I'm back!

Apologies for being missing for a while, had things I needed to sort out and a lot of catching up to do. Not to mention recent releases including Fate Grand Order...

But, aside from that, here's the next chapter. Sorry if it disappoints, it feels a little short to me as well but next chapter should be longer.

Hope you enjoy!

Severa was munching on an apple.

The Shepherds were resting after their battle at The Mika Tree, where Lady Tiki had been freed. Given time off by her parents and told that she was not allowed to spend it training, Severa was at a loss of what to do.

Well, not a total loss. A graceful smile curved across her mouth as she thought about her boyfriend, Robin, and the conversation that her family had had when Robin had told them all the truth.

She was glad that her Father approved. Out of both her parents she had been expecting him to bash Robin's head until it was no longer recognizable.

Instead it had been her mother who had leapt over and tried to strangle Robin, while Lucina had drawn her Falchion and muttered under her breath. It took Henry's hexes and Chrom's and Severa's combined strengths to keep the two from murdering the tactician, and time to convince them that it was something they couldn't change her mind about.

They had argued, throwing things out such as age difference and time travel. Lucina had spoken about how the future children didn't have a place in the world and would be returning to their own after.

"There are some things that do need to be considered," Chrom said, a surprising (once again) voice of reason. "Robin and Severa are nearly the same age. Even if he is nearly two decades older than this timeline's Severa, he and Severa here don't have a major gap in years. I don't think that time traveling will be an issue any longer, seeing as how the future has already been changed."

He turned to his wife. "I know that you're just scared of losing Severa after we just found her, but she's a grown woman now. Besides, it isn't as if Robin is going to move far away."

Cordelia gave Robin a look that sent shivers down his spine. "Chrom! How can you give our beautiful flower away to some double-crossing, backstabbing bastard?"

"Cordelia, need I remind you that he is not only both our best friend and companion, but he is honorable and courageous and a perfect gentleman?"

"Thanks Chrom."

"No problems, Robin. And besides, if not Robin, who else would be perfect for our youngest girl?" Chrom then frowned. "Er, future youngest."

Cordelia sighed. "I suppose you're right. But! I'm going to keep an eye on you," she pointed at Robin. "Don't think I'm letting you off easy."

"Father, I must protest," Lucina butted in. "If we allow this bond to flourish there's no knowledge of what that could impact upon the future."

"Unfortunately," Robin answered. "Isn't that what you are here for? If stopping Grima from arising doesn't change the future more than Severa and I developing feelings for each other I will take all of Chrom's paperwork for a year."

"Really? I mean, um, sure." Chrom cleared his threat and tried to remove the excitement from his voice. "Also, about that remark you made before, why wouldn't you be staying after we finish the war?"

Lucina shuffled her feet, refusing to meet her father's gaze. "We thought... we thought that when the new children came about we would not be welcome anymore. Because you'll have a version of us to care for."

"Lucina, that's ridiculous." Chrom embraced his daughter. "You and Severa and everyone else are welcome to stay."

"But... but what about our home? What happens there?"

"If I may," Robin piped up once again. "Henry, Laurent and I had a discussion about this. If we changed the events that happened for the future, would the future also change? Or would it remain how it is as an alternate plane of existence?"

"Nyahaha, that was an interesting week."

"Yes, we decided that we could spare someone to investigate, so we sent Henry to the deeprealms to see if he could pry some information."

"Alone!" Lissa placed her hands on her hips. "You sent my husband onto something that could have had him killed?"

"Well, technically, we're in a situation anyways that could have us killed... but no, I let Gaius off with him too. The results they gathered were very intriguing."

"Intriguing... how?" Lucina asked in the silence that followed, although she looked almost scared to ask.

"Your future, unfortunately, did not change at all. Although it could be because Grima still isn't stopped, it is more likely that it is because of it being a parallel plane, as events there were described just as your band described it to us."

"So... it's all for naught," Lucina whispered. "The people we failed to save. The lives taken that can never be reclaimed."

"Quit acting so melodramatic," Severa huffed. "At least we're changing things here for the better."

Robin smiled at her. "Indeed. Now, if there are no further objections, I would like to head out and grab lunch. Gaius is on duty today and I can't wait to see what he's cooked up for us."

Severa smiled dreamily. It was unusual for her to feel this way, to be giddy in love and forever wanting to be close to Robin. It was even worse than before they had admitted to each other.

It had been a few weeks since they had told the others about them. During that time she and Robin had been drawn ever more closer to each other, to the point where Severa's heart ached whenever she had not seen Robin for a certain period of time.

"Is this what Inigo feels all the time?" She wondered out loud. They had rescued the wandering philander shortly after. In fact, they had found all their friends, bar one, and the last one was someone Severa was not looking forward to meeting again.

Tossing the apple core aside, she dusted her hands off and headed towards Robin's tent. Maybe she could convince him to leave his work, to spend the day together... although she knew how dedicated he was to his role.

"Robin?" She called as she entered. She immediately spotted the tactician, hunched over a desk with his back to her, scrawling notes on papers that seemed to cover the entirety of his table.

His head perked up at her voice. "Hey, Severa. What brings you here?"

Severa raised an eyebrow and let her hands fall to her hips. "Am I not allowed to visit the one who... who..." She trailed off, blushing.

"Ah. I see then. Come in."

Severa stopped. His voice was... tired. Monotone. Normally his voice was cheerful and soothing to her. Never had she heard him like this during the last month.

She strode towards him. "Are you okay, Robin?"

The man continued to sketch. "Hmm? Oh, yes. Sure."

Without further delay she cusped her hand on his chin and turned his face towards her. Heavy bags greeted her eyes, his face red and hot, and his eyes nearing bloodshot. She gasped. "Robin! You need to sleep!"

"Can't. Shepherds. Plan." The man continued.

Growling in frustration, she swiped the pen from his hand. If she wasn't so worried about him perhaps she would be amused that he continued his movements, writing without anything to write with, but all she felt was anger, anger towards him for being stubborn, angry at her parents for allowing him to overwork himself, and angry at herself for not noticing sooner.

Finally, he realized the absence in his hands and turned about, panicking as he couldn't find it. When he spotted the pen in Severa's hands, he sighed in relief and reached a hand up to get it...

...only to encounter empty air.

He blinked. Then blinked again. "Severa," he begged.

The girl rolled her eyes. "No, Robin. Not until you get some sleep and some food after that. If even my perfect, hardworking parents are taking breaks you should too."

He tried to reach her hand again but she lifted higher. "Besides, what if something happens when you're in this condition? If we get attacked by Yen'Fay or Walhart and you can't command?"

"But... I love you."

Severa blushed, looking away from him, which was when he took his chance to grasp at the pen and tug.

Except for two things he overlooked in his hazy, overworked state of mind. For one, he was performing severely poorly than he would at his normal conditions. The act of pulling upon something used up more strength that normal.

And two, Severa was stronger than him.

She gasped and tugged back, which caused Robin to follow, jerked off balance by the ferocity of Severa's pull, and he fell onto her, knocking the both of them to the ground.

Somehow, Severa had ended up atop of him. But an idea appeared in her head and she stayed there, leaning over him to keep her weight on him and effectively prevent him from moving.

"I l-l-love you too, you idiot," she whispered into his ear. "And it's because I do that you're going to take care of yourself now when I'm around, or else."

The warmth provided by her body enveloped Robin, the ache in his bones fading away as he closed his eyes, sighing in bliss. Her smell surrounded him, encased him, and he was soon asleep.

She let a grin spread across her face as she raised a hand to ruffle his hair with. "You're lucky you're so adorable," she giggled.

She got to her feet, and lifted Robin, noting how light he was. "You need to eat more," she sighed, carefully depositing him on his cot and raising the blanket over his body. "Sleep well."

Upon leaving the tactician's tent, she bumped into someone she did not want to meet. "Oh, sorry, Severa. I apologise for my clumsiness."

"It's okay... Sumia."

The Pegasus knight smiled, oblivious to the girl's discomfort. "I've been meaning to ask... but do Frederick and I have a child?"

Severa stiffened. "Yes," she managed to say, her teeth gritted. "Her name is Cynthia."

"Cynthia," Sumia whispered, feeling the name on her tongue. "What is she like?"

"She's... excitable. Impressionable. Also clumsy and annoying and loud."

Sumia burst into giggles. "If you think she's loud you're either being hypocritical or she must be at your level."

Severa blushed. She turned to leave but felt a light touch at her shoulder.

"Thank you, Severa. If you ever need anybody to talk to my door is always open. It's not easy, having parents like yours..."

Severa frowned. "What do you know, living with perfection and having to strive for perfection?"

She didn't mean for the acid to enter her tone, but she didn't care for it. Sumia, on the other hand, just gave her a smile.

"My parents were similar, except that they cared nought for me. I'm the youngest, and they only viewed me as potential to be brought closer to the Royal Family and upgrading the status of a family."

She pulled Severa into a hug, despite the protesting from the girl. "I know you hate me, because you think your father is still sweet on me. It's probably why you scowl when you see myself, or Freddy, or when you think of our daughter. But know this; I've never entertained thoughts of a life with Chrom. Freddy is too dear to me, and he saved me more than once. I know that Chrom and Cordelia love each other too, that my best friend isn't just a replacement for not having me."

Severa smiled slightly. But then she schooled her features and harrumphed. "If that's what you say. Now, I have to get going and let my father know Robin will be taking a nap." She hesitated. "Goodbye, Aunt Sumia."

The girl strode off, whilst Sumia let a smile blossom. She turned to leave, but before she could...

THUD!

"Sumia!" A cry could be heard across the camp, and Frederick rushed over, cursing all the pebbles and stones of the world while his wife just sat up, rubbing the back of her head in embarrassment.