Chapter 23: Inigo and Evelyn
"…I'm just saying Blazer, it'll be weird because I remember those rascals as three-month old's, not nineteen-year old's." Gaius said as we walked into the town neighboring the Great gate. Olivia, Maribelle, Sully and Cordelia where all talking up in front of Stahl, Gaius, Ricken, an myself. The four kids were somewhere in town. I gave them the curfew of nine at night and to stick together. If this was a small town then there should only be one in, if not then I would find them.
"You're not the only one. We've all held them. I wonder if Chrom and Robin fell the same way." Stahl said as we followed the ladies down the streets.
"Should have asked them." I say blandly, to busy thinking about it. My grown children, barely under a year old and also nineteen. What do I know about them… nothing really. 'Would you like to know about those brats?' I was going to take you up on that offer but you then called them brats. 'Sorry, would you like to know about those pests?' Not helping. What do I know… um Inigo has my hair and Evelyn has Olivia's. Inigo is a total mama's boy and Evelyn is a daddy's girl. They like being around each other. Inigo is quieter… can't base it off of their baby counterparts.
"Hey Jordan, you alright?" Ricken asks. I look over to him with a raised eyebrow. "Well, you've been quieter than normal and you seem more distant." I give him a small smile.
"I'm good kid. Just doing a lot of thinking." I tell him.
"You got a headache?" Gaius asks. I shoot him a confused look. "Just checking, using something so small for so long can hurt it." 'Oh damn, that's a good one.' I then slug him in the arm while chuckling. Stahl and Ricken were doing the same.
"Asshole."
"Damn that hurt Blazer. Why?"
"You really need an answer?" I ask as see our wife's, or girlfriend in Ricken's case, walk into the inn. We follow and them in. Olivia is holding the door open. I give her a kiss on the lips before taking the door from her and usher her in, in front of myself. We walk into the candle lit room and take I take a look around. Every Shepherd was piled around a medium sized table in the corner as Cordelia was talking to the man behind the counter. I pat Olivia softly on the back and walk to the counter.
"We don't have many rooms open right now miss." The worker says "You could share rooms but with… how many people did you say?"
"Twelve." Cordelia says.
"We only have three rooms available. We do have one that hasn't been used yet but two kids came by and rented it before headed out. We could see if they would-"
"Two kids?" I ask interrupting him. He raised an eyebrow.
"Uhh yes sir. One guy, one girl. They came by this morning but haven't been back since the bandit attack, they might have something to do with defending it." He said. My excitement was steadily growing. What noble kids. I did a good job. 'Curve the ego there.'
"Did one of them have that color hair?" I ask pointing to Olivia talking to Maribelle. He squinted but then nodded.
"She looked a lot alike to that young women. They could have been sisters. Why do you ask?" He asked me but I didn't listen to him as I turn around. They're here. They are here. I can't stop the smile on my face from growing. 'You look like an idiot smiling at the ground like that.' I also ignore Grima as I start thinking. We must be close to the great gate then. This must be the village that Inigo starts out at. So that must mean that- 'Holy hell dude! It doesn't take a genius to figure out that his paralogue is starting soon.'
"Jordan!" Cordelia says shaking me out of my thoughts. I turn to face her and she looks at me expectantly. "What are we going to do?"
"Save the rooms and pitch tents but we will figure that out later. My kids are going to start a fight at the great gate soon." I tell her before turning around to face the counter. "We'll take both rooms." I tell him. His eyes open wide before nodding and he writes something down on a piece of paper. We can't do paperwork now. "Is there any way that we can do the paperwork later, we have to go… like right now." He blinked a couple times before shaking his head.
"That's what those kids you were asking about asked as well. Looks like I'll have a lot of work to do" he muttered that last part under his breath before grabbing a folder and starts placing different papers in it "We can do that sir. You will have to be here for the signing. See you tonight sir."
"Thank you and I am sorry." I tell him before rushing to the table.
"What's the word blazer?" Gaius asks.
"We have to get ready quickly. My kids are heading to the Great Gate and we have to meet them there." Everyone perked up and Sully started laughing.
"Damn Jordan, you know how to keep us on our toes. Whelp you heard him." She said as she walked outside with Stahl following her chuckling. Gaius smirked and stoop up.
"Better go find the munchkins." He said. Cordelia sighed and patted his shoulder.
"Morgan is taller than you." She said and he sputtered.
"You don't have to point it out!" He exclaimed as everyone laughed. He begrudgingly walked out behind a smirking Cordelia. Ricken stood up and dusted his robes off. Maribelle soon followed him and stood up, brushing of her lap.
"Will our child be there as well?" She asks. I shake my head.
"Not likely. We will find him though, I guarantee you that." I tell her. She smiles and walks out.
"I would hope so darling. Otherwise there would be consequences." She says. I look towards Ricken. He shrugs.
"I can't tell if she's serious or not." He says as he follows her out the door. With every Shepherd, out the door besides Olivia and myself I turn to her. She is staring at the ground with a smile and tears rolling down her cheek. I tilt her face up to mine and we stare at each other for a minute.
"Finally." She says with a big smile. I can't help but pull her close and kiss her. I pull her into a hug and kiss the top of her head once we separate.
"Finally." 'Kill me.'
"This looks like the place." Evelyn says looking around a tree her and Inigo were hiding behind, out at the relatively dead Great Gate. Some bandits walked in and out of the entrance as the twins watched from the woods.
"Why did we have to go through the woods?" Inigo asks her. Evelyn scoffs at her brother.
"It was your idea to follow the map." She answers.
"Until we found the path that the sign literally said 'to the Great Gate'." He shot back.
"Details, details." She waved him off starting to walk out of the woods. "help lets go get that ba-" Inigo pulls her back behind the large tree as she just now hears the voices coming from the tree ridden path to their immediate right. He shushes her and they peek out at the path.
"You excited Blazer?" a familiar masculine voice asks. The twins look at each other.
"Is that?"
"I think so." They turn back to the path and peek out a little more.
"I am, but not as excited as your daughter." A very familiar younger masculine voice said. It sounded different as the two men start laughing.
"Dad's laughing?" Eve asked.
"I think he is and with Mr. Gaius." Inigo answered.
"Mister my ass." She grumbled.
"I am not excited to see that stupid, dumb flirt again!" Severa shouted.
"Ouch. She said that your stupid Eve." Inigo joked.
"She was talking about you, you idiot." She wanted to shout back.
"Sweetheart, say that without blushing." A serene, feminine voice teased. It wasn't their mother, they knew that. This voice didn't stutter and has some confidence.
"M-mother!" Severa exclaimed in disbelief.
"I-it doesn't help your case Severa." A very familiar female voice said. It sounded different, it sounded… Evelyn couldn't describe it but her mother sounded stronger, more confident but still herself.
"Mother…" Inigo said wistfully leaning out farther to try and see her but the trees blocked the path.
"We-we can't go out there, not yet." Evelyn sadly stated.
"Why not?" Inigo asks her with some flair "We have been waiting for this moment for the past two years and now that is right in front of us you say we can't? Why?" They then heard a siren from the gate and Grimleal were preparing for a fight. The twins looked at each other.
"That might be one reason." Evelyn said before pulling out a knife and a sword from her belt. Inigo sighed and pulled his sword out as well.
"Fine then. Let's go defend the village, maybe if I'm lucky I can win a kiss of that fair maiden from the village." He then chuckled with mirth as Evelyn hit him on the head with the bottom of her clenched fist.
"Idiot! This isn't about that at all!" She exclaimed.
"Maybe for you sister." He said before walking out of the woods.
"What does that- oh whatever…" She grew a small serene smile "don't wait up dad. We're coming." She said before following her brother out of the woods.
"Uncle Jordan! Stay out here and take help take care of the Pegasus knights and dark fliers!" Morgan shouted as he launched a lightning bolt at a general. Lucina rushed next to him and cut down an arrow aimed for him.
"In a minute!" I shout back as I was sword locked with some assassin. He pulled back and goes for a left to right swipe. I jump back and go for the stab. I prick him in the chest but not enough to kill him. He stumbles back and I snap my fingers. Ridley comes pounding in and malls the man. I sigh and run back outside to see Gaius leaning back on Cordelia's Pegasus to get a shot at the approaching dark flier. I look to see Olivia wincing as she pulls herself back from the approaching Pegasus knights. 'I see three Pegasus knights, but I know you see three dead people going after your wife.' Damn right I do. Sheath my sword and pull out my bow and load up three arrows. 'Risky but flashy… I like it.' I run towards her and spot a smallish rock that is embedded into the ground. I know my plan.
"Hey you stupid wastes of space, look at me!" I shout at the Pegasus knights, which surprisingly works as all three turn their heads towards me. I reach the rock, take a step on it and jump off as I see them loading up magic. I feel time slow down, like in Breath of the Wild as I aim my bow at the three Dark fliers, and stare them down. Deep breath in, deep breath out, and let go. "You had no chance!" I shout as all three arrows hit their targets. Two in their chests making them fall off one in the shoulder and she hung on for dear life with the uninjured arm. Another arrow pierced her back and then she fell off. I ran straight to Olivia and knelt down beside her. "Are you alright?" I ask placing a hand softly on her arm. She slowly nodded before trying to get up.
"Ah-haa!" She screamed out in pain as she fell into my arms. I catch her and look down at her legs. She had a long cut across her calves and her right ankle looked swollen, not broken swollen but sprained swollen.
"Shit… let's get you to Maribelle." I tell her.
"I-I sho-shoud be fine." She said while trying to stand up. While I let her do that I stood up with her.
"You can't stand without my help. So, I can't say that you are fine." I tell her and I carefully pick her up bridal style and avoid her calves. She squeaks then whimpers and I feel sorry. "I am taking you to Maribelle then I'm headed back to the Gate to see if Morgan and Co. need help."
"O-okay." She says defeated. I sigh and kiss her on the forehead.
"I'll be back with you real soon, I promise." I whisper against her skin. All she could do was shudder and slowly nod. I look back up and see Maribelle patching up Kjelle's arm with Stahl right behind her. We walk over and I drop my wife off at the base of rock where they were sitting. Maribelle looked at me with a raised, questioning eyebrow. "She got her legs sliced up and a pretty bad twisted ankle." She shakes her head
"No, I figured she was injured darling, I was wondering where you were going?" She asks with a scrutinizing gaze. I gave an involuntary wince.
"I'm making sure everyone else is okay." I tell her.
"Over staying with your injured wife?" She shot back. I sighed a sad sigh.
"As much as I would like to stay with her, a leader checks on the people under him or her in battle. Personal things should not come before everyone else." I tell her then I spot a nodding Kjelle and a downtrodden Olivia. I squat down at Olivia's height and lifted her chin up so her gaze meets mine. "But that doesn't mean outside of battle. I would sell almost everyone in the shepherds to get you back." Kjelle and Stahl snickered. Olivia went wide eyed before giggling.
"Almost everyone? Who would you not sell?" Maribelle asks. I stand up and turn so I am facing the Gate.
"Can't sell Severa. That would ruin this whole plan Gaius and I have." I tell her which led to Kjelle, Stahl, and Olivia laughing, for different reasons, and Maribelle shaking her head. 'Why are you so keen on pairing your kids together?' Mainly this is a joke, but I also trust my kids to do the right thing when the time comes. '…Was that a jab at me?' What do you think?
"Idiot." She muttered before shoeing me away. I laugh as I jog over to the Great Gate. I walk in and take a look around. Brick walls were illuminated with very little lamp light as I walk through. I got turned around once or twice before finding the light at the end of the tunnel. 'Maybe that's a hint that you should die.' Rude. 'My opinion.' I walk out and see Morgan and Lucina talking with Severa.
"Hey, everything all good?" I ask. Severa huffs.
"You think it wasn't? We had it handled." She says and Lucina sighs.
"Everything went well uncle." Lucina states.
"Yep, we should get ready to head back soon. It'll be dark in an hour or two." Morgan says. I nod.
"Morgan, get everyone ready to head out." I tell him.
"What about Inigo and Evelyn? Didn't you say that they would be here?" He asks and I slowly nod.
"I did… If they are not here by the time you are ready then you leave. I'll stay for another hour. If they don't show then… then I'll leave." I tell them. Lucina looked at me with a somber look. Morgan had a half-hearted sad smile and nodded. They both walked by me which left Severa who had walked up to me with an unreadable look.
"Don't read anything into this…" She hissed at me "…but I believe they will be here." I smile at the girl and nod.
"Thank you Severa." She blushed and rushed away.
"It's not like I care or anything, I just know that they will know the…" She fades out of hearing range and I'm left with me myself and Satan. 'And me!' You're Satan. 'Ohh gotcha… You'll have to explain the implication of calling me that.' Will do… only if you explain how I was different in the future. '…I get one other question answered if I explain that.' …ok. 'Ok?' Ok. 'Huh… never thought you would agree to that. I'll think on it, now ignore me.' Always try to. 'Asshole.' I shake my head and look around. Pretty bland looking cliff side. I notice something though. Leaning against nearest tree there is a brown leather bag that is sitting there with its contents thrown about all over the place.
"Why was that not touched during the attack…" I wonder allowed before walking over to it. I kneel to the side of it and look at it. nothing too fancy in it, a couple notebooks, some old fabric strip, an empty coin pouch and- SHNK
"Step away from the bag!" A feminine voice exclaimed as a knife embedded itself in between me and the bag. I jumped back, fell on my ass, and looked over to the person responsible for throwing the knife. 'I'll leave you alone for this.' Grima said in my mind before disappearing as I look at my grown-up daughter.
"Evelyn?" I ask with a shaky voice. She went wide eyed when I spoke, as if voice was the only way to recognize me. She had Olivia's pink hair in one long braid that was draped over her left shoulder. It was weird to look into what I could imagine what my eyes look like. Stormy blue and gray danced in her now watery eyes. I stood up as she slowly took a step towards me. She was around 5'8" and with her mother's body type. She had a black scarf wrapped around her neck with little hints of green in it. She wore a black vest that shifted to a dark green when it reached her waist, with a white tank top or shirt underneath it. She had her arms wrapped like Rey from Star Wars on in a dirty white color. 'I know I said I was going to stay out of it but come on dude, your obsession most likely passed down to your children.' Not an obsession! And how do you know about that? 'Earth movies are interesting.' Cryptic asshole. Anyway, she had a belt around her waist with eight knives and a sword on it. The belt also had a quiver with arrows in it connected to the back and a bow attached to it neatly. She wore a dark green to a mid-green skirt with dirty white leggings underneath and black boots.
I look back at her face and I faintly see freckles scattered around her cheeks and a scar down the left side of her mouth. I caught her looking at me with tears in her eyes. She slowly nodded. "D-dad?" She asked with a shaking voice. All I could do was smile and say three words.
"Daddy's here sweetheart." That was all it took for her to run to me. I caught her in my arms as she cried.
"I missed you so much!" She cried out as she buried her face in my shoulder, letting down all guard I first saw her with. I pull her in tighter and can't help the fact that my eyes start watering as well. I pulled her tighter to me and let the tears fall. My daughter… my beautiful, strong, amazing daughter. Dad could have never described this… I don't think any other Shepherd could have described this feeling. Only Robin and Chrom have had a child in this time line so it feels so weird to hold that grown up child in your arms. Just looking at her I can tell that I must have done something right in the future past.
She pulls back and looks me in the eye with a crying but happy expression smile. I can see my baby girl in my grown-up girl. I can't help but give a laugh as I stare at her. To see my daughter smiling after going through hell is one amazing feat. I'm so proud of her. Future past me is too. "I'm proud of you Evelyn." I tell her with a smile and she is taken back with shock "…Your father is too." I can see her process this as I see more tears come out the corner of her eyes. I cup her face and kiss her on the forehead. I hear the dam break again as she cries some more. I wrap her in a hug again and let her let it all out. My daughter… if she's here then where is…
"Jordan!" I here Sully shout. Both of our heads turn to the sound. "You might want to get your ass back here, you got someone to meet." I stare at the place that the sound was from then I look back at my daughter. She had done the exact same thing.
"Inigo?" I ask her. She nodded while wiping at her eyes.
"Most likely." She says before snickering. "He's probably blushing right now because mom's asking to see his dancing." I snickered as well.
"You know that she'll hide in a barrel to see it." I told her as I start to guide her through the great gate.
"Really?" She asks. I nod. "That doesn't seem like mom at all… well… ok it does a little." I smile.
"Glad that seems in Olivia's character." I say chuckling. We walk out into the sunset filled plains and I immediately spot them. Inigo was around my height or a little shorter with blond hair like mine. He looked exactly the same as his in-game sprite but he has a small scar just above the bridge of his nose. We walk to them and I take notice that Gaius, Cordelia, and Severa weren't here for some reason. Inigo looked up at us with a blush and lit up when he noticed us.
"Mother, Evelyn has a very beautiful singing voice like yours, bug her about it." He says before running over to us, saying a quick hi father, dragging Evelyn over to Olivia and then hides behind me. I blink then look behind me to see him looking to the side with a blush.
"Uhh… hi son." I say still a bit weirded out. He blinks once or twice and now I notice that his eyes are a bright, beautiful blue purple color. He stands up straight and turns to face me. I turn around and we stand, staring each other in the eye. He cracks a small smirk that I think looks like my own.
"Hi father." He says quietly. I smile back and I put a hand on his shoulder. He lowers his head. I feel worried but I hear sniffing. I smile and pull him in to a hug with his head on my chest as he starts to silently let it out.
"Hi Inigo… Dad's got you." I tell him quietly. He then quickly wraps me up in a big hug and holds me close.
"I've missed you dad." He says into my shoulder. I smile and feel tears coming to my eyes as I tighten my hold around him.
"I'm proud of you son… so is your dad." I tell him. He stiffens before he nods and pulls away. His eyes are watery but he lets out no tears. He then wipes his eyes and gives me a big smile.
"Glad to do him and you justice." He tells me. I raise an eyebrow.
"What?" I ask him. He runs a hand through his hair and chuckles nervously.
"Well, dad… past you…you" he paused looking confused on what to say next "… you get it right" I nod "cool. Well I always thought that I had some shoes to fill because you inspired me and Eve so much so I'm glad I know that I did." I smile at that. While he did fill those shoes, he needs to be his own person.
"While you did fill those shoes, you need to be your own person." I tell him. 'Didn't you just think that?" I thought you said you were going away. 'And I am now… shit man.' His smile widened into a big toothy smile.
"That I have done. I'll not rest till every lady in the land knows my name." He then added a forced laugh and I quirked my mouth. I knew that Inigo was a flirt but I mean… dude really.
"He's got to talk a lot to let out enough hot air a day to inflate his ego." Evelyn said as her and Olivia walked back to us. It's weird because you can see him visibly deflate from that.
"He-hey. I'm not that bad." He sheepishly mutters.
"Bro… you're that bad." Evelyn says which deflates him even more.
"He must get it from your father." Olivia says. I turn to face her with an open mouth in shock as the girls start giggling. That little backstabber.
"R-really Olivia?" I ask. She just innocently smiles while my daughter giggles from her side.
"When you're around friends you tend to overplay your hand." She says. I sigh and run a hand through my hair.
"At least it's not Vaike or Maribelle level." I say, ignoring the 'how rude' remark from Maribelle on my left.
"It's under Gaius and Virion but above Sully." Olivia said ignoring the 'hey' from my left.
"Shit… that's fifth… I do need to tone it down." My backstabbing children and wife pick back up the laughing. I can't help but join in as I hear the joy in the air. It's infectious. I put one arm around Inigo and one arm around Evelyn and Olivia. I pull them in for one family hug, ignoring the squeaks from my girls… my girls. I smile and hold them close as each one of them relished the moment I created. Holding them close made me realize, that for the first time in a while I felt reluctant to go back to earth. When I got married, when baby Evelyn and Inigo were born, and now… I feel as if I would not mind staying here and not going back to earth. I feel guilty but not as I look over my family. Olivia was smiling at Inigo who was smiling back. Evelyn was looking up at me with a worried look. I must have looked worried so I shot her a smirk and she smirked back.
"Alrighty, we're back. The rest of them ran off like a bunch of cowards… hey it's Blazer and Ribbons Jr!" Gaius said and I crane my head to face him. He and Cordelia were walking up to the semi-circle the others have made around us. Have they been watching the whole time? … probably. I smile and turn the whole family around to face them.
"Meet Inigo and Evelyn!" I exclaim with excitement. Cordelia smiles and walks up to Olivia and Evelyn, who have left the hug, and starts talking to them. Gaius walks to use while analyzing Inigo up and down. He is starting to get nervous and embarrassed.
"M-Mr. Gaius? C-can you please stop staring?" He asks sheepishly. Gaius shakes his head before looking at me.
"Plan's still ago." He tells me and I chuckle.
"Wait till they see each other again." I tell him. He nods before holding out a hand to him.
"Nice to meet you Sonny, names Gaius, but you knew that… nice to meet you." Inigo blinks and stands back up straight.
"It's good to see you again." Inigo says before hugging him. Gaius is standing there with his hand held out for a second before he smirks and hugs him back.
"Stupid trees, stupid bushes, stupid parents ditching me to see oh so special Inigo and Evelyn." I hear Severa grumbling as she sliced branch off a tree. She walked out and started brushing herself off. Inigo perked up and let go of Gaius and looked Severa's way. She didn't notice him until she was finished. She looked up and scowled. "Oh, gods what do you want?" She spit at him. He put on his best flirtatious smile and started walking her way.
"To see you again my beauty…" He died off and stopped walking halfway to her. That confused Severa.
"Wha- That's the best flirty remark you got?" She said. He ignored her and started walking her way again. "What, what are you doing? Say something at least? What the hell-" She cut herself off when he cupped her face gently and brushed away the left pigtail and looked at her ear then the scar she had on her cheek. He gently traced the scar with his thumb.
"What happened?" He asked in a soft, comforting tone staring into her eyes. She stared back at him with a shocked and vulnerable expression.
"Both of those happened years ago." She said in a softer tone.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there." He said. "I should have been and I apologize." She grabbed his forearms and pulled them back down to his sides.
"Don't be, it wasn't your fault." She said, then silence between them as they stared at each other.
"Imma do it." I hear Morgan whisper.
"Don't think about it." Lucina harshly whispered back.
"Please do it." Kjelle whispered.
"Two to one Lucy, you're out voted" Morgan stated before smirking mischievously and turning to the two kids having a moment "Just kiss already!" He shouted. That made those two stiffen. She looked down at his hands which hers were holding then back at his face which now had a fake smirk and you could tell the flirting was coming.
"If you wanted a kiss so badly, you could have just asked." He said in a husky voice.
"Not on your life you man-whore!" She shouted and shoved him away, before storming off to go kill Morgan who had started running already while laughing. I sigh and turn to Gaius who looked contemplative before turning to me.
"We may not have to do anything besides guide them." He said and I nodded.
"And not have her kill him." I said. He nodded before sighing and following her rampaging path after Morgan. "Get her ready to leave, we're headed back to town soon!" I yell after him. Evelyn sighed and walked over to me.
"He ruined a perfectly good opportunity on flirting." She sighed out.
"H-he told me I taught him that." Olivia said embarrassed.
"You did, but it looked like he actually cared for a second." I tell them.
"I'm right here you know!" Inigo shouts from behind me. Evelyn just shrugging her shoulders. "Whatever." He grumbled out.
"Well kids, get ready to head out, we need to get Brady, then head back to the Mila Tree and meet up with the rest of the shepherds." I tell them.
"Great. I'll grab my things. Eve you got the bag?" Inigo asks. She nodded then looked around.
"Damnit!" She shouts before grumbling away. Inigo follows her laughing all the way. I smile as I watch my two children.
"They're perfect." Olivia sighs out. I place an arm around her and pull her close.
"That I can't agree with." She looks up at me. I look down at her and smirk. "But they are pretty damn amazing that's for sure."
AN: So this is the chapter that I have wanted to do for so long and I personally think it turned out really well. Let me know what you think about it in the reviews. That's all really, see you next time-3008
Reviews:
Haro654(Ch.22): That it will, see you next time good sir (or madam).
A Fan(Ch.22): It's all cool.
