were gone."
"It's okay. Mother's here. I'm not going anywhere."
"Mother…" Morgan sobbed into Lucina's sleeve as she worked to console the girl. It was their first real look past the waterfall of cheer she exuded. They had taken for granted that such cheer was not hiding anything. Whatever had happened in her past still seemed to haunt her even if she herself was not sure what it was.
Robin was also somewhat surprised by how easily Lucina seemed to shift into her mother persona. It was an almost bizarre change, but she wore it well. Robin's admiration went up even more. Was there anything she could not do? Other than tell a joke. Or shop for clothes.