"Hmm," Camilla softly hummed as she idly stared at the flower in her hand with a long and thoughtful frown, twirling the flower around between her fingers as she did. She had come to the castle garden in the hopes of clearing her mind, that the sight of the castle's beautiful assortment of flowers would help calm her mind and help her sort out her thoughts, especially those centering around a particular crimson haired retainer and messenger, but it was sadly to no avail. No matter how much she took in the many flowers' scents and stared out into the endless sky above her, she could not help but feel a bit frustrated over the lack of clarity within her head, a feeling that she was admittedly unfamiliar with. She had always been known for and prided herself on her ability to know exactly what she wanted and yet here she was becoming all stressed out and flustered over someone who usually wouldn't have even caught a princess such as hers' attention. That knowledge in and of itself troubled her to no end.

"Lady Camilla," the all too familiar husky but monotonous voice of the man who had become the source of her current woes softly greeted, kneeling down and taking a seat beside her as he looked at her face and then to the flower she was playing with with unreadable intent on his face. He always did this. Despite his insistence on his inability to connect with others (and honestly proving that time and time again), he seemed to have a natural knack for being able to talk to others in way that made it just so easy for others to open up to him. Perhaps it was that unreadable and stoic expression of his that perfectly conveyed neutrality and objectivity towards whatever the other person would say to him. Perhaps it was the soft and purposeful focus that he seemed to have whenever he would listen to another person's woes. Or perhaps it was the awkward, honest, and somewhat vulnerable body movements that he couldn't help but perform throughout that seemed to scream that he felt just as unequipped and clueless as the person he was talking to on how to help or solve their problem. It was rare and awkward charisma that he and possibly only a very few select group of people could ever seem to have, but it was an endearing one all the same.

"Is something bothering you?" Ananias asked after Camilla, for whatever reason, seemed to be unable or simply refused the courtesy of greeting him back.

Camilla stared at him mysteriously for a moment before evenly answering, "Of course not, darling. Whatever made you think that?"

Ananias slightly frowned at the fact that Camilla's response, while a bit predictable, lacked her usual personal and sensual flare. She could hide behind basic denial all she wanted, but she was never going to convince anyone with that alone. For better or for worse, Camilla was anything but "basic". "Well," he began, "to put it simply, you haven't been acting like yourself lately. It's gotten to the point where it's actually got a couple of people worried... one of them being Lady Elise."

Camilla nodded as she let out an acknowledging hum. "I see." She then proceeded to let out a guilty chuckle before giving him the best reassuring smile that she could muster. "Silly me, making everyone worry over me like that. Well then, I guess I shouldn't hesitate in setting the record straight, hmm?"

Ananias simply gave her a meek shrug and replied, "Well, that would definitely be a start." He then awkwardly rubbed his hands together as he looked down at the ground before adding, "But considering the fact that you're obviously not acting like your usual self, would it be possible for you to just tell me what's going on instead?"

Camilla took a moment to consider it for a moment before shaking her head and answering, "I'm sorry dear, but unfortunately a girl can't go around revealing all of her secrets." She then looked down sadly and murmured, "Especially not to just anyone."

"Then not to me then," Ananias calmly suggested. "Talk to Lady Elise. She's worried sick about you."

Camilla let out an affectionate chuckle as she shook her head and smiled. "Oh, I can imagine. She really is a dear, isn't she? Always thinking about others before herself."

Ananias frowned and nodded his head. "Yes, she is," he answered. "But you're kind of dancing around the issue now."

Camilla giggled sadly. "Am I? Well then," she placed one of her hands lightly onto her chest, "my apologies. I do tend to prattle on and on about things, don't I?"

"You say that, and yet that's exactly what you're doing now," Ananias wearily muttered. He then rubbed his eyes with one of his hands in exasperation and asked, "Look, is there a reason why you won't talk to her about this? Because if you're not going to talk about it, I should at least be able to tell her why, you know?"

"Yes, that seems fair," Camilla admitted. She then looked back down at the flower still in between her fingers. "In all honesty, no matter how much more mature Elise is getting these days, I can't help but feel that she wouldn't understand."

Ananias raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Understand what?" he asked. When Camilla still seemed to look hesitant in telling him, Ananias added, "Come on, sis. You can tell me, right? After all, isn't this what pretend brothers are for?"

Much to his surprise, Camilla simply stared at him with both shock and sadness evident on her face for a moment before shaking her head, biting her lip, and murmuring, "Please, no more of that."

Ananias let out a tiny gasp of surprise from the unexpected response he had received before softly asking, "N-No more of what?"

"Of pretending to be a replacement for Corrin," Camilla answered.

"But I don't understand. Wasn't it your idea to begin with?"

It was at this point that Camilla put down the flower she had been holding and began rubbing the sides of her temple in weary frustration. "I know what I said," she hissed sadly. "And I'll be the first to admit that that was a mistake on my part."

Ananias raised an eyebrow in surprise. "O-Oh, really?"

Camilla sighed and nodded. "Yes. In the end, I realized that no matter how committed you were to playing the part, you could never truly have managed to take the place of Corrin in my heart."

Ananias looked down at the ground and nodded solemnly. "Yeah, I sort of figured as much."

Camilla nodded. "Yes, and in a way, it was even more terrible than I could have possibly imagined."

Ananias raised his head and raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Oh, um," he sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck, "wow. S-Sorry. I didn't realize I was that bad."

At this, Camilla quickly shook her head. "No, no, darling. You played your role to absolute perfection! It's just that... I just didn't count on growing so fond of you in the process!"

Ananias' eyes widened as he stared at her in shock for a moment upon hearing this. "W-Wait... what?!"

Camilla nodded shamefully. "Yes, I'm afraid it's true." She then gently cupped one of Ananias' cheeks as she leaned her face towards his. "The allure and mystery behind that stoic expression of yours, the strong and silent way you look after everyone, the lengths that you are willing to go to make everyone around you happy. All of it has tickled my fancy, and no matter how much I stop, the sensation just never seems to stop! Instead of replacing Corrin in an attempt to reduce the pain of losing him in my heart, you've gone on and squeezed a place for yourself instead."

Ananias gulped upon having the admittedly beautiful princess' face being so close to his. "Ah, I, um...," he blushed as he averted his eyes away from her intense gaze.

Camilla couldn't help but giggle at this. "Oh, what's wrong?" she teased. "Cat got your tongue?"

Ananias cleared his throat and gently removed Camilla's hand off of his face. "N-No, of course not, it's just...," his mind raced furiously in an attempt to find a worthy enough excuse to deter the extremely forward princess of Nohr, "if that's the case, then why did you seem so sad just now? I-I mean, it doesn't really add up, you know?"

Camilla let out a tiny gasp of surprise before nodding her head sullenly and answering, "Yes, well, I suppose you could simply chalk it up to an average case of lovesickness."

Ananias raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Lovesickness?" Why ever would she feel lovesickness when he was literally a quick summons away?

Camilla chuckled sadly and nodded. "Yes, but rather for the imminent future than for the current present."

"Hmm?"

Camilla sighed and shook her head. "Be honest, darling. You're not planning on staying as Elise's retainer, are you?"

Ananias swallowed an uncomfortable lump in his throat before nodding his head and answering, "Y-Yeah, most likely."

Camilla chuckled knowingly. "And chances are that you're never coming back, right? After all, the only reason you're even here is because of Laslow, Odin, and Selena. If the business between the four of you is done, then that will be the last time I get to see you, isn't that right?"

Ananias pathetically shrugged at this and replied, "Well, I mean, if I had a reason to come back then I'd definitely jump at the chance to do it, you know?"

"But you don't, do you?"

"W-Well, I mean, I've definitely made friends here..."

"Don't be silly, darling," Camilla gently chided. "You can't possibly take time out of your busy schedule just to visit little old me." Camilla's eyes then widened upon realizing her mistake. "Oh! Sorry, darling! My mistake. I mean us. You can't possibly take time out to visit little old us. Especially if it's going out of the way from where you need to be."

"Y-Yeah, I guess you've got a point there," Ananias admittedly muttered. He then thought it over for a bit before slowly suggesting, "Well then, what if I had a good reason to keep coming back then?"

Camilla shook her head at Ananias sweet attempts to find some sort of solution in this seemingly hopeless situation. "Oh, that's sweet of you to say, dear, but what could possibly demand your constant return here? Because let's be honest, you and Nohr don't exactly fit like two peas in a pod, if you know what I mean."

"That may be so," Ananias admitted, "but that shouldn't be a good enough reason to keep me away, right? I mean, that would be pretty petty of me if it did." He then racked his brain one last time before taking a deep breath and asking, "What if I got married to someone here then?"

Camilla's eyes widened upon him suggestion such a strange solution. "Hmm?"

"Yeah. If I were to be married here, then I'd have no choice but to keep coming back here, right? After all, I'd have a family that I'd have to keep returning to, you know? Can't exactly justify staying away from them forever."

"Yes," Camilla said softly and excitedly. "Yes. Yes!" She then placed her hand through Ananias' hair and ruffled it up playfully. "Oh, Ananias, you really are treasure! That plan is positively genius!"

Ananias couldn't help but blush at all of the praise she was giving him. "Yeah, well, easier said than done," he said. "I've still got to find someone who'll be willing to put up with me like that." He then cringed. "And that'll probably be just as hard as it sounds."

Camilla immediately shook her head and waved his apprehensions away with her hand. "Oh, don't be silly! Why go out looking when you've already got the best bride anyone could ask for right in front of you?"

Ananias was visibly taken aback by this proposition. "W-Wait, what?!"

Camilla giggled mischievously as she hugged one of his arms. "Oh, come now, darling! I know that you can be a bit slow at times, but even you must have noticed the... natural chemistry between us, right?"

"W-Well, I mean, there's certainly something there," Ananias reluctantly admitted. "B-But, Lady Camilla -"

"Ah, ah, ah," Camilla quickly corrected. "Just 'Camilla', remember?"

"C-Camilla! We... we live in completely different worlds!" He then bowed his head and mumbled, "In more ways than one!"

Much to his surprise, Camilla once again waved his concerns off. "Oh, what about it, darling? Who cares what anyone says about us as long as we're one big happy family?"

"F-F-F-Family?!"

Camilla nodded. "Oh, yes. Just imagine it! We'll give both of our siblings the cutest and most adorable nieces that they could ever ask for! Or accidental nephews," she smiled lovingly at him, "who we will love all the same! And I'll be the loving mother who can tell all of my children apart, and you'll be the hardworking and loving father who always comes back after a hard day or trip of work! And when you come home, we'll absolutely ravage you with all of our love and tell each other stories of what the other has seen or done since the last time we saw each other!"

"H-Hey! Slow down!"

"Oh, what's the matter, darling? Doesn't that sound like an absolute dream?"

"A-Admittedly, yes, but that still doesn't really fix the whole class system issue!" Ananias frantically pointed out. "I'm pretty sure a princess marrying a messenger isn't exactly how things should be done!"

"Well, fine then!" Camilla playfully replied. "After the fighting is over, I'll simply just stop being a princess then!"

Ananias looked completely flabbergasted upon hearing such a seemingly absurd suggestion. "C-Can... is that even allowed?"

"Well, there's no harm in trying, is there?" Camilla asked. "And besides, I have no interest for such a thing! It takes such a toll on a woman's complexion, and it brings such unwanted memories! Why hold onto that when I can make such beautiful and new memories with you?"

"B-But what about your family?" Ananias couldn't help but ask.

"Oh, you're so sweet," Camilla gushed, holding Ananias chin as she did, "worrying about me and my family like that. But you have nothing to worry about, darling. I don't need to be a princess to be their loving older sister, do I? Even if I were to live in a secluded cabin in the woods, I would still rush over to them at a moments' notice. They know that."

Realizing that there was nothing else to really worry about, Ananias stared at Camilla in awe for a moment before unintentionally murmuring, "... A cabin in the woods, huh?"

Camilla smiled and nodded her head excitedly. "Yes! Doesn't that sound absolutely wonderful? All of the space our children could possibly ask for!"

"And it would be nice to have some peace and quiet," Ananias admitted.

"All of the peace and quiet we could ask for," Camilla prodded. "Oh, Ananias, no more teasing! Let's do it! Let's get married! It would make me the happiest woman in the world if you did!"

Ananias took a moment to consider it before he realized that there was nothing left to really consider. He would either want to marry her or not, and at this point, he'd be crazy not to. Sure, Camilla was beautiful, a cut above the other beautiful women he had seen in his life, but she also had this sensual energy and mature enthusiasm about her that he couldn't help but be drawn to and wanted to get lost in. Could she be overly affectionate at times? Yes. Could she be a bit needy? Definitely. But in a way, he had always sort of wanted that, right? Someone who he felt he wasn't a burden or a chore to. Someone who he knew loved him with every fiber of her being. Someone who he could make happy just as much as she could make him. Someone who would accept his admittedly surreal family situation. She was the total package and more, and he was relieved and happy to admit that he did care for and have feelings for her as she did him. It was honestly too good to be true, and it probably was. Life had a way of biting you back in these types of scenarios and when you least expect it to, but this time, Ananias felt like taking that risk. After all, with someone like this walking that very same road alongside him, what would he honestly have to fear?

"Ah, what the heck?" Ananias said, softly patting the hands wrapped around his arm, causing Camilla's smile to grow even brighter. "If it'll make you happy, then who am I to say, 'no'?"

"Oh!" Camilla gushed, hugging him closer as she laid her head at the crook of his neck. "How you spoil me!"

Ananias chuckled. "I should honestly stop with that."

Camilla giggled and shook her head. "Oh, don't you dare!"

Ending: Ananias and Camilla

Ananias continued with his humble life as a messenger almost immediately after the war had ended, his home being the only guaranteed place anyone looking for him could find him. His wife, Camilla, gave up her royal title and spent her days at home doting on her family.

Author's Note #1: And here ends Ananias' supports with Camilla. Sorry for such a long wait for this one. I hope you liked it! The next supports will be Gunther, followed by Setsuna, Kanna, Selena, Beruka, Xander, Azura, Flora, Odin, Laslow, Rinkah, Arthur, Silas, and Leo. Got someone else you want to support with Ananias that isn't on this list yet? Request it. Remember, all Nohr first generation characters, Soliel, Ophelia, Anna, Kanna, Rinkah, Subaki, and Setsuna are allowed to support with him as well and it is a first come, first serve system.

Author's Note #2: The Fire Emblem Warriors poll is now officially up on my profile! Vote for which five characters you want for Ananias to support with from that game the most and, in the end, ten characters will be selected for Ananias to support with, so make your voices heard. Happy voting!