New AN: Robin returns officially in this chapter, I tried my best to portray everyone's proper reactions to it.

Old AN: Hey guys! Back from my trip. The vacation is just what I needed and I managed to finish this chapter the day after I got back. I hope to do a lot of writing in the next three days to get as many chapters up as possible. They will probably be shorter chapters just so I can squeeze in the daily updates. I have only a week of summer left! NO! I promise I will still work on the story whenever I can and try to do weekly updates. But enough about me, here's the next part of the story!

*Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem, Nintendo does. I just use the characters.

Chapter Ten

~Chrom~

'Robin...she's back...'

~Sumia~

'She's back...'

Sumia wasn't blind, she could feel the tension in the air, and saw how they looked at each other, with passionate longing. It seemed as if they were holding an entire conversation with just their eyes. Sumia had pretended not to notice but she knew that Robin's disappearance had affected Chrom greatly. She had hoped that over time she could prove to be sufficient enough for him so she could fill the huge hole in Chrom's heart that Robin left in her wake.

Sumia could never figure out why Robin had left two years ago. It had taken everyone by surprise, especially Chrom. Sumia would often notice that when Chrom thought he was alone, the prince's eyes would grow distant and a sigh would escape his lips every once in a while.

She had tried so hard, to make Chrom look her way, to forget Robin and make his heart belong only to her. Chrom was the perfect husband to her, in all regards, but there had always been a wall, a stopping point, a limit. Sumia wanted to become the most important exsistence in his life. What did Robin give him that she couldn't? What made Robin's spot in the prince's heart so unshakable?

It was these kinds of questions and dilemmas that had plagued the Ylissean queen for the past two years. These problems cause her to have a lot of insecurities and they started to overcome her at this moment. However, she caught herself and maintained a firm stance forcing her face to smile at the supposedly heartwarming reunion.

~Frederick~

Even though the Ylissean Queen thought she was being secretive, Frederick caught the forlorn look on Sumia's face. The queen quickly changed her look to one of elation but Frederick knew better. Sumia's look of happiness was completely fake and Frederick knew it. He was completely aware of the queen's insecurities and the loyal knight's eyes narrowed slightly at Robin and he almost let out a scoff. The damage that Robin had done to the Chrom and Sumia and their relationship was something he couldn't forgive.

Frederick had heard with his own ears, Chrom's confession that he loved Robin more than anything. Whereas Lissa was overjoyed, Frederick stood by what he had said then, Robin wasn't fit to be queen. Frederick felt that his point was proven when Robin left the Shepherds without a single word. Seeing Robin back, set Frederick's teeth on edge, because the tactician's very presence hurt Sumia.

Although he would never tell his lord this, the loyal knight was conflicted about the prince's marriage to Sumia. On one hand, Frederick was glad that Chrom had seen reason and not married a suitable candidate for queen rather than for love. However, Frederick regretted that this meant his love would be forever unrequited. As much as he tried to stop himself, the knight had found himself growing more and more fond of the clumsy pegasus knight during the war with Plegia. Frederick's affections are what made him care so much about the clumsy yet beautiful queen's insecurities. He hated to see her upset and never wanted her to feel inadequate. Frederick's duty and loyalty to House Ylisse, stopped him from ever trying to compete for Sumia's love, but sometimes Frederick would wonder what it would be like if things were different.

The tall knight shook himself out of his thoughts and noticed that Robin and Chrom were still looking at each other and coughed slightly.

"Milord, perhaps we should prepare to ride out now. I will go inform the rest of the Shepherds," Frederick said firmly.

~Chrom~

Frederick's words jolted Chrom from his trance, his eyes lingering on Robin's beautiful, brown orbs a second longer than they should have, before the prince glanced at his lieutenant. "Ah, yes," Chrom said quickly. "I'll meet up with you in the Shepherd's garrison."

Chrom turned so he could get his belongings ready for the trip and he struggled to walk away. He wanted nothing more than to be closer to Robin, to hold her in his arms and kiss her all over. Yes, Chrom wanted answers to the questions that had haunted him since Robin's disappearance, but more than anything he wanted to mend the huge hole in his heart. Chrom desperately wanted to feel her warmth again, to touch his lips against hers, and to just feel whole again.

To put it simply, Chrom missed her. Every other emotion that flooded his brain, whether it was regret, sadness, anger, it just didn't match up to his feeling of longing.

Overall, though Chrom was happy, because above all else, Robin was back. The prince would've burst into tears if he hadn't learned to hide his true emotions over the past two years.

Fighting back all of his rushing emotions, the prince returned to his senses and he placed his hand on the small of Sumia's back and quietly lead his wife and daughter out of the room.

~Robin~

Robin watched them go with a smile.

'It's good to be back. Not bad for an entrance either. I've definitely missed Ylisstol. I can't wait to see the Shepherds.'

Robin looked at Frederick and bowed slightly with an extended arm. "Lead the way, Sir Frederick."

Robin noticed Frederick's face flash with annoyance for a split second before going back to a straight, emotionless expression. The knight grunted, "Let's go," before heading out of the throne room. Robin just shrugged, completely used to Frederick's general distrust of her, and followed the knight out to the garrison.

Even from outside, Robin could hear the Shepherds chatting away inside the garrison. She smiled as she approached the familiar structure that she had called home for two and half years during the war.

Hmm...I wonder which of the Shepherds got married while I was away...That will be interesting to find out who else tied the knot.'

Robin stepped over the threshold after Frederick and looked around happily at the familiar room and the faces of the Shepherds that had become her family.

~Lissa~

It was just a normal day in the garrison and Lissa was on her way to her room that she shared with Lon'qu with some lunch. Then she noticed the familiar armor of Frederick as he stepped into the barracks.

"Hey, Frederick, you're back!" Lissa exclaimed. "Do we have to deal with any bandits or..." Lissa stopped talking immediately when Frederick stepped to the side to reveal the pruple hair and brown eyes that Lissa thought she would never see again. She dropped the container of spagetthi she had been holding and it hit the floor with a clatter.

"ROBIN!" Lissa shouted, flinging herself at their former tactician, hugging the young woman around the waist tightly. The other Shepherds that were in the building were drawn into the room by Lissa's shout and many of them just stared at Robin in complete, utter disbelief.

"Hey, Lissa, it's good to see you again," Robin said casually.

Lissa let go of the tactican and stared at her with shock. "WHAT?!" the princess shouted. "You disappear without a single word for two whole years and when you finally show up, all you have to say is 'hey.' Are you even hearing yourself talk? EVERYONE was SO worried about you!"

"I, um, had my reasons, and I'm sorry for leaving, I really am. But I'm back now," Robin said. A tear slipped down Lissa's cheek and she bowled into Robin again, crying her eyes out and just squeezing the tactician tightly.

~Robin~

Robin stood there rubbing Lissa's back as the princess bawled and hugged her. She smiled as she looked down at Lissa.

'It's good to be back.'

One at a time the Shepherds slowly approached Robin and welcomed her back and many scolded her for leaving them. Robin learned that many of the Shepherds had mixed feelings about her return. They were mostly furious at her for leaving them, upset that she left without notice and overjoyed that she came back. Robin was slowly surrounded by the Shepherds.

Tharja was celebrating that her hex had worked which made Robin pale for a second as she worried about what kind of curse Thraja had put on her. Olivia danced with glee and Sully walked straight up to her and slapped her in the face before hugging Robin tight. Maribelle hid her smiles as she handed Robin a cup of tea and Ricken eagerly her his new spells that he had been working on. Lon'qu stood off to the side, but a few feet less. Vaike, excuse me, Teach, thumped Robin on the back hard several times and Kellam was actually visible to all the Shepherds for longer than usual. Miriel happily proved her hypothesis that Robin would return to them eventually and Virion recited a poem about fate. Gregor pounded his chest and boasted loudly, Nowi happily ran around telling Robin to play a game with her, and Panne watched the scene with curiousity. Donnel eagerly wrote a letter to his mother with the great news and Libra praised Naga over and over. Gaius shared some of his candy stash with the rest of the Shepherds without hesitation and Anna gave Robin a free Levin sword. Cordelia packed supplies for the Shepherds plus one and Stahl added special potions of his own invention to each pack. The Shepherds were reunited at last. There tactacian was home and everything felt all right again.

~Chrom~

Chrom slowly dismounted off of Sumia's pegasus and then helped his wife get off as well. Then he walked into the garrison next to where Frederick stood a few paces away. The prince's heart ached at the sight before him. All of the Shepherds were surrounding the beautiful tactician and welcoming her back with open eyes. Robin stood in the middle of the circle, smiling brightly with a few tears escaping out of her soft brown eyes. Chrom longed to be the only one holding her at that moment and having that radiant smile be only for him.

Chrom stifled his desire to snatch Robin away and composed himself before shouting, "Shepherds! We will begin our march to Regna Ferox immediately! Pack quickly, we leave in twenty minutes! Before nightfall, we need to cover enough ground that will allow us to meet with Khan Flavia by tomorrow afternoon at the latest!"

All of the Shepherds and Robin looked up at him, their commander, and answered with excitement, "Right!"

As the group began their march north, Chrom kept glancing at Robin to search for a chance to pull her away so they could be alone. However, she remained unattainable and unreachable to him. Even if she was in arm's reach of the prince, he couldn't have her. Someone would constantly come up to her so that thye could talk and catch up after two years of being apart.

Chrom needed her. He felt overwhelming relief when she returned to him but he was also consumed with the huge fear that if he didn't talk to her soonk, that she would disappear and leave him again. He needed answers to his questions and he needed to just hold her in his arms.

But Chorm was unable to find an opportunity to steal Robin away and soon the shadows of night forced the Shepherds to stop for the night. Tents were quickly put up with the little light there was left and Frederick quickly light campfires as a souce of heat. Olvia and Cordelia passed out rations of bread, cheese and a bowl of hearty stew.

Chrom sat off to the side still trying to figure out how to snatch Robin away from the crowd that was constantly surrounding her. He sat staring at her, imagining for the millionth time what would happen when he managed to 'kidnap Robin.'

~Sumia~

Sumia had caught most of the prince's quick glances towards Robin and even though her heart was aching, she did her best to suppress her nagging her jealousy.

'She's been gone for two years... He just wants to catch up with an old friend... Yes, that's right...That must be it...That's all it is...'

"Chrom..." Sumia said. The prince jumped a little when he heard her voice.

"Huh? Oh!" Chrom exclaimed, as he slowly tore his eyes away from Robin and looked over at her. "Yes, Sumia? What is it?"

"You seem a bit... out of it. Is everything alright?" Sumia asked.

Chrom gave her a firm smile and replied smoothly, "Yes, I think it must be because palace life has spoiled me and I'm just feeling a little bit worn out already."

Sumia smiled warmly at Chrom and placed her hand over his. "Then you must rest up good tonight my love. You will need to be your best for Khan Flavia, no?"

Chrom chuckled lightly and said, "Yeah, Flavia won't be happy with me if I yawn in the middle of a speech of hers."

His laugh set Sumia's heart racing, as every small gesture of affection that he showed her. Sumia realized that she was in a mostly one-sided love a long time ago, because the prince rarely showed her any affection.

'He chose to marry me... I must be the most important person to him... I must.'

Sumia tried to convince herself with these thoughts and she was able to find temporary solace in this fact. Chrom must love her and Lucina more than anything, he must.

~Chrom~

Chrom had chuckled at Sumia's comment even though he didn't feel it. He replied automatically to the rest of Sumia's words and resigned himself to speaking with Robin when after all the Shepherds had gone to sleep. Chrom nearly rolled his eyes at the irony of the situation.

'Just like last time, huh?'

AN: Hey everyone! I promise new chapter will be out tomorrow. I know this one is a little short but look forward to daily updates for as long as I can. I'll let you guys know when I have to start weekly updates and when they will most likely take place. Once weekly updates start, the chapters will be longer. YES! I love how the story is going so far. I can't wait for the next chapter! See you guys, then!