A Ghost's Gift

The warm summer wind of Ylisse always set Cordelia's heart at ease. It was a pleasant reminder that she was home. She wasn't in a far-flung, icy plain in Regna Ferox's freezing north, or stuck in the blistering sands of Plegia. She was in Ylisstol. She was where she was supposed to be.

Although, unlike normal, for her, she wasn't overwhelmingly busy today. Chrom and Sumia both insisted that she take at least one day off. She wasn't thrilled about it, but after that conversation with her lieges and friends, she had to admit, a day where she wasn't worried about rebuilding the Pegasus Knights or other knightly duties sounded nice.

So, she took their advice, and now, she sat on the porch of her home just outside of Ylisstol's grand walls. Her Pegasus, a young steed with a bit of a temper, stamped a hoof in the private stables she kept off to the side of her small home. She smiled at the beast as one, glossy eye looked at her. Her smile grew when a toddler with red hair held up in pigtails bounced around the pegasus, a brush in hand.

"You're going to look pretty, you know that right?" Severa said as she ran the brush over one of the Pegasus' legs. "All soft and fluffy." The pegasus snorted, making Severa fold her arms. "You don't need to be mean, y'know."

Cordelia laughed under her breath. Three years had passed since the end of the war with Grima. Severa came not long after the conclusion of that terrible conflict. At first, it had been difficult raising a child without her father, but the other Shepherds stepped in to help. Gaius served as a surprisingly good Uncle for her, while Sumia was the doting aunt. Panne… she was still perplexed by manspawn children's propensity for pulling on her long ears.

Another chuckle left Cordelia's lips. However, as she laughed, she bowed her head. Severa's father, Robin, had not surfaced. He disappeared in the wake of Grima's defeat. At least, Cordelia chose to believe he had disappeared, and not died. However, with every passing year, more doubt crept into her heart.

Was Sam wrong?

"Momma?"

Cordelia blinked. Severa was in front of her now, looking up at her with worried, red eyes. A gentle smile crossed her lips.

"Did you help groom Wildfire, Sev?" She asked as she reached down and picked up Severa, placing her on her leg.

Severa nodded, her pigtails bouncing. "He's grumpy this morning."

"He's always grumpy."

"Not with me." Severa glanced at the Pegasus. Cordelia followed her gaze. Wildfire snorted and stamped. "I think he thinks you're upset."

Cordelia blinked. "Upset?"

"Are you thinking about daddy?"

Cordelia's heart lurched. Severa had never met her father. He was gone before she was born. Somehow, her daughter had an incredible intuition when it came to Cordelia's emotions and feelings. Then again, her future self was similar, although much more coarse about it.

"A little," Cordelia admitted, brushing a hand along Severa's small arm.

"And Morgan?"

Cordelia closed her eyes. No wonder Sumia and Chrom wanted her to take the day off today. They knew what day it was. According to her daughter from the future, today was Morgan's birthday. Not just a day for celebration, but the actual day it was supposed to happen. Morgan was three years younger than Severa, after all. If all had gone according to the best-case scenario everyone hoped for, then she would be here now too.

But, that did not happen. Life did not work that way, unfortunately. It was a harsh reality Cordelia had learned to accept. But, that didn't make it hurt any less.

With a sigh, Cordelia hooked her hands beneath Severa's arms and hoisted her up, cradling her against her shoulder as she rose to her feet and stepped down from the porch.

"Shall we go pay Morgan a visit?"

Severa gasped. "Yeah! I can tell her about how Wildfire is being rude."

Wildfire snorted. Cordelia chuckled, trying her best to hide the sadness gnawing on her heart. The ache grew worse as she carried Severa down the road to the hilltop and grove where Morgan's grave sat.

When she set Severa down, the little girl bounced her way over to Morgan's gravestone. She plopped to a seat in front of it, tilting her head and smiling, as if she was sitting with an actual person. A part of Cordelia wondered if ghosts were real, at that moment. If so, then maybe Severa could see something she didn't and was actually chatting with her sibling from the future.

"So, Wildfire stamped at me today," Severa began.

Cordelia tuned out her daughter as she started chatting with Morgan's ghost, her little hands picking at the grass atop the grave. Another warm summer breeze blew through, making the leaves on the grove rustle. The wind whistled through the branches, a soothing tune that made her eyes close.

The ache in her heart sharpened. Today was Morgan's birthday, and the only way for Cordelia to celebrate it now was to visit a grave without a body. And she had to endure that pain with her daughter. Her friends could help her, sure, but this was not a burden she wanted them to carry with her. That wouldn't be fair to them. They all had lives to live and families to build. Especially Sumia. She recently welcomed Cynthia into the world, making the young Princess Lucina very excited in the process.

I can't let the others worry about my problems. Cordelia smiled when Severa laughed at something. It was as if she could hear Morgan talking back to her. I can't let Severa share my grief.

"Momma?"

"Yes?"

"Was Morgan funny?"

Cordelia blinked. Unfortunately, she did not know how to answer that question. Her time with her future daughter had been so brief that she barely got to know Morgan. Robin knew her best. As far as Cordelia could tell, those two were practically the same person. Their noses were always buried in a book. They were so intelligent it boggled her mind. At the same time though, they both seemed to be enormous dorks, tripping over themselves as that intelligence made them question how to go through a basic conversation.

A light laugh slipped from Cordelia's lips, one only she could hear.

"She was, yes," Cordelia nodded.

"Good," Severa nodded. "I think she is too."

A tear threatened to brim in Cordelia's eye. She quickly wiped it away. After taking a shaky breath, she glanced at the other graves sharing the hilltop. Kellam, Kjelle, Owain, Lucina… they all rested here with Morgan.

She's surrounded by friends, at least.

Another warm wind hit the grove, this one harsher, strong enough to rattle the branches and make several verdant leaves fly free. Her eyes closed as she fought to control her emotions.

"Momma?"

"Yes, Sev?"

"Who's that?"

Cordelia's eyes flicked open. When they did, her heart jumped to her throat, stealing her breath from her body.

A lone figure sat beneath the boughs of one of the trees. He was slumped against the trunk, a purple and gold hood drawn over his head. Locks of white hair hung over his closed eyes. Slowly, those eyes opened. They flicked immediately to her.

Cordelia trembled where she stood. The man rose to his feet, wincing in pain like he hadn't moved in ages. He reached up and drew back his hood, revealing the face of a man Cordelia was beginning to think she would never see again.

A tear trickled down her cheek as her lips quivered. The man stepped around Morgan's gravestone, pausing beside Severa. Severa got to her feet and looked up at him, tilting her head to the side in confusion. She then glanced at Cordelia before whipping her eyes back to the man.

"Hey!" Severa stamped a foot. "You're making my Momma cry. Stop it!"

She swung back with a foot and planted it against the man's shin. The man's eyes widened. He hissed in pain, reaching for his shin as he hopped up and down.

A laugh slipped from Cordelia's lips. She quickly covered her mouth with her hands. All of the melancholy she felt evaporated, replaced by overwhelming joy which made her heart thump in her chest.

He's here! He's really-

She surged at him, wrapping her arms tight around him.

"Robin…" She breathed, closing her eyes as more tears trickled down her cheeks.

Robin stiffened. Cordelia froze. She recalled the story Chrom and Lissa told her about when they met Robin. How he didn't have any memories and could only recall his name.

Did… did that happen again?

She looked into his eyes as she held him. For a split second, her worst fears surged through her mind. He didn't recognize her.

Then, his lips curled up in a gentle smile. Her heart leaped. One of his hands reached up, brushing a tear away from her cheek.

"Sorry I took so long," he whispered.

A sound bordering on a sob tore from Cordelia's lungs. She squeezed Robin tighter, her head coming to rest on his shoulder as he embraced her as well. One of his hands rubbed her back as she devolved into a sobbing mess.

"I-I missed you," Cordelia shook. "A-And I thought-"

"I know," Robin breathed. "But, I'm here now. I don't plan on going anywhere anymore."

A short laugh left Cordelia's lips. She pulled back again, before leaning in and placing a soft kiss on Robin's lips, one he eagerly returned.

"You better not," she whispered.

"Hey!" Both Robin and Cordelia glanced over at Severa. Her short arms were folded as she frowned at both of them. At that moment, she looked exactly like her future self. "Can someone tell me what is going on!?"

Cordelia smiled. She glanced at Robin. His embrace ended as he stared down at Severa, stunned.

"Severa… meet your father."

Severa's eyes widened. Her mouth fell open as she looked up at Robin. Then, to Cordelia's surprise, she whipped her gaze to Morgan's gravestone.

"You weren't lying!" She exclaimed, making Cordelia blink.

Severa surged at Robin. Immediately, Robin dropped to his knees and engulfed Severa in his arms, hugging her tight.

"About time you showed up," Severa said, smiling.

Robin uttered a wry chuckle. "Yeah. Getting home took me a little longer than I expected." He glanced at Morgan's grave, some sadness flickering across his face. Then, without a word, he scooped Severa up in his arms and rose to his feet, making the toddler laugh. He smiled at Cordelia. "Well, I think the others are going to have lots of questions for me and… why are you so sad?"

Cordelia shook her head. "I'm not, just- today is Morgan's birthday."

Robin blinked. "Oh."

Cordelia hung her head, shaking it as she laughed. "Yes, you are indeed my husband. Always so observant."

A sheepish look crossed Robin's face. "Well, I just came back from I don't even know where, so I'm a bit out of the loop."

Cordelia took his free hand in hers as he held Severa. All three of them started to walk back to her home. She would have to send a message to the palace soon. Chrom and Sumia would want to see Robin as soon as possible.

But, for now, she would enjoy the return of her husband.

As they all walked down the hilltop, another warm breeze hit Cordelia. This time, she swore she heard a whisper in the wind.

"Happy birthday to me. Enjoy the present!"

She froze, her steps faltering and her hand slipping from Robin's grasp. She glanced over her shoulder. For a split second, Cordelia swore she saw a ghostly silhouette of Morgan perched on the gravestone, a wide smile on her lips as she waved at her.

"Morgan?"

"Cordy!"

Cordelia spun back around. Robin was looking back at her. A knowing expression crossed his face. He nodded, then waved at her to follow.

"You coming? Severa insists on showing me everything at home."

"Momma, let's go already!" Severa exclaimed as she threw her arms around Robin's neck.

Joy erupted in Cordelia's heart. This was real. He was back!

She glanced over her shoulder one more time. Morgan's ghost had disappeared from the gravestone. Perhaps she had just been seeing things, but… Cordelia was not sure. Maybe ghosts were real. If so, then Morgan just gave her the greatest gift anyone could give her: the return of her husband.

You won't be gone for long, Morgan. Cordelia thought, moving to Robin's side and taking his hand again.

A light snicker hit Cordelia's ears. Her heart felt full as she smiled.

"I know."

Let's pull on those heartstrings a little for Morgan's birthday today! These little one-shots are fun, and I've got some more coming down the pipeline. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as me. Have a great day!