I'm late, but I'm going to finish this!

It started at a council meeting. A soldier, barely able to stand on his feet, came barreling into the council room. Hubert was the first to his feet. "How dare you-"

"Hubert, please." Edelgard motioned to Linhardt, who was quick to heal the soldier. It took him a while, but he managed to get the man in a somewhat stable position.

"He'll survive," he started, stepping away from the soldier. "But he'll need extensive rest."

Edelgard nodded before addressing the man. "What are your reasons for being here? Shouldn't you be in Myrddin?"

"Your Majesty…" he hesitated, his eyes shifting between Edelgard and Hubert. "The Great Bridge of Myrddin fell to the Kingdom."

"What of everyone who was there?" It took all of Hubert's control to maintain steady breathing. "Surely, the general would've sent more than just you ahead. Was he captured?"

"...There were no survivors. The general told me to ride ahead and deliver the message. He also told me to deliver this to the Imperial Minister."

Hubert took the letter opening it. The first thing that fell out was an embroidered handkerchief.

The handkerchief that Hubert had given Ferdinand before he left for Myrddin. He read the letter to himself.

My dearest Hubert,

If you are seeing this letter, you have either happened upon it by accident (which is my hope) or these are my last words to you. This letter was set to be delivered to you if I felt that I were to die before seeing you again. Tell Edelgard that I am sorry. Tell everyone that I am sorry.

But I owe you the biggest apology.

Whether it have been for a heroic deed or some reckless action, I have left you behind and I am truly sorry. If I could, I would rather I die in your arms than without you. But know that you were my last thoughts.

My final wish is that you are not lonely. Please do not think my death to be your fault in any way, even if you were the one to give the order. Do not burden yourself over me. The last thing I wish is to cause you more suffering. Go on and help Edelgard achieve our dream of a new, unified world. And know that I am smiling down and watching over you always, my love.

Words cannot express how much I will miss you. And words cannot express how deeply sorry I am to have left you behind in this cruel world. So, in an attempt to rectify the wrong I have done, please accept this gift with my sincerest love and affection.

May we meet again on the other side someday.

Your love and forever guiding light,

Ferdinand

Hubert reached back into the envelope, pulling out a small object.

It was the von Aegir family ring.

His hand flew to his mouth, causing him to nearly drop the ring. His stoic mannerisms fell. It took all his strength not to break down in front of the rest of the Strike Force. He knew exactly what that ring meant, and the gravity of the situation now that Ferdinand was dead.

"I'm sorry, Lord Vestra-"

"You're sorry? You think sorry can bring back the dead?! Ferdinand is dead, yet you stand here in front of us and all you can say is sorry?! Your captain is dead and you muster a pathetic sorry-"

"Hubert, stop!"

Edelgard's harsh command quickly stopped him. He looked at his emperor, his expression still seething, but he didn't say anything else. He simply bowed and left the room.

Edelgard pinched the bridge of his nose. "Linhardt, see that this soldier gets the proper care. Caspar, go with him."

Both men left, leaving her, Dorothea, Petra, and Bernadetta in the council room. After a long silence, Dorothea spoke, picking up the handkerchief that had been discarded on the floor. "This can't be real. Is Ferdie really dead?"

Edelgard took a deep breath. "It would appear so." She took the handkerchief. "I should go talk to Hubert."

With that, she walked out of the room. It didn't take her long to get to Hubert's old room. She knocked but didn't wait for an answer. She slowly opened the door to see Hubert sitting on the bed with his back to it. She simply shut the door behind her, sitting on the bed. "Hubert…"

"I'm sorry about my display from earlier, Lady Edelgard."

Edelgard was honestly surprised that he was apologizing. "Hubert…how are you?"

"How am I? What do you mean, Edelga-"

"Ferdinand, he…You don't have to hide it from me."

Hubert turned to face her. The only sign of his emotion was his red eyes. "There's a hole in my heart and it hurts." Edelgard grabbed his hand. Hubert nearly broke down again. "I miss him, Edelgard."

"I know, Hubert." She watched as tears started to roll down his face. "It's getting late and I think you could use some more time to yourself. I'll always be here if you need me."

The black-haired man nodded. "Good night, Lady Edelgard…and thank you."

When Hubert woke up the next morning, he immediately felt different. Awkward. He looked around the room. It wasn't the one he fell asleep in, but it still seemed…familiar.

He threw the sheets off of him, going over to his full-length mirror. Staring back at him, was his twenty-year-old self.

No wonder everything looked so familiar. He had somehow ended up back at Garreg Mach. But something felt different. There was a knock on the door. "Hubert, are you ready for breakfast?"

His heart stopped. "Um…go on ahead without me, Ferdinand. I will meet you in the dining hall.

"Alright then. I will save you a seat. The one in between me and Edelgard. Just how you like it."

"Thank you." He listened as the ginger walked off. He couldn't believe his ears. Somehow, he had gone back in time and Ferdinand was still alive. He quickly got dressed, an uncharacteristic smile on his face. Don't worry, Ferdinand. This time, I'll right the wrongs that I've made.

"You know the plan, yes Hubert?"

"Of course I do, Lady Edelgard. If we can be rid of Rhea now, it will make everything in the future easier."

"And don't hurt the other Eagles or the Professor. We'll likely have to fight them should they choose to protect Rhea."

"Very well." He looked towards Metodey. "Are you ready?"

"Of course." With that, Hubert opened the door.

Edelgard was the first to step in. "Stop right there."

Hubert had watched this scene play out, only it was the Lions in front of him instead of his fellow Eagles. His gaze locked with Ferdinand. He wished it hadn't. The teen looked crestfallen upon seeing Hubert next to Edelgard; the Flame Emperor.

He had blocked out the rest of the conversation until Bernadetta asked Edelgard a question, to which she responded, "Yes. In fact, I gave the order. I am the Flame Emperor."

Hubert put his signature smirk back on. "I guess that's the end of play-at-school, Lady Edelgard." He looked at Rhea. "I mean, 'Your Majesty'."

Metody gave the order to retrieve the Crest Stones, but just like last time, all of their soldiers were fallen by Byleth.

Soon, it was just the two of them face-to-face with Byleth, Rhea, and the rest of the Blue Lions. Rhea looked at the two with a look Hubert thought was unbecoming of an archbishop. "You have disappointed me, Edelgard. To think that a descendant of House Hresvelg would dare betray the holy church…"

Edelgard ignored her, instead, turning to Byleth. "So it is my teacher who stands in my way. I always knew it would come to this."

"Professor, kill Edelgard at once. She is a danger to all of Fódlan. Such a rebellious heart cannot be allowed to keep beating."

Hubert waited on his answer, holding his breath. He knew whatever Byleth chose, the rest of the Eagles would follow. That included Ferdinand.

The mausoleum was silent. After a long while, Byleth finally turned to Rhea and said, "I must kill Edelgard."

Hubert tried to hide his disappointment. He looked at Ferdinand, who looked just as disappointed as he did.

"I will withdraw…for now. Come, Hubert."

With only a nod, he warped the two away. But right as he was leaving, he could've sworn he heard Ferdinand calling his name.

Instead of teleporting back to their hideout, he found himself on the battlefield. He looked down. He was back as his twenty-five-year-old self. He looked around. He recognized the scenery as Enbarr. He found Edelgard and the Death Knight…but no Ferdinand. Have I failed again? Is this some divine punishment for not being in the goddess?

"Hubert?"

He turned towards the voice. Standing in front of him, lance drawn, was Ferdinand. He dismounted, slowly walking towards the man. "Byleth sent me here to finish you. How cruel the world could be."

Hubert tried to tell Ferdinand that he didn't want to fight him, but it seemed that he couldn't form the words. As if a force was stopping him from speaking. Divine punishment indeed. It seems I have no choice but to fight the man I love. Instead, he let a Miasma spell dance around his fingers. "Running into you in the capital like this—I have to say, it's almost sentimental."

"Hubert. She must leave."

"You really think you can make her?"

"It does not matter what I think. Those are my orders." With that, he lunged.

Hubert made no move to fight back, instead, letting Ferdinand embed his lance deep in his chest. Ferdinand gasped, catching the man before he fell. He left his lance clatter to the ground, dropping to his knees. "You…you just let me stab you! Hubert, why?!"

"Because…" he felt a searing pain in his chest. "I would rather die than have to fight you." He brushed back some of Ferdinand's hair. "We may be on different sides, but I would never hurt you, Ferdinand."

The ginger grabbed his hand, placing it against his cheek. "Hubert…I did not want to fight you. It is silly of me to think, but I wanted to try and convince you to join our cause. We have been separated for too long, but even so, my thoughts were always on you." A tear rolled down his cheek. "Please, do not die on me, Hubert."

"Don't die on me, Ferdinand. Live to see a beautiful world, even if it isn't the one Edelgard and I envisioned." He felt himself getting weaker, and he slowly let his eyes close.

He opened them again. He was back outside the mausoleum with Edelgard and Metodey. He looked at his hands. It appears that I have been given another chance.

"Hubert, are you ready?"

He smiled. "Of course, Lady Edelgard."

The battle went on just as it did last time, down to Rhea's order of killing Edelgard but this time, Byleth gave a different response. She walked over to Edelgard with a smile before turning to Rhea. "I will protect Edelgard."

Hubert didn't even wait for an order. He teleported them all away.

This time when he opened his eyes, he found himself in his room, only five years later. He looked at the date.

A day after he received the news of Ferdinand's death. He huffed. Have I failed again? Is there really no way for the two of us to be happy together?

"Hubert, dear? Is everything alright?"

He turned, not hiding his surprise. Sitting on his bed was Ferdinand, staring at him in concern. He shook his head, clearing his thoughts. "It's nothing, Ferdinand. I was just lost in thought."

"That is unlike you. What were you thinking about?"

Hubert stood, joining Ferdinand on his bed. He nestled Ferdinand against him, guiding Ferdinand's head to his shoulder. He ran his fingers through his hair. "...I was just thinking about what might've happened if things were different."

"Different? How so?"

"Like…what if you had sided with the church instead of Edelgard? Or what if the professor decided to teach a different house and had no idea what Edelgard was planning at all?"

"It is unlikely for you to be so hypothetical. Is something wrong?"

"Not wrong necessarily. Just…" he kissed the top of Ferdinand's head. "I got to thinking about how my life might've been different if we hadn't fallen in love or if you had died on me."

Ferdinand moved to look at him, grabbing his hands. He pouted. "I am not going anywhere. I'm sure Edelgard and the professor will see to that. And I know you will too. We did promise to protect each other, after all."

"We did, didn't we?"

"Now, I think that it is about time for our daily tea time? Shall we be off?"

"We shall." Hubert stood, reaching his hand out to Ferdinand. He smiled as the ginger took his hand. I may not be one to pray to you, but if I could only ask for one thing, it is that when I close my eyes and open them again, Ferdinand will still be by my side.

One more left! I hope you guys have been enjoying my little stories as much as I've enjoyed writing them. Stay tuned for the last story and see you guys l8tr!