There was a roar, and the sounds of clashing tankards and mugs filled the air as the Ylissean, Feroxian and Valmese Resistance united forces celebrated their victory against the Conqueror. It had a close battle, of which many a Shepherd had narrowly avoided meeting their end with the help of each other, skill, and luck.

Yet not everyone had made it through unscathed. Vaike bore a bandage wrapped around his head, having suffered a blow against Walhart when he had pushed Chrom aside from Wolf Berg's murderous arc. Lon'qu was limping slightly, recovering from holding the entire flank after a fiery explosion sent most of the right troops scattering.

Robin had received the worse out of the company. As Chrom's tactician, and thorn in the side of the Valmese since the beginning of the campaign, he had been targeted with a bounty upon his head and had had to fight harder than anybody else. Near the end of the battle he had collapsed duelling Excellus, expending most of his might to prevent any of the wicked flames from touching his family, whilst being attacked by Valmese and traitor Resistance alike. Now, he lay deep in slumber, recovering from the multiple injuries he had received during that battle.

Severa sat by his bedside, watching his chest slowly rise and fall. She had refused to leave by his side from the minute he had fallen, fighting off any that dared to approach. She had feared the worse when he had been struck down beside her, his face pale and his breathing slow and shallow. She had refused to change out of her blood-soaked clothes, even when Lucina and Noire had tried to tug her away. She hadn't even yelled at Owain when he had walked over, speaking in his own language about the valiant recovery Robin was sure to make. It was only when Lissa had announced that he was going to be fine that she had collapsed and allowed herself to calm down.

She ran a hand through his messy hair. She had been adamant in staying beside him when her parents had come around to check on his condition, even when Maribelle and Lissa had reassured her that all he needed was rest and he would recover without a problem. Besides, celebrating didn't feel right without Robin with them, he who had led them and handed victory to the Shepherds at each obstacle. Thanks to Robin, they had found each of the New Shepherds, the 12 children that had returned to the past to prevent the terrible future. It was only because of Robin's tactical mind, his crazy schemes and vast knowledge, they had stopped Gangrel and Walhart, diverting the terrible path that her future had taken without a single loss to their company. And it was because of Robin that Severa had found someone who cared for all of her, somebody who gave her warmth and love and everything she had read in her mother's books, and the assurance that led her to think that, maybe, everything was going to be fine.

Severa put her head down on his chest, listening to his breathing, and slowly nodded herself off to sleep.

Robin stirred awake, feeling a presence hovering over him. His hand instinctively reached for his weapons, but he found that he could not move. Once again, Severa had locked him into a tight embrace. He calmed down, smiling as he stared at her.

"Things worked out better than I ever imagined," he muttered to himself, wriggling an arm free and stroking her hair. Feeling his touch, she smiled and snuggled closer to his chest.

His door creaked open, Lucina peeking her head in. Seeing that he was awake, she walked in and stood at the foot of the bed. A grimace flitted across her face when she saw the position he and Severa were in, but it disappeared in an instant. "Robin."

Robin knew how overprotective Lucina was. He guessed that it was partly because of her role as the leader of the bunch of future children in their past world, and partly due to who her parents were. He remembered how untrusting she had been when she had finally joined the Shepherds, when she would only talk to her parents, spending her days either at the training grounds or at her tent.

He admired her and respected her for what she had gone through, and what she had done, leaving behind her world, putting on a mask to protect the past, sacrificing her life for something that he and Chrom had failed to do, for something that they had failed to prevent.

He had been hurt about her vehement views against him and Severa, but he had understood why. His goddaughter wasn't malicious; in fact, Robin thought she would be the least of all to have any of those thoughts.

"Lucina. How's Chrom?"

Lucina winced. "Last I saw he, Vaike and Basillo were singing some sort of Feroxian-Ylissean war song. I don't think I could have left any quicker."

Robin chuckled and shook his head as images came to mind. He knew what a drunk Chrom was like, having endured many sessions of it. "So, what brings you here? I don't think you were one to make social calls."

She nodded. "I know… I just…" She glanced to Severa, seeing her so comfortable in her position. "Take care of her, will you? I don't want to see her like that again, when you and our parents were killed. When she was younger she was always infatuated with you."

Robin winced. "Of course. By the way, Lucina…?" He watched her tilt her head, waiting for his question. "What was I like? In your timeline? Severa told me a little, but I wanted to hear it from you."

Lucina hummed as she thought of her younger days. "You were… aloof? You weren't as friendly towards the other Shepherds as you are now, when I think about it. You and my father weren't as close. But you often took care of Severa and I. Mother always said you were jealous, and lonely, because you seemed to love taking care of us and the other kids but you never married."

Robin smiled. "I'm glad I didn't, then." He felt Severa stir a little and patted her head. "Thank you, Lucina."

She left, leaving Robin alone with his thoughts and his love.

A few moments passed. "How long were you awake for?"

A sigh escaped Severa's lips. "Nothing passes by you. For your information, I was awake since Lucy barged in. My sister isn't exactly the subtlest person to have around."

He laughed. "Unlike a certain princess I know who snuck around tents to watch me sleep."

Severa blushed. "That wasn't what happened!" She hit him, albeit gently, in the ribs. She pouted when he patted her head, although she secretly enjoyed the sensation. "Are you feeling better?"

Robin smiled. "I always feel stronger when you're around."

She shook her head. "You're such a dork." But she cuddled closer to him, sharing her warmth and absorbing his. "I was so scared when you fell… I thought I had lost you again."

Her voice choked as she said that, tears filling her eyes, but Robin thumbed them away as they started to spill. "Don't cry… I'm sorry I put you through this. I'm sorry that I wasn't strong enough to pull through."

"Don't be… don't be ridiculous," she hiccupped. "You've done… everything that you can. Don't blame yourself."

He grimaced. "How do I stop your tears then, Sev?"

A sniffle. Then, she lifted her head up a little higher. "Kiss me."

He did so, with great enthusiasm. The two stayed in their embrace for many moments, only breaking to let oxygen back into their lungs.

"Robin," she gasped. "Let's get married when we return to Ylisstol. We can live at the castle, or in the city, or anywhere you want. I just… I want to spend the rest of my years with you."

"Anything for you, Sev. I'd follow you anywhere you'd go, even back to the past again if we have to."

The way he said it, so quickly without any hesitation, caused something to swell within her. "I love you."

He pecked her lips again. "I love you too. I love your passion and your drive, and your honesty. I don't know what I would have done without you, Severa. How I could have found something like us, something that I want to hold and protect and never let go. Now I know what they feel when they say, 'I'm the luckiest man alive'. You've lit a fire in my heart Severa, for better or for worse."

"For the better, I hope," she smiled. She didn't care that what he said could have been one of Inigo's lines, the way he had said it, the heartfelt tone in his voice and the sparkle in his eyes washed away all her doubts and redoubled the butterflies in her chest. "You've warmed my heart too Robin, when I thought that nothing could ever do that."

The two cuddled again, falling into a comfortable silence as the crickets chirped away outside. The torches had dimmed, but neither were too fussed.

"Have you ever thought about starting a family?" Severa finally asked, looking up at Robin, who was leaning back onto his pillow and looked to be dozing.

He opened one eye, a question in it as he looked at her with a cocked eyebrow. "Of course. Ever since Lucina showed up I wondered if my child would return. Of course, now I know they won't, but that doesn't matter now."

He tightened his hold on her. "But I wished for a beautiful girl, one as sweet and amazing as her mother. I would adore her, try and protect her from the harm of mankind as long as I could, and watch her surpass her old man with pride and joy."

Severa huffed. "Placing so many expectations on our child already. You sound just like my parents."

He shrugged. "What parents don't want to see their child flourish and overcome them? And it is only natural for our child to be as spectacular as you are, my dear."

She flushed crimson again. "Jerk." But after a moment she sighed happily. "But, you are my jerk. And that's all that matters."