A/N: Merry Christmas, my readers. It's taken me a while to update this, but here it is. We've returned to the present for this chapter, so we're back in the Valm arc. I hope you all enjoy this. Thank you all for your support over all these chapters. And as always, thanks go to The Erudite for his support and insight. I couldn't do this without all of you.

Display

"Oh, Father, Mother, please," Lucina pleaded as their lips met. Chrom pulled away to find their daughter shielding her eyes behind her hand. Around the fireside, the other Shepherds gave similar reactions; some squirmed where they sat, others shook their heads or stared in utter shock at what they'd just witnessed. "Must you do that in front of everyone?"

"Yeah," Lissa exclaimed, "we're trying to eat here."

Chrom choked on the chuckle at the back of his throat, "Coming from you, Lissa, that's rich," he somehow managed to say. "Just how many schemes did you hatch over the last two years?" Romantic plots, he might add, that afforded he and Sumia opportunity to do more than merely kiss. His sister wrinkled her nose and plunged her fists into her hips.

"Well, you're both still making me and everyone else here sick."

"'Both of you'," scolded Maribelle, wagging a gloved finger. "It's proper to say, 'both of you are making me and everyone else here sick.' And," her gaze snapped to Chrom, and even he couldn't help but wince, "With all due respect, Your Majesty, she is entirely correct. This behavior is simply unacceptable."

"We just kissed," he protested. "People do that when they're married."

"What you and the queen do in your private lives is your affair, but it's not becoming of royalty to carry on with such a lack of discretion. What if we were in court; would you and the queen put on such a display?"

"Display," she said. Like flint to stone, the word sent a shower of sparks through Chrom's mind. He offered a hand to Sumia, a roguish grin etched over his face. Though she hesitated at first, she placed her hand in his with a nod, and he helped her to stand. They walked a few paces from the fire pit.

"Where are you two going?" he heard Maribelle call out, "My queen, if you'll permit me, I'll instruct you on how a lady of stature should act."

Just as Chrom hoped, the others watched with all the anticipation of a theater audience. If they wanted to see a display, who was he to deny them?

With a wink to Sumia, Chrom wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. He dipped her back, and pressed his lips to hers a fervent kiss. From where the Shepherds had gathered, he heard groans and roaring laughter mingling together. While he could not be sure, Chrom also thought he heard Tharja muttering to herself. Soon enough, all sounds, even the crackle of the fire, grew faint and eventually faded. And when he pulled away, Chrom found himself lost in his wife's eyes, and he smiled.

What did he care what anyone else said? Did they not know, did they posses no comprehension of what marriage to Sumia was like? Did they not see the things she could do? With a single glance, she gave his heart wings, one touch could make it flutter, and if their lips met for even the briefest of moments, it soared as her Pegasus did. But it was more, vastly more, than that. In her presence, it did not matter if he resided in a war camp or a palace; both felt more like home. And in her arms, gazing into her eyes, he could both forget the world and see it with greater clarity.

How she did all this, he doubted he could ever say. Of all the mysteries in this world, he supposed one could remain unanswered. What he could say with utter certainty, however, was Sumia deserved all his appreciation for it. And so long as he had breath in his lungs and a ring on his finger, he would give her all he had.

"Tell me you love me," he said, stroking the back of her head.

"I love you," Sumia replied with a sunny smile before he kissed her again.

If anyone wished to watch, so be it; it was of no concern to him.