Beneath the Threads

XII.

Robin woke, the sun bright in her eyes. Her body was sore, most of all her lower back. She was in a comfortable bed, her body propped up. She was in a room, rather than a tent. Her brows furrowed as she gazed around. In a bed beside her was Lucina, Chrom asleep in a chair placed in between them. Robin leaned over and pushed on his shoulder.

"Chrom…" She said, her voice strained. "C-Chrom…"

Chrom stirred and opened his eyes. Robin drew her hand back and stared at him. He swallowed and rose, sitting at the edge of her bed.

"W-What happened?" Robin asked.

"You collapsed." Chrom grabbed her hand and cradled it. "We're back at the castle now. We rushed here to get you and Lucina care."

"About that…." Robin swallowed. "Who is she?"

Chrom sighed. "I-I don't know how to explain this to you. She understands it better than me."

"What do you mean?"

"This is going to sound insane, but she's….from the future."

Robin furrowed her brows. "What?"

"Do you remember the night we first encountered Risen? There was a large hole in the sky that they emerged from. She came out of there."

"Um...okay." Robin stared down at her sheets. "But why? Who is she?"

"Her future is one of chaos. She came back in time to try and prevent it. Her parents are the exalt and queen of Ylisse."

"So she's royalty?"

Chrom nodded. "Yes. But she's more than that to you and I."

"Chrom…" Robin sighed. "I'm not following you."

"Robin, she's our daughter."

"What?" Robin leaned forward to look at Lucina. "H-How?"

"She's our unborn child, just grown and from a different time. That's why her name is Lucina, we chose it for her." Chrom glanced over at Lucina. "Don't you see it? She looks like us."

"W-Well…" She studied Lucina's long, blue hair. "She looks like you."

"She has the brand of the exalt in her eye."

Robin swallowed and squeezed his hand. "What happened to her?"

"She was injured when we were fighting Gangrel. She's been recovering. I had you placed in the same room as her so I could watch over you both."

"Help me out of bed."

Chrom shook his head. "I don't think you should get up right now. You need rest."

"No…" Robin tried to push him off the bed. "Help me up."

Chrom sighed and helped her out of bed. She walked the few paces over to Lucina's bed and sat on the edge. She ran her fingers through the ends of the long, blue hair on her shoulders. Tears sprung in her eyes.

"She's really beautiful, isn't she?" Robin sniffled.

"Yes...I'm so proud of her," Chrom said. "She fought to bring you home safe."

"Me too. I-I can't believe this is our baby girl."

"I can't either."

Robin cradled Lucina's hand. Lucina's eyes opened slightly. She inhaled and adjusted her back, not yet realizing her mother and father were watching her. She groaned at the tight bandages around her chest and gazed up at the ceiling. When her eyes fell, she saw Robin sitting on the bed.

"Hi, Lucina," Robin sniffled through a new wave of tears. "How are you feeling?"

Lucina stared at her. She noticed her swollen midsection and looked away. "I-I'm fine, Robin. I've been cared for by the healers, I should make a recovery given some time."

"Will you not call me Mother?"

Lucina saw Chrom standing behind Robin. She looked to him for guidance, and he simply nodded with a smile.

"I love you, Lucina," Robin said, wiping her cheeks. "I can't believe I have a daughter so strong, independent, and beautiful."

"I-I can't…" Lucina choked. "I'm not your daughter...your daughter hasn't been born yet. My parents, my time's Chrom and Robin, are gone. They died when I was young. I-I can't get them back. I only called Chrom Father because I'm selfish and I wish I could have him back in my life, for him to be my father. But he's not. He's father to a child that's not born yet. Not me. Same to you, Robin. I wish you could be my mother...I'm sorry."

Robin furrowed her brows. She squeezed Lucina's hand. "Lucina…"

"No," Chrom said. "That's not true, Lucina. You told me you were the same as our unborn child, just grown. You said you were just a different version of her. I know the Chrom from your time would tell you he's your father no matter what, no matter where you came from."

"H-How could you know that?" Lucina asked, wiping a tear from her cheek.

"Because I know myself. The events from your time are different, not your parents as people."

"I'm sorry we couldn't protect you, Lucina," Robin said. "I don't know what happened to us, or what mess we left you with. I'm sorry we couldn't raise you in a safe household. But I have loved you since the moment I knew I was carrying you. The same with your Father. Hell, we've loved you since before we knew you were going to be in our lives. I don't care if you're older, and there's somehow two of you, you're still my daughter. I'm your mother and he's your father. We're your parents, no matter what."

"M-Mother…" Lucina's breath hitched. "I-I've missed you."

Robin hugged her, letting her rest her head on her shoulder. "I'm here for you."