Sorry I'm like a week late, you guys! Starting up school has been crazy.

At first, the sedentary life was amazing for Ferdinand. He still worked as Edelgard's Prime Minister, but with no war going on, he had much more free time than he had originally thought. He had taken up many hobbies in the past year since the war had ended, including painting and piano playing. But every once and a while, he had an itch to simply use his lance. That was probably one of the reasons he had agreed to teach weapons training at a new school in the capital. He taught everything from axes to sword training, and at the same time, he never lost his own touch for what used to be his craft. He only taught three times a week, so he still had lots of time to himself when he wasn't working.

Today, he was teaching his favorite class; his lance work class. He walked in between his students, inspecting their stances and giving little tips such as "spread your hands apart to make sure you have an even grip on your lance" or "widen your stance so you have more balance". He often found his classes very relaxing and his students very eager to learn, despite the fact that there was no threat of any incoming internal power struggle.

He sighed in content, watching as his students did partner work before the door to the training grounds slowly opened. All his students stopped. Ferdinand drew his own lance, creeping towards the door. He stopped when he heard giggling.

He smiled, rolling his eyes and dropping his lance to the side. He looked at his students. "Take a quick break. It seems that we have an uninvited guest who came to visit." He scooped up a little black-haired girl, twirling her around. "Everyone, meet my daughter, Adela." He bopped her on the nose. "What are you doing here, sweetheart? You should be with Edelgard's son and the other children."

"Uncle Linhardt said that he was finished teaching for the day and that we could go and play. I told him that I wanted to come and visit you instead and he said it was okay."

"Did he now?" He made a mental note to talk to Linhardt about the education of their children. He sighed. "Well, Papa still has to teach, but you can stay if you sit quietly in the corner."

Adela giggled, nodding her head as Ferdinand put her down. She scurried over to the corner, sitting down on a bench. She waved to her father, who waved back with a smile.

To her credit, she did watch very intently as Ferdinand continued his class. The ginger was actually pretty surprised. He smiled to himself as he watched his students file out of the training hall. Even if she wasn't their legitimate child, she certainly had Hubert's work ethic. He picked up the little girl, walking out of the training hall. "Did you have a fun time, Adela?"

She nodded, wrapping her arms around Ferdinand's neck. "I want to learn to use a lance like you, Papa."

He looked down at her, raising a brow as the two walked out of the school and onto the streets of Enbarr. "You want to study the lance? But I thought you were learning magic with your father."

"I want to use a lance and magic! Didn't you do that, Papa?"

"I suppose I did." He never even had to tell his daughter about his war exploits. It seemed the stories did that themselves. "But you are such an exceptional mage!"

"Please, Papa?" She gave him the puppy dog eyes.

He hated the puppy dog eyes.

He sighed. "Very well, Adela. Let's talk to your father and see what he says."

"Lance work? She is a child, Ferdinand."

"I know but…she just seemed so eager when she saw me teaching. Plus…" he pouted. "She gave me the puppy dog eyes! You know that I cannot say no to those eyes!"

Hubert sighed, setting down his quill. "The two of you together are unbelievable." He turned to face his husband. "She's only nine. She probably couldn't even pick up a lance at her age."

"I began studying the lance when I was five. She will be fine."

"That's because your pathetic excuse for a father didn't know how to raise his only son and proceeded to try and make him some charming killing machine."

Ferdinand frowned. "Hubert…"

"I'm sorry, dear. It's just…neither one of us have much experience when it comes to raising a child or caring for one. I just don't want to do something that we'll regret later."

"I understand. But I think we need to let her experiment a little. I mean, that is how you discovered that she was a magical prodigy. Who knows? She might become a powerful Holy Knight like her Papa."

"Or a Dark Knight considering she has no faith magic in her, whatsoever." He laughed at Ferdinand's pout. "...If you think it will make her happy, then I cannot say no."

"Really?!"

"We only need to worry about a tutor-"

"I will teach her!"

"Are you sure you won't be too busy with your duties and the school?"

"It is either that or we can ask Lorenz. I am sure that he will come if I-"

"Teach her."

He laughed. "Very well then." He wrapped his arms around Hubert from behind. "I knew you would agree that this was a fabulous idea." He kissed the top of Hubert's head.

"Oh, please. You're so stubborn that you wouldn't let me say no."

"You just simply cannot say no to me."

Hubert sighed again, but much more mirthful this time. "It seems I cannot."

"Just like that! Look at you! You are a natural!"

Hubert watched from afar as his husband and his daughter were celebrating over something that he wasn't quite paying attention to. Though he had to admit, it seemed that their daughter was naturally talented. Just from picking up bits and pieces, he could tell that she was learning fast.

"You both look like proud fathers."

He didn't even turn as Edelgard sat on the bench next to him. "I can't look prouder than Ferdinand."

"You don't. But he's the type of person to get excited about everything."

There was a pause before Hubert spoke again. "Where's Erik?"

"With Byleth. He's taken to the sword quite nicely." She looked at Adela thoughtfully before continuing. "Who would've thought? Us…with children."

Hubert chuckled. "Who indeed? You seem to be raising him well though."

"As are you and Ferdinand. I will admit that I was a bit hesitant when we found her. I thought you would scare the poor girl…"

"But Ferdinand was so kind and persistent that you couldn't say no. Believe me, I've fallen for it multiple times."

"You two make quite the pair. Trio now, I suppose."

"I'm usually outnumbered two to one, so I wouldn't quite call us a trio."

Edelgard laughed. "You know what I mean." She finally looked at Hubert. "You're happier. Much happier than you've ever been serving me."

"Lady Edelgard-"

"It's no fault on your part. But…you found love, Hubert. You have a family; a loving husband and a loving daughter. Honestly, that's all I ever wanted for you." When Edelgard turned, she saw the faintest blush dusting Hubert's cheeks. "I'm happy for you."

"Well, thank you, Edelga-"

"Father! Auntie Edie! Look what Papa taught me!"

Hubert smiled. "Oh? Let's see."

She got into a rather impressive battle stance, holding her lance (cut to size by Ferdinand himself so she could wield it) in her hands. After a few deep breaths, she lunged, stabbing her lance forward. She then looked directly at Hubert.

"That was lovely, Adela."

She hugged Hubert's leg. "So can Papa keep teaching me?"

He sighed, if only for dramatic effect. He couldn't help but smile. "I suppose so."

She laughed as Hubert lifted her into his arms, wrapping her arms around Hubert's neck.

"Now, do you want to see what your Papa can really do?" Edelgard asked, moving to pick up a training ax.

Ferdinand turned. "Come now, Edelgard. I thought we agreed to not do stuff like this anymore."

"Not even for your own daughter?"

The ginger sighed, twirling his lance in his hands. He smirked. "I could not say no, or my name would not be Ferdinand von Vestra."

"Please don't turn this into saying your name every chance you get. I thought we were past this, Ferdinand." Hubert shook his head, moving Adela so he was sitting next to him.

"I am past that time in my life, Hubert darling. I am a new man, and this new man shall have no problem defeating Edelgard!"

"No problem defeating Edelgard, huh?"

"Shut up, Hubert. I did not do that bad."

"I've told you for years that you will never best Lady Edelgard. My accusation still stands."

"I would say that we are on an even playing field. Five years of being a war general can do that, Hubie."

"I will say that you've gotten better…just not on par with Lady Edelgard."

"I think you're amazing, Papa."

"Thank you, Adela. At least someone appreciates me." He put his brush down, starting to braid his hair.

"Can you sing to me tonight, Papa?"

"You know that we can both sing, right? Why do you always ask me to do it?"

"Because Father says that he likes to listen when you sing to me."

Ferdinand raised a brow, the corner of his lip twitching upward. "Does he now?"

Hubert couldn't stop the blush from swarming his face. "I have no idea what she's talking about. She's young. Young people say things!"

"Sure, Hubie." He turned to his daughter. "Go get ready for bed. I will be there soon." He watched Adela walk off before he turned to Hubert. "So…you enjoy it when I sing?"

"Don't think too much into it. You are my husband. I enjoy it when you do a lot of things. You're musically gifted. I would be a fool to not enjoy it."

This time, it was Ferdinand who blushed. "I thought I told you to write a letter whenever you want to compliment me."

Hubert laughed. "I have a few more reports to finish up. Go on and put Adela to bed."

"You always have a few reports to finish. When I am done singing, you are going to bed. She will be lonely if the two of us are not in there to keep her company."

"You spoil her too much."

"One of us has to be the nice parent." With that, Ferdinand went into their bedroom adjacent to Hubert's study.

It didn't take long for the raven to hear a melodious voice through the wall. He stopped writing, listening to Ferdinand sing some lullaby that he recognized from one of Dorothea's operas.

It was an opera written about the war.

The song that she'd been singing since they were at the Officers' Academy. He smiled at the memory before going back to his report, the ginger's singing offering pleasant background music.

Despite what he had promised, he continued to work about thirty minutes after Ferdinand had finished singing. He placed his quill back in its inkwell, stretching out his fingers. He walked into the bedroom, smiling upon seeing both Adela and Ferdinand fast asleep. He quickly changed into his nightclothes before climbing into bed, sandwiching Adela between the two of them. He grabbed Ferdinand's hand and the ginger cracked open an eye.

He smiled sleepily. "What took you so long?"

"I'm sorry, my dear. I got caught up in my work."

Ferdinand yawned, closing his eyes again. "Typical Hubert…" It didn't take long for him to fall back asleep again.

Hubert chuckled, wrapping his arms around the ginger, kissing his forehead then Adela's. "Goodnight, you two. I love you both."

I hope you guys enjoyed Ferdibert week as much as I did! Thanks to all the support, kudos, and comments! I really appreciated them.
Now, it's back to the regularly scheduled story updates. Stay tuned and see you guys l8tr!