A/N:

Dear readers,

Good morning/afternoon/evening! I'm sorry for such a huge delay...I only recently got my computer back from my friend who was fixing it for me. As you can guess, no comp means no writing; as well, no comp means no posting. Until I catch up, or have no more stories to post (no stock), I will post two stories a night.

Here is the belated 7/17's update. The belated 7/18 update will be the last chapter of "When you give..."

I hope you enjoy today's reading. Comments appreciated!

I do not own or have the rights to Fire Emblem Awakening or any of the characters.

In response to japoopy-san...I have five more pieces to this story, all which occur after Robin returns. None are written yet, but I know how I want them to play out. I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far.

Age 22

She clawed at her hand, shaking her head.

She had been in her study for hours, trying to read a recently acquired book, but the whole time there, she had only gotten half way through the first page. She could read the words before her, but she couldn't comprehend anything. All her thoughts were returning to what happened yesterday; how easily she was controlled by Validar, her father, and how she was almost killed by Lucina.

Really, she should have been killed! She deserved to be dead! Chrom and the others told her everything was fine, that everything would work out, but she betrayed everyone! Not purposefully, but it happened! Through her, Validar had taken the Fire Emblem; one of the most sacred artifacts of Ylisse, needed to stop the rise of Grima, and now he had it! How could the others not blame her? How could they forgive her so easily?

…That's why she was here, alone. Even though Frederick had openly welcomed her to bed last night, she couldn't stay there, be with him, corrupt him. So, after an hour of restless sleep, she tried to find sanctuary in reading, which obviously was not helping.

Even now, in the mid-morning, she was being left to her own devices. Maybe they did hate her, not truly voicing their opinions last night. If she were them, she would hate herself; the betrayer. No, she did hate herself. She was trash, she should be burned, she had no place here! How could they trust her when she couldn't even trust herself? Maybe it would be best to end it, end it all…

"Mother?" She turned, partially, seeing her son at the tent flap, her hand already reaching for her Steel Sword.

"Morgan! I told you not to-" Frederick called to the boy, trying to drag him away, arms full of paper bags.

…Yes, Frederick, take the boy far from me before I ruin him.

The man stopped when seeing his wife. "Love, what's wrong?" There was an edge of fear in his voice.

"Nothing, Frederick. Continue with what you and Morgan were doing."

The brunet stared at her, trying to understand the picture before him. It took but a few seconds before he shoved the bags into his son's arms, pushing the boy out. "Morgan, finish that thing."

"…But, Mother."

"I'll talk to her. Go before HE realizes what we're doing."

Morgan looked at her again, worry in his eyes, but he did his best to smile. "I'll see you later, Mother." She nodded at him, hinting that he should leave.

With their son gone, Frederick came forward, staring at her, taking everything in; her bloodshot eyes, her darkened face, her disheveled hair and overall appearance, and the scratch marks on her right hand.

"Robin, what's wrong?"

"I told you, nothing. You should just go and help Morgan with whatever you're doing." Her hand clenched her sword, pulling it towards her. Before it reached her, he yanked it away, along with any other dangerous looking implements on her table, be it a partially used Wind tome or a quill. Once all in his hands, he threw everything behind him, keeping himself between her and the implements.

"Obviously it's not nothing, Robin. Tell me what's wrong."

"I told you…nothing."

"Don't tell me it's nothing, not when-" The man gently tried to touch his wife's face, but she whacked it away instantly.

"Don't touch me!"

"Robin…"

"And Mind your own business! I know you're scared of being in the same room with me! Angry that you married a traitor, a villain, a piece of-" He silenced her with his lips, catching her arms as they tried to stop him, to push him away. Even as the tears fell, his grip on her remained strong.

"Stop it…" When their lips finally broke apart, she could see that she wasn't the only one in tears. "Stop dehumanizing yourself, Robin. This is my business, as your husband, as your spouse! If it deals with you and your safety, I make it my business! And don't assume I'm scared or angry at you. I-I am scared, but not of you, never of you! But what you're thinking, what you want to do, that worries me. Even the thought that you want to hurt yourself, that you won't be in my arms, that frightens me. I need you, Robin, so please, don't push me away…" When he finally took a breath, she started bawling, and the only thing he could do was pull her close.

ooo

"Are we better, now?" She nodded into his damp shirt; she didn't know when, but he had discarded his armor, and she was now snug in his arms, on his lap. "Tell me, what's wrong."

Finally returning to the problem, she wiggled uncomfortably in his lap, before replying "…I don't deserve to be here."

"Why?"

"Because I can be controlled by…Validar."

"So?"

"I can compromise everything the Shepherds stand for! Look at how I've repaid everyone's kindness; I stole the Fire Emblem and gave it to him!"

"You didn't do it on purpose."

"That doesn't matter. It shouldn't matter! What I did, it's inexcusable!" He softly shushed her, softly combing her hair, rocking slightly, waiting for her to cool.

"Robin," The knight spoke again once she was relaxing against his chest. "No one here blames you. No one is angry at you."

"Why? How can you not be?"

"…We love you. It's as simple as that. What you did was not of your choice. The army still has complete faith in you."

"I don't deserve it…"

"Robin, what would you do if I were in your situation? Would you condemn me?"

"What? Of course not!" She sat straight, staring at him, her hands softly on his cheeks. "You're my husband, my best friend! I know you would never do something like that on purpose! Never!"

"And if someone else in camp were in your situation, what would you do?"

"I would support them of course! They're my friends!"

"And that is why no one here is angry at you, Robin. We're your friends, your family. You didn't do it onf your own accord. No one in the Shepherds fault you." He closes the distance, softly kissing her. "So, please stop lessening your worth." With a nod, she returns the kiss. "…I am sorry though…"

"Sorry?" Robin looks at him, puzzled.

"I didn't realize you were so troubled by yesterday's events. I thought everything was fine when we went to bed; it never occurred to me that you might be thinking along more…negative lines. I didn't know you were gone from bed until waking, and even then, I only thought you were studying like you might normally do. I also admit I was distracted by other thoughts, but that is no excuse! To not notice you're pain, as your knight, as your husband, I have failed you. For that, I'm deeply sorry…"

"It's fine, Frederick. You know now, and as long as I have you and Morgan by my side, I know I'll be able to move forward!"

"That's the Robin I know." He smiled softly, gently kissing her forehead. "Now, let's get this place, and ourselves, cleaned up, then we can head to the mess tent. I'm sure the others won't be too mad."

"Mad?" The platinum slipped off her husband's lap, picking up and dusting off her thrown tomes and trinkets.

"Ah-!" Her knight started picking up some of her other items, brushing them off efficiently. When he was done, he started putting on his armor again. "You remember what day it is today, yes?"

"…Is today special? …Oh gods! It's our anniversary isn't it!" Her mind starts going blank, flailing about. "Oh, Naga! It's our first anniversary, isn't it? I didn't buy anything! Oh gods, I have to go to the market now, and-" She stopped, hearing her husband outright laughing, his breast plate hanging off him. He wasn't even trying to adjust. "Wh-what? What are you laughing at?"

"I-I'm sorry!" He tried to hide the grin on his face, only realizing then that he left his task half finished, so he starts to readjust his armor. "I…You're just incomprehensible at times, milady. How you can remember the minutest details, yet forget your own birthday still boggles my mind." He shakes his head, finishing his task.

"B-birth…day?"

"Yes. I assume you can figure out what's being done in the mess tent now, yes? Please try to at least be surprised, alright?"

"S-so Morgan?"

"Yes, he should be there, putting the finishing touches on your cake. …Hopefully that damn thief is not eating it again!" She giggles, making Frederick smile. "Yes, that's the adorable face the camp wants to see. Now love, let's change and wash up, then we can head to the celebrations." He kissed the top of her head, pulling her to the exit.

"If it's a secret party, you can go on ahead and I'll come later."

"I'd rather not, Robin. From now, until the end of today, I don't want you to be alone."

She nodded, noticing how serious her husband's face was; it would be a losing battle, no matter how hard she argued. "Very well, milord, have it your way."

"I will, milady, whenever I can." Before she can exit, returning to the "public" space, he holds her back, leaning in for one last intimate moment. "Before I forget, Happy Birthday."