A long time coming, but here is the S Support for these two. I'm really happy with how it turned out.

All that's left is the epilogue.

I hope you all enjoyed this story.

Support S:

"Mark, good morning."

The tactician's hands stilled in the middle of storing their tent in Merlinus's convoy. "Good morning, Lyn," they returned, their eyes softening as their friend joined them. "Did you need something from the convoy?"

She shook her head. "Actually, I was looking for you. Do you… mind if we go somewhere to talk?"

Mark's eyebrows shot up in surprise, but nodded in agreement. "Let me finish with this, and then we can go for a short walk?"

"Let me help you," Lyn offered.

"Sure thing. It'll make it go faster." Once the last of Mark's trunks – no doubt full of tactical books – had been safely stored, the pair departed the covered wagon. Mark waved a farewell to Merlinus, who grinned cheerfully at them.

Once they were out of range of Merlinus's gossip-hungry ears, Mark turned and smiled at Lyn. "So what was it you wanted to talk to me about? Formations?"

"It's always tactical things with you!" she protested, with a light laugh. "No, this is… about what we discussed a while back." Looking down for a moment, she gathered her thoughts as Mark waited patiently for her to continue. "I've been thinking a lot about my future. Beyond this war. My grandfather's health is failing, and I might not have as much time left with him as I would have hoped for once all this is over. He's putting on a strong front for me in his letters, but… I have to face what will happen once he has passed. Caelin is wonderful; it's where my mother grew up, where she met my father, and where my grandfather is. Everyone there is kind. But the rest of Lycia? They've rejected my presence at every turn. Only Eliwood and Hector have been kind. And although I appreciate them, I cannot use my friends as a shield for the rest of my life."

When she paused, Mark touched her shoulder in a wish to comfort her. "I'm sorry, Lyn." There was no point in denying what they both knew was the truth.

She gave them brief flash of a smile. "Thank you, Mark. Lately, I've been feeling the plains calling to me. It's where I grew up, where I lived with mother and father. But I was all alone after my tribe was murdered. The days were endless, like they never were before. I love the plains with all my soul, but the emptiness I felt then was terrifying, and I have no wish to return to that loneliness."

Lyn turned slightly, Mark's hand falling from her shoulder at the action. She gazed at them with a clarity in her eyes that had been missing for a long time. "That's when I realized something," she told them. "My days were empty. They were lonely. And then... you showed up." Lyn's lips quirked upward into a teasing smile. "Half dead of dehydration."

Embarrassment stained Mark's cheeks with red. "Not my finest moment. Or my finest decision in miscalculating my water supply so severely, especially given my desert heritage."

That garnered a laugh from the Sacaen woman. "That may be so, but I am still grateful to Father Sky for bringing you into my life. You gave me new purpose." Her smile had become a full blown grin, as she continued, "And then Kent and Sain entered our lives, and then Wil and Florina joined our group. I was surrounded, once again, with family. Even before we reached my grandfather."

A thoughtful look crossed her face, and reaching out, she took Mark's gloved hands and held it in her own.

"Lyn?" Mark questioned, confused by her sudden action.

"Mark," Lyn began, giving their hands a light squeeze. "Now that we're traveling again, I can see what I couldn't on the plains, or in the halls of Castle Caelin. The only place that's really felt like home these past two years... is when I'm by your side."

Shock passed over Mark's face. "I… Lyn..."

"Please, Mark, let me ask this before I lose my nerve."

They quieted, but their entire focus remained on Lyn.

Lyn swallowed thickly. "After all this is over... When it comes time say our goodbyes to everyone... And once I've said my goodbyes to my grandfather... at that time, could I travel with you again? Just the two of us, wherever that may be?"

Mark gaped at her, their mouth opening and closing comically several times, before they mustered themselves. "I... Lyn... Sorry, I'm finding myself a little tongue-tied. But..." They hesitated, and then relaxed, all of the tension draining from their body. "Of course. Of course you can come with me. Nothing would make me happier, than for us to travel together."

A bright smile spread across Lyn's face. "Like our original plan!"

Laughter erupted from Mark. "You're right! It's about time we made good on that promise, huh?"

Mark squeezed Lyn's hands, just as she had theirs before. "And Lyn... I promise to you, before Father Sky… that you'll never be that lonely ever again."

Lyn held their hands tightly.

"With you by my side, I'll always be home."