Time In Between
"Chrom..."
Chrom bolted upright. That familiar voice again. The voice of his wife...
"Robin... Where are you?" He called out, looking around in the darkness.
"Chrom!" The voice called out again, and Chrom saw the familiar silhouette of his lost love running off.
"Wait! Come back!" Chrom called out, chasing after Robin. "Please! How can I find you again?"
Robin paused and turned so she could face him.
"Robin... Please tell me..." Chrom began, sadly.
Robin lowered her head and, in a puff of purple smoke, vanished.
"Robin!" Chrom yelled, bolting upright.
"Daddy?"
Looking down, Chrom saw his five year old daughter, Lucina, staring up at him, her doelike eyes heartbreaking.
"Honey. Did you have another nightmare?" Chrom asked, gently.
Lucina nodded and raised her arms.
Chrom gently lifted her and placed her on the bed next to him. "What happened?"
Lucina crawled under the covers. "It was Mommy..." She began, "She vanished. I miss her so much!"
Chrom hugged his daughter tight. "I know. I miss her too, but she will come back. We've searched high and low for her."
"Why did Mommy have to leave us?" Lucina asked.
"Well, your mother sacrificed herself to save the world. She was selfless in her choice to save all of us. She was a true hero."
Lucina sighed.
"Would you like to sleep here tonight?" Chrom gently asked.
Lucina looked up. "Yes please."
Chrom smiled, it was just like when he and Lissa would crawl into Emmeryn's bed when they had nightmares.
Kissing his daughter's forehead, he tucked her in and gently rubbed her back while singing a song Emmeryn used to sing him.
"Goodnight, Lucina. We'll find your mother someday..."
The next day
After waking up, sitting down to a nice breakfast, and playing with Lucina, Frederick approached Chrom.
"Milord..." he began.
Chrom felt his breath catch. Did they finally find Robin?
"Princess Lissa has come for a visit."
Chrom tried not to hide his disappointment, but he also hadn't seen his little sister in a while.
"Bring her in." He said. No sooner had he finished speaking, then the door was thrown open and in ran his little sister, still wearing her princess garb.
"Brother!" She exclaimed, giving Chrom a huge hug. "How I've missed you!"
"Hey, Liss, how has it been? I haven't seen you since you left with your husband."
Lissa giggled quietly. "Yeah... it's kind of nice living on the farm. Donnell's been a very good father to Owain, and his mother hasn't found a reason to dislike me yet..."
"Owain?" Chrom began, confused.
"Oh! Didn't I tell you?" Lissa asked in surprise. "You're an uncle! I gave birth last month. He's such a handful... but he looks so much like his dad."
Chrom stared open mouthed.
"Oh right. We should probably catch up in a more civelized way." Lissa replied. Letting go of her brother, she sat down in her favourite chair, and Chrom, still slightly dazed, sat adjacent from her.
Once the royal siblings were each given a cup of tea, and a cookie tin was brought out for Lissa, Lissa began.
"So yeah, sorry I didn't tell you about your nephew."
"It's okay..." Chrom began. "I'm just in shock. I guess, you'll always be my bratty sister."
"Who you calling Bratty?" Lissa asked, glaring slightly, before stopping and bursting into laughter. "Anyway, Owain is healthy, and we'd like for you to meet him one day."
Chrom smiled. "I'd like that too."
The two sipped their tea, when Lissa continued. "So, any sign of Robin?"
"No... We searched everywhere, but still no sign of her."
Lissa frowned into her cup. "She has to be out there..."
Chrom nodded in response. "Anyway, have you stayed in touch with Maribelle?"
Lissa grinned. "Of course! She's my best friend! No way I would NOT stay in touch with her."
"So how is she?"
"Well... she and Ricken finally tied the knot."
"Finally?" Chrom asked in surprise.
"Well, yeah." Lissa began. "Ever since they met, Ricken had been eyeing her. He was just too intimidated to talk to her. Don't you remember how bananas he went when Maribelle got taken?"
Chrom nodded. "I guess you're right..."
"Of course I'm right. And now with the birth of Owain, Brady gets a playmate."
Chrom paused midsip. "Brady?"
"How locked out of the loop are you?" Lissa asked, almost in disgust, "Brady is Maribelle's SON."
Once the tea was finished, and the dishes and tin removed, Lucina came into the room.
"Auntie Lissa!" She cheered, jumping into Lissa's arms.
"My little Luci." Lissa squealed, hugging Lucina. "How big you've gotten!"
Lucina squeezed her aunt in response.
"Last time I saw you, you were no bigger than a chicken." Lissa continued. "I wanted to roast you, but your father wouldn't let me."
Lucina giggled. "You can't roast me." She began. "You don't have the right tome!"
Lissa laughed. "I guess you can go another day."
She gently put down her niece, who ran over to Chrom. "Oh! Daddy... Can I go play with Laurent?"
"If his parents say so." Chrom began.
"Yay!" Lucina began. "Mr. Kellam! I can!"
"Kellam?" Chrom and Lissa asked in surprise, "how long has Kellam been here?"
"Since Lucina entered the room..." The man began, stepping over to them.
"You gotta stop doing that!" Lissa puffed.
Kellam nervously laughed before turning to Lucina. "Well, little princess... ready to play with Laurent?"
Lucina smiled. "Yay!"
As the two walked off, Lucina was asking Kellam a stream of questions.
"She'll be fine, Chrom." Lissa began, laughing.
"Wanna go for a walk?" Chrom asked, "Like when we were kids. We can catch up."
Lissa smiled and the two of them headed to the garden.
"Just as beautiful as I remember..." Lissa began. "It's been a while since the end of the war... Have you kept contact with the other Shepherds?"
Chrom nodded. "A few of them have stuck around, the rest have sent letters. Who knows, we may have new Shepherds for the future."
Lissa remained quiet. "So, I know I saw him earlier, but how's Frederick doing?"
Chrom smirked. "I know you used to have a crush on him, Sis."
Lissa glowed red. "I was a child back then! He was one of our guards! I read too many fairytales!"
Chrom laughed. "Relax, Liss. I'm joking."
"So... has he found anyone?" Lissa asked.
Chrom nodded. "Yeah, he and Cherche just had a son of their own. His name is Gerome."
"Cherche, huh?" Lissa asked in surprise.
"Yeah. She moved in." Chrom added. "We had to build a new stable for Minerva as she kept trying to eat the horses and pegasi."
Lissa gulped.
"But it's okay now." Chrom added. "Minerva wasn't able to eat anyone. Just spook them a bit."
Lissa paused. "It's funny... I thought Cherche would end up with Virion."
Chrom shook his head. "Surprisingly no..."
Lissa frowned. "Did Virion end up with anyone?"
Chrom nodded. "Sully."
"Sully?" Lissa asked in surprise.
"Yeah, I guess Virion finally wore her out..."
Lissa tried to think of Virion and Sully getting married, but the thought was so funny to her...
"And when their daughter, Kjelle, comes of age, she's going to join the Shepherds too." Chrom finished.
The two siblings made their way to the edge of a lake where, sitting down, they dipped their feet into the cool of the water.
Lissa looked up at Chrom again before smirking. "So, what about Sumia?"
Chrom looked down at his sister, confused. "What about her?"
"What's she up to?"
Chrom flopped on his back and looked up at the sky. "Well... Once she realized I was serious about Robin, she decided to stop wasting time... her words, not mine... and she got married too."
"Oh?" Lissa asked in surprise. "To who?"
"Gaius." Chrom replied.
"What?" Lissa asked, jumping up in surprise. "Sumia, the sweet pegasus knight, married to the sweet-toothed theif?"
Chrom laughed. "They're quite happy, mind you. Their daughter Cynthia is very cute, and follows Lucina around like a baby duck."
Lissa lay back down next to her brother.
"You met Cynthia already?" Lissa asked in surprise.
"Yeah." Chrom responded, "She and Sumia like to visit Cordelia every other Sunday to catch up over tea and biscuits."
Lissa's eyes shone. "Cordelia is back? Back for good?" She asked.
Chrom laughed. "Yeah. Ever since her and Stahl decided to get married, things have been pretty crazy.
"Stahl?" Lissa asked in surprise. "So she finally got over you..."
"What was that?" Chrom asked.
"Nothing!" Lissa quickly replied. "So... are there any potential playmates for Owain?"
Chrom nodded. "They had a daughter recently. Her name is Severa."
"What a sweet name!" Lissa exclaimed.
"Yeah." Chrom replied, "but she's the crankiest baby around. She won't stop crying and pulling at Cordelia's hair."
"Yikes..." Lissa replied.
Chrom nodded. "Yeah... I offered to babysit for her out of kindness, and by the time they came back, I was covered in vomit and Severa and Lucina were on the floor screaming."
"I don't even want to know how that happened." Lissa replied.
Chrom grinned sheepishly. "I don't even fully know how it happened."
Then his expression went somber. "If Robin was there..."
Lissa laid a comforting hand on her brother's shoulder. "She WILL come back. You and I both know she's out there."
Chrom sighed. "I know... moping around isn't going to bring her back."
Lissa nodded in agreement, then paused. "So... What's Vaike up to?"
"Vaike?" Chrom asked in surprise. "I thought you didn't like Vaike."
Lissa shrugged. "When he's not trying to club you, he's... tolerable. So what's the big lug up to?"
Chrom laughed to himself. "Surprisingly, fatherhood has mellowed him out.
"Vaike's a dad too?" Lissa asked in surprise. "I have so many questions!"
Chrom laughed. "Well, he and Olivia started hanging out alot more..."
"OLIVIA?" Lissa screamed.
"Keep it down." Chrom replied.
"Sorry..." Lissa began.
"Anyway." Chrom replied. "After courting, they got married in private. Olivia didn't want a huge ceremony. Now they're the parents of a healthy baby boy named Inigo..."
"It sounds like everyone's doing well for themselves." Lissa replied. "But what about the others?"
Chrom shrugged. "They all went back to their homes."
Lissa was about to say something else, when a flash of light caught the sibling's attention.
"What's that?" Lissa asked in surprise.
Chrom looked at it carefully. It was so familiar and yet...
"It can't be..." Chrom whispered, running towards the light.
"Chrom! Be careful!" Lissa exclaimed, running after him.
Chrom made it to the beam of light, his heart pounding, he couldn't dare to hope. When the light dimmed, a thin feminine figure was left lying on the ground.
"Robin..." Chrom began.
"Chrom!" Lissa called out from behind him.
When she caught up, she gasped at the sight of her sister in law lying in the grass.
"Robin!" she excalimed. "We got to get her to the palace!"
Chrom raised a hand. "Wait until she wakes up. We don't know if she kept her memories of our time together."
"Chrom, we have to do SOMETHING!" Lissa protested.
"What do you propose we do?" Chrom asked.
"Uh... Uh... I don't know." Lissa began.
Chrom had a point. If they did anything reckless, and Robin had lost her memory again, who knows what would happen?
Chrom was about to say something, but a soft groan caught their attention. Looking back at Robin, they realized she was awake.
"I see you're awake now." Chrom began gently.
"Hey there!" Lissa excitedly began.
"There are better places to take a nap than on the ground, you know." Chrom joked, holding out his hand. "Give me your hand."
Robin smiled, her eyes lit up with recognition. As she reached out and took Chrom's hand, all three noticed that the mark of Grima was gone.
Once she was on her feet, Chrom pulled her into a hug.
"Welcome back. It's over now." Was all he could say
Some Time Later
"I now pronounce you man and wife." Libra began, "You may now kiss the bride."
Robin and Chrom tearfully watched as their son, Morgan leaned in and kissed his wife, Cynthia.
Breaking apart, the newlyweds looked over to their guests. Friends and family that came to celebrate.
"Congratulations, little brother." Lucina began, hugging Morgan happily.
Next to her, her husband, Brady, scoffed. "Yeah. That was good and all..." He was about to say something else, but a warning glare from Lucina stopped him.
Meanwhile, Cynthia was talking to her bridesmaids.
"You guys were my special heroes!" She squealed.
Noire nervously fidgeted. "You looked so pretty..." She whispered. "I only hope Inigo and I will have a wedding that good too..."
Nah laughed. "It will be good." She said, "And if not, your parents will deal with him."
Noire nervously looked over at Lon'qu and Tharja.
"Anyway," Nah continued, "It looks like the dancing has started."
Cynthia immediately turned and ran off to find Morgan.
"You going to ask Yarne to dance?" Kjelle asked.
Nah shrugged. "I don't know..."
"Go for it!" Kjelle insisted. "Your parents are already dancing."
Nah turned to see Nowi and Gregor dancing happily on the floor, Nowi standing on Gregor's feet.
Nah tried to hide her smile. She always thought they looked a little strange, but also knowing their story.
"I will, if you ask Laurent to dance too!"
Kjelle nodded in response.
Gathering up her courage, Nah nervously approached the male taguel.
"Would you like to dance?" She asked.
Yarne nearly jumped out of his skin.
"Nah!" He exclaimed.
"It's okay." Nah began, "I understand..." Nah turned to leave.
Yarne grabbed her hand. "No, I didn't say no. I'd love to!"
The young manakete and taguel slowly made their way to the dance floor and began dancing.
Yarne nervously looked over at his father, Henry, who gave him a thumbs up while dipping Panne.
"It's a perfect wedding." Chrom began, leaning his forehead against Robin's.
Robin closed her eyes and smiled.
Chom smirked and looked at the kids dancing around. "So, who do you think will be next? Kjelle and Laurent, Gerome and Severa, Yarne and Nah or Inigo and Noire?"
Robin laughed. "I think, they'll get married at their own time."
Chrom smiled. "Oh! Cynthia is getting ready to toss the bouquet!"
Robin turned as the unmarried ladies lined up. Cynthia giggled as she threw her bouquet in the air. There was a loud kurfuffle as the girls fought for the bouquet. When the smoke cleared, Noire was holding the bouquet with a freaked out look on her face.
"Oh! Noire?" Inigo began. "I do have something I want to ask..."
"Oh dear." Noire squeaked.
As the guests laughed, Chrom and Robin went outside on the balcony.
"Robin?" Chrom began.
"Yes?"
"Robin... Please don't leave me like that again... I love you so much. I know I say it too much but..."
Robin smiled gently and pressed a finger against her husband's lips. "You can never say it too much." She whispered. "I love you too."
Chrom smiled gently and leaned in to kiss his queen again.
When they broke apart, Chrom smirked.
"Want to try for baby number three?" He asked.
Robin's eyes glinted in warning. "No." Was all she said.