Beneath the Threads

X.

Chrom stood over the strategy table, Lucina by his side. He huffed and ran his fingers over his mouth. It had been three weeks without her. Every day that went by wore him down further. He constantly worried about Robin's health and her current condition. Most nights he was pacing around the camp, unable to settle down with the reminder of what was missing in the bed beside him.

"Did your mother teach you her ways?" Chrom sighed.

Lucina shook her head. "Only a little. Strategy was mostly Morgan's-"

Chrom glanced up at her. "Morgan?"

"Um...how do I say this…" Lucina reddened with embarrassment.

"Morgan is the name Robin and I chose for a boy."

Lucina nodded and shrugged. Chrom stiffened, a blush on his cheeks.

"W-What are you saying?!" he exclaimed.

"I'm haven't said anything, Father!"

"Do Robin and I have a son in your future?"

"Yes, my brother. His name is Morgan."

Chrom stood, still shocked at all the revelations that he had come to in the past day. "Did he come with you?"

"I can't be sure, but it's possible. I came with others but we got separated."

"Oh, Gods…" Chrom ruffled his hair. "I've got a son missing too?!"

"I can't guarantee he's in this timeline. It's possible you won't meant him until he's born."

"That's not fair! I got to meet you!"

Lucina grimaced. "I-I'm not sure what to say, Father. I'm sorry."

"There's no need to apologize. It's not your fault." Chrom shrugged. "Tell me about him sometime. Tell me about our family. Will you do that for me?"

"Of course."

"Thank you."

A man opened the flap to the tent. Chrom stiffened.

"Arthur," he said. "What's going on?"

"Sire." Arthur nodded. "I have been in contact with Robin. She understands who I am. I relayed your messages and she has created an opening in the Plegian forces for you to infiltrate. She also had a message for you: Chrom, I'm okay."

Chrom swallowed. "Thank you. How does she look?"

"She looks about the same as she did when she was at camp. The only discernible difference is her midsection is slightly more swollen. Plegia is well aware she is carrying a child. They are planning ultimatums as we speak."

"Okay. We need to move fast." Chrom's face flushed. "Show me what she's doing."

Arthur set up the Plegian side of the strategy table and excused himself to allow Chrom to think things over alone. Lucina stood beside him as he stared at the map, too scared of possibly overstepping boundaries and disturbing her father's thought process.

"What do you think, Lucina?" Chrom turned around. "The gap Robin left is a good opening for a small team. I'll lead them straight to Gangrel's group. He should be there. Would you like to watch the flank?"

Lucina swallowed. "I'll do it if you wish."

"What do you want to do?"

"It's not about what I want, it's about what's best for the mission."

Chrom shook his head. "I don't really know what's best. That's what Robin does. I mean, I manage at tactics in a pinch, but I'm nowhere near her skill."

"I think I would be best utilized if I were in your team advancing towards Gangrel."

"I don't want to use you, Lucina. You're my daughter, not a pawn on a chessboard. None of my Shepherds are, least of all you."

"I-I can handle a battle, Father. I've fought many."

Chrom turned to her fully. "What did you mean when you said you hurt your mother the other day?"

Tears sprouted in Lucina's eyes. She looked down at the table. "I-It's my fault Robin's captured. I've meddled too much...I've altered too many events. This didn't happen in my timeline. I'm putting her through hell that she doesn't deserve! She's hurting and I hate myself for it."

"Lucina…" Chrom cupped Lucina's cheek. "This isn't your doing. It's Gangrel's. Just like Emm wasn't your fault, it was his. You've tried your best. That's why you came back in time, right? To change events that lead to chaos?"

"Yes…" Lucina sniffled.

"Alright then. I don't like hearing you say negative things about yourself. I'm proud of you, okay?"

"Thank you, Father."

Chrom dropped his hand and sighed. He glanced at the map again. "I feel like I'm loosing against the calendar." He paused. "Lucina, what do you know about Robin and I's relationship from your time? Did we ever tell you about things that happened before you were born?"

Lucina nodded. "Yes. You said once that you were already expecting a child before you were formally married." She paused to try and recall more details. "At the begging of the dark times, my mother must've sensed the chaos ahead. She told me she felt responsible for me taking up a sword to fight. I asked her why and she said she had assigned me my fate before I was born. She had fought battles while unknowingly pregnant. It had plagued her with guilt for years."

Chrom sighed. He pulled a chair from under the table and sat down. "Perhaps we didn't make the best decisions. We clearly missed the saying, First comes marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage."

Lucina pulled out another chair and sat beside him. "Perhaps. But you and mother always assured me that you were happy with our family, even if it didn't come at the best of times. My mother would always say she couldn't fathom not having me when she did, because that child wouldn't be me, but someone else. And she couldn't think of a life without me."

"That sounds like her. Honestly, she already feels like my wife. Sometimes I have to remind myself we haven't had a wedding yet."

"You and her loved each other until the end. You used to joke that if there wasn't conflict, the castle would be full of children."

Chrom blushed. "U-Uh...you really make us sound like two fawning lovebirds…"

Lucina chuckled. "But mother would always say she liked her family just the way it was, and she didn't want that to change."

"It seems I get a beautiful family."

"Yes. You and mother protected us as long as you could. Mother gave me Falchion…" Lucina swallowed the lump in her throat. "We should focus on our plans. I want to help you get her back."

Chrom nodded. "Today we solidify our plans and tomorrow we'll march."