Chapter Eight: Clarity

"Ooohh, look at that! It's so gorgeous! So. Many. Carats!"

"It looks so amazing! I'm almost envious!"

Gaius groaned, disturbed from his personal snack time by the idle chatter of the girls passing underneath the tree he was currently perched on. Lissa and Cordelia were 'oohhh-ing' and 'aahhh-ing' at Cherche's ring—which was not too shabby, Gaius admitted, Lon'qu had fine taste for rings for a gynophobe. It was of fine make, and was pretty expensive, Gaius could tell. Many were surprised that Lon'qu had that much money to spend, but then he just did this and reminded them that he was Basilio's right-hand man, and is thus earning a handsome pay courtesy of Regna Ferox.

But me, me, me… It was banditry all my life. No decent buck to earn there, just enough to get by…

Not enough to buy Anna something pretty.

There are many, many times that he was tempted to borrow money from Chrom or anyone else, and many, many times he was tempted to open a treasure chest and keep the remains to himself instead of surrendering them to the company. But I did the 'right' thing to do, every single time, gods bless my soul. Damn it, Libra's rubbing onto me.

Gaius bit down on a fragment of his candy, looking down almost grudgingly at the women passing beneath, loudly comparing their wedding rings. He could have thrown daggers at them then and there, but thankfully they left, along with their blasted wedding rings.

He sighed, but then reached into his pocket, taking a tiny packet. He stared at what was inside—tiny, delicate stones of ruby which took quite a good while and lots and lots of negotiation with former acquaintances to acquire.

Now all I need is the gold, and then to make it…

"Thank you! Come again!" Anna cheerily called out from her stall, after a customer had just left, carrying a jar of Anna's Miracle Cream (the one that was not still being tested on cows, Anna made sure now). Professionalism dictated that Anna wore a smile, but as soon as the client was out of sight, Anna let out a loud sigh.

Dammit, Gaius. This is your fault…

Anna was positive the ginger-haired thief was avoiding her for weeks now. Sure, they had conversations, and sure, they fought beside each other in battle, but that was it. The conversations had been curt and clipped, and while in camp, Gaius would often look away from her gaze or go the opposite direction of where she was headed. And thus, Anna was frustrated.

She hoped that it was something that would come to pass in a few days, but it now dragged onto weeks, and if Gaius would still act oddly in the coming days, she was going to go up to him and confront him about it. If only he knew how lonely it was without him, so unbelievably dull…

"Hey there pretty lady," a voice snapped Anna from her thoughts, and Anna looked up, then rolling her eyes upon seeing Inigo, browsing her stall's wares. He was, if anything else, absolutely persistent.

"Inigo, for the last time, I am not having tea with you."

"Ouch," Inigo said, a hand dramatically clutching his heart. "You could at least pretend to ponder the offer! You and Robin are such difficult women! It is just a friendly invitation!"

"Still not having tea with you," Anna insisted. Having to resist Virion's constant offers to share tea some moons ago was difficult enough, and now the silver-haired Inigo is carrying on where his father left off.

Inigo, however, seemed to shrug off the topic, instead browsing the weaponry Anna had on display. He admired the Brave weapons, quickly trying to contemplate if he could afford it. And then, surprisingly, he said, "You know, where we come from, in the future, there were barely any stalls open for business. There weren't any merchants around."

W-What…? Anna felt herself gasp upon hearing that. "None? My… my sisters, then? Were any of them open for business? Surely some Fell god couldn't stop the enterprise from running?"

"Tell me, Lady Anna…" Inigo began, "If the world was in utter chaos, if food was scarce and money had no value, and yet people needed things—food, water, shelter, and weaponry to protect themselves with—would you still be open for business? Would you sell your wares or keep them to yourself?"

Anna felt herself frown. The future would be terrible conditions to open a business in. Even if you sold goods, what value did money have in such a bleak future where what you truly needed to do was survive? Would you sell food and weaponry when the money which people pay them with hardly have any value at all? No profits to gain—in fact it was a loss. You much need goods instead of money in such an apocalyptic future.

"Well?" Inigo said, waiting on her answer, smiling sadly at her as he saw the torn look on her face. "There you have your answer. Never heard of an Anna enterprise in the future. There were barely any merchants. They closed down for business—because they died, or because they chose to keep their goods for themselves. One or the other."

"...But you claim to know me," Anna pointed out, recalling how Inigo remarked that they had met before-and he seemed familiar with her tattoo. Surely he must have ran into her, or with another Anna? The Anna of that time?

"Well, I did know an 'Anna'... although an individual, not of the enterprise you ladies have now," Inigo said. "In the future, she'd opened her shop and gave away everything she had. Forged items for people for free and let healers nurse for the wounded in her shop. Our paths crossed briefly, but then she..."

"...She...?" Anna asked curiously.

"I heard she died fending off Risen from her place," Inigo said, saying it straight as if to just get it over and done with. "...Not a fun memory to recall, but... Seeing you and all your many sisters' undeniable existence in this world makes me happy. So don't die, hmmm? Procreate and fill the world with many more Annas."

Anna looked down contemplatively, saddened and shocked by the news Inigo held. She, and her 'sisters'-gone? An odd world to live in. There's always been an Anna in every town! That bleak future was just... unfathomable. The fact that they were all just copies of one person and that there was always someone else like her in the world bothered her, sure, but this-that none of them remained in the future! It was much, much sadder.

"...That Anna..." Anna began, "...how did she look? I know Annas all look the same, but could you tell her apart somehow? Did she have a... mark or some sort?"

"She was much older than you, of course," Inigo said. "My other friends knew of her, too. Helped us out a few times, gave us some weapons to use. She had this tattoo on her back. It was a butterfly."

Inigo looked straight at Anna, who now looked surprised. "You have the same one, don't you? I saw it in the beach. I always thought perhaps she was you. So I always wanted to sit down with you and have some tea as way of thanks, but alas, I know you don't want to."

Idiot. If he just said that's why he wanted to have tea in the first place... Anna was about to speak, but then a group of people stopped by her stall to browse, and Inigo backed away, making way for them. "I'd best not interrupt your business!" He told her. "I'll be on my way."

He turned away, but then Anna called out, "Let's have tea soon, okay?"

Inigo stopped in his tracks, looking dead surprised. A woman? Asking me to have tea?! Why, I never... seriously?! "S-Sure!" he said, waved, and went away.

How could I have been so blind?

Now that Anna thought of it, some of the 'children' of the camp often held her in good regard, even acting as if they were trying to get her attention. Lucina was often attempting to start conversation with her, and Owain was always bugging her about weapon and weapon names. Then there was Brady and Yarne, who always looked like they were nearing tears and had something to say to her, but they never quite said it. Why didn't they?

...Well of course they didn't. There was a ninety-nine percent chance that they would be talking to the wrong Anna, if they've seen just how many Annas there are presently. So they never gathered the guts to talk to her about the future. It wasn't until Inigo saw her that fateful night at the beach with her mark that he gathered the guts-and quite the guts and audacity-to talk to her and act very friendly, because he thought that perhaps it meant that she was their Anna, a friend they once had.

...Did I have a family? But Inigo hasn't mentioned me having children-if I had one he or she would have went with them, yes? Somewhere here?

Anna then frowned, realizing something, remembering the way she distanced herself from the other Shepherds, and from her own sisters. She wasn't exactly good friends with others in the camp, so if she had a kid... did he wander off on his own? Or, Naga forbid... did he not survive in that apocalyptic time?

No, no. I mustn't think like that. He is probably just not one to sit still. Gaius and I do tend to wander off on our own and not be too chummy with the others...

Anna stopped, and blushed when she realized just what her thoughts told her.

...It's not like he's even proposing to me! And he's already avoiding me, even!

Anna sighed, and packed up her stall.

"Hey Bubbles, I took a little walk around the perimeter and found-Bubbles?!"

Gaius looked surprised, seeing Robin hunched in a corner of her tent in silent tears, holding a dagger to herself. With absolute speed he had rushed to her, quickly grabbing the dagger from her hand and thrusting it to the ground until it skittered far, far away.

"Holy cripes, what the hell are you doing?!" Gaius gasped, quickly seeing that there was blood dripping from Robin's hand. He grabbed at it, and felt his breathing stop when he saw that she had cut herself at her wrist. It wasn't deep, thank heavens, but it was drawing blood. "I'll get a healer! And don't you dare do anything while I'm gone!"

It only took a minute for Gaius to return to Robin's tent with Libra in tow. Robin seemed calmer now, albeit still hidden in a corner with tears streaking her cheeks. Libra took in the scene, along with the blood on the ground, and looked very crestfallen. He went over to Robin's side, and quickly looked her over for wounds. She had a cut on her wrist, but it was not deep. Thankfully Gaius arrived when he did, and had absolutely lacked a sense of protocol and just barged into the tent. Otherwise...

"I thought if..." Robin said, "Perhaps if I killed myself, then Grima will also..."

Gaius winced. There had been a circulating rumor in camp that their tactician was linked to the Grimleal, but no one ever bothered to confirm or deny it, neither had anyone had the guts to ask Robin or Chrom directly.

"So it was true," Gaius said, looking down at Robin getting healed by Libra. He could understand why they kept mum about it though-Robin held this group together, she gave everyone guidance and support. How would people feel if they found out she was related to the Fell one?

"Grima and I are one and connected..." Robin said, her head bowed, avoiding the gazes of both men. "I thought if I killed myself, then perhaps Grima too would be gone and then..."

"You idiot!" Much to Gaius and Robin's surprise, it was the usually quiet Libra who had burst out and said that. He was clutching onto Robin's bedroll, as if trying to stop himself from hitting something out of rage. "Gods forgive me for that... But you've been fighting all this while, trying to change our future-and we've seen you succeed one at a time-so at least fight to change yours!"

"But... I killed Chrom in the future. I let everyone down-"

"You said something once, Robin," Libra told the female tactician, "That we are not pawns of some scripted fate. It's the invisible ties we forge that bind us. You've never let what the future held stop you from trying. So don't stop now..."

We aren't pawns of some scripted fate...

"I... I'm sorry! I was just... I didn't want you all to suffer because of me. I don't want that future to happen."

Never let what the future holds stop you from trying...

Gaius bit his lip, those words hitting him hard. He knew he stopped trying, just because the future said it wouldn't happen. He was giving up and killing his chances when he hasn't even tried. I'm such an idiot as well...

"And Robin... this may be a bit late and may come as a bit of a surprise but..." Libra then took out something from his pocket-it was a ring. It was nothing too flashy-it barely looked expensive-and it was plain and simple. Surely nothing Bubbles could brag about with the other ladies. "I'd like to spend the future with you," Libra told the tactician. "And I am sure it will be a good future because we'll do our best to make it so. I know I'm a man with little worldly riches, and I have nothing extravagant to give you... But I still hope you'll consider."

Gaius watched the scene, watching Robin come to tears-this time not from sadness-and end up nodding frantically and hugging Libra. She looked so… so… happy, despite it was not some ring studded with big stones and fancy carvings. Libra was a man of the cloth and lived on the allowances given by the clergy, which was not much… Maybe Anna's eyes could light up like that as well? Even if her ring was not worth much? Redhead's a big lover of money and all things that sparkle, but maybe this time… I could be an exception?

Gaius felt that he was now invading Libra and Robin's privacy, so he quietly walked out of Robin's tent, his own hope renewed.

"O-Ow!" as soon as he stepped out of the tent, he felt like he ran into a solid wall. He rubbed at his forehead and then looked up and realized it was Kellam. "Kellam? How long have you been there?"

"...For a while now. I think I heard mostly everything..."

"Cripes, man, at least say something! You even best me at stealth!"

"I-I think I've been trying to say something a while ago..."

"Well, next time, make yourself known! Say something loud for once-huh?! He's gone? Where'd he go?"

"Well, all in a day's work," the travelling merchant, Anna, said, stretching her muscles in preparation for cleaning up her pop-up shop, off to lug those weapons off the rack and into the caravan. She turned and looked for a second at the flaming fire in the forge—but then quickly spoke when she sensed a presence.

"Shop's closed, sir. If you'd like me to work on something, I'll have to charge you for my overtime."

Anna turned around, seeing a man mostly hidden in a black cloak, sucking on a lollipop stick. With one quick look-over—the dark colors he dressed in, the almost perfectly quiet way he walked towards her—she quickly, and very accurately, tagged him as a brigand or thief. A dangerous sort of man, albeit the unimposing candy in his mouth. "…What can I do for you?" she asked.

Gaius looked over the red-haired merchant. She was dressed in green robes, sleeves hiked up , with arms that looked lean and firm from working with weaponry and steel. There was a slight slouch in her shoulders—the sort that blacksmiths got from being hunched over a little too long and from carrying heavy items. He had the feeling that this Anna could probably whack him senseless with a Hammer. Apart from that, he also felt triumphant—when he first met Anna—his Anna—he couldn't find a way to tell her apart from her "sisters". But now he could see their minute differences, and see that these gals all did turn out different from each other after all, in their own ways.

He had been staring too long, and was only snapped back on the alert when Anna made a slight movement, as if to get a nearby weapon. "Hey Red," Gaius quickly cooed, "No need for violence. I'm from the Shepherds—I'm Chrom's man, believe it or not. I don't have any ill intentions towards you."

Anna paused, and looked over Gaius one more time. "Ginger hair, an affinity for sweets… ah, Gaius isn't it! Any member of the Shepherds is welcome in any of our establishments. "

Gaius was surprised that she knew him, and was about to ask how—but then he shrugged it off and realized it was not necessary. The Annas have proven to be as effective as a spy network in knowing what needed to be known. "So how may I help you?" she asked. "I'm just about to clean up though."

"…Don't worry, Red, I don't intend to let you do overtime on my behalf," Gaius said. "I was just… brazenly wondering if you'd… uh… let me borrow your workshop?"

Anna didn't even blink an eye. "That'll be 3200 gold pieces for three hours tops, any extra hour will cost 1500 gold-"

"Y-Yikes…" Gaius said, taken aback. That was too much for his meagre purse. "Red, I don't have that sort of money-"

Anna turned her back on him, and began to resume her activity of closing up shop. She made for a bucket of water to dump onto the fire of the forge and-

"It's for your sister!" Gaius blurted out. Anna stopped, surprised. "…Please let me make something for your sister."

The hours passed, and eventually, Anna leaned down towards Gaius' handiwork, watching the thief determinedly engraving the ring with a little tool. The letters were delicate and tiny, and Gaius' eyes were squinted in determination as he looked at the item under a table lantern.

"It's a beauty," Anna said. She worked with metal herself and had to admit, the ginger-haired thief has talent. Perhaps my sister Anna would do well to marry him and then enlist him into the business… "What does it say?"

Gaius was quiet to the question, trying to sort out in his mind how he could tell this Anna that he was telling his Anna, in a way, that she was special and superior to her sisters. There's no nice way to say that, I think?

He moved his arm to finish the final letter, but then his skin grazed against the table lantern, the hot glass of it making him flinch. The engraving tool in his hand slipped from his grip, and then Gaius cursed as he realized it had accidentally scratched the inner surface of the ring.

"Dammit dammit dammit!" he picked up the ring, bringing it to the light to see the damage he had done. There was an unsightly scratched along the inner surface—and godsdamn, the metal has cooled and I can't get rid of it unless I repeat the whole thing, godsdamn.

"Are the gods against me or something?!" Gaius groaned, pulling at his hair in frustration. He fumed, thinking if he should do it over, or let it be, or just throw away the damn thing and just steal a nice wedding ring from the nearby jewelry shop. "What to do, what to do…"

Anna picked up the ring, trying to see what the fuss about. She read the dedication on it, and smiled. Well, he seems like a good man… "Get over it," she told Gaius. "Just a tiny scratch. I'm sure my sister wouldn't mind."

"I'm sure I would," Gaius said. "I… I can't afford to give her the finest, so I at least should make the best I can. I'm not the richest dud in the world, y'know, and you guessed right that I'm a shady guy. I haven't got much to offer her—"

"Excuse me, sir," Anna cut in, "I'll have you know we'll never marry a man just because he's rich. I love gold just as the next Anna loves it, so I'd be practical and marry someone who can make gold instead of just have it. A widely skilled and hardworking man is much more valuable than a lazy rich man. And you seem like a skilled, hardworking man-albeit in a shady profession-but we have respect for people who work hard rather than just get handed everything."

Gaius looked up to her with a smile, thankful for the tiny reassurance.

Anna sipped on the Elderberry tea courtesy of Duke Virion's fine tea stash, as she sat across Inigo on a garden table set, just outside camp. For all his suaveness and flirtatiousness, Inigo now looked absolutely flustered and shy seated right across a woman. Aha! So the flirtatiousness is a sham, and this is the real boy.

"So, uhmm… this 'Anna' never had any children or family?" Anna asked Inigo, pretending to only be mildly concerned as she sipped her tea. It's a sad fate that she died in the future, but she died protecting her shop, and that was an honourable death she supposes. At least I didn't turn out to be a completely money-minded creature and actually helped out the people, what a surprise.

"None that I know of—she lived alone. Never saw her with anyone significant…"

Oh… much worse than being the last Anna in this time, I also was an old maid. Or my loved ones died way before me.

Inigo took a sip of tea, and then patted at the satchel at his side, as if looking for something. "S-She did have this thing though… She kinda asked me to take it before we parted ways. I don't entirely know why, but… ah, here it is."

Inigo found what he was looking for, and placed a ring on the table before her.

Anna's eyes widened in shock. She could tell what that design was instantly. Those rubies, that key motif… the gold looked shiny and almost brand-new, a testament to how it's owner had cared for it meticulously. At the inner section of the ring were tiny, delicate engraved words:

There's only one you.

Anna felt her eyes water up, as she leapt up and hugged Inigo.

Gaius, watching from a good distance away, was clenching his fist, quickly getting up and storming off.

Anna was excited—ashamed as she was to admit it, she dashed into her tent and squealed like a little girl and kept gazing at the beautiful ring that her future self owned as soon as she was alone with it. It was so delicate, the craftsmanship so beautiful… she could almost imagine Gaius hunched over a table, sweat dripping down his face, determinedly working on the smallest details of the ring. But apart from that Anna was just so relieved that…

There is a future for us after all.

Anna wanted to tell everyone and show everyone the gorgeous ring, and proudly wear it like the girls at camp that recently had gotten engaged. But that would be too weird, she decided—Gaius hadn't even proposed yet! Would it be too weird if she sidled up to him and showed him the ring? Yes, that would be too weird… I can't ruin his moment if he's planning to propose by getting ahead of him!

…I guess I'll just have to wait.

So Anna waited. She hid the ring, wearing it instead on a chain around her neck, the ring hidden behind her clothing, kept close to her heart. But even as she waited, just knowing the ring was there—and that the future was there, a bright future—made her happy.

She spent less time inside her private tents counting money, and instead spent more time outside, talking with the fellow Shepherds. She would aid Robin and Frederick at making budget plans for the army. She would humor Lucina and Say'ri and the other women and teach them shopping tips. She would spar with Owain and Cynthia, and tell them stories and legends of the past that she knew by heart. She would be in the kitchen with Cherche and Stahl and study how to bake!

"Anna's beaming," Stahl remarked, as he sat beside Gaius one evening for supper. "You proposed or anything yet? She seems really happy."

But Gaius would respond almost grudgingly. "…No." And then he took a bit off the evening's dessert, a way to chase away the stress. It was good.

"Gods, Stahl, you've outdone yourself. This chocolate tart is amazing."

Stahl would only smile at him, and say, "Anna made that."

All Gaius noticed though, was Anna and Inigo. How they talked more frequently now than before, how Anna would laugh beside the young swordsman and then jokingly poke him at the ribs. How Anna teased Inigo and made him blush and called him shy—which couldn't be farther from the truth! The boy was a philandering little devil who wanted in on every girl's bed! Even Gaius himself wasn't that thick.

Anna waited and waited for Gaius to propose, but Gaius never moved forward. Instead he stuck to the shadows… although still observing Anna, watching her.

Gaius watched as Anna waved a little goodbye to Robin and Frederick as the three of them emerged out of the barracks, no doubt discussing financial strategies. She then went back into her tent not too far from there, coming out with a sack slung over her shoulder.

Where is she off to? The town to set up a stall? Even at those times, Gaius would follow her stealthily into town, keeping a close eye in case a bunch of troublemakers make the mistake of targeting her. She was a lone, and female, merchant after all—and when they first met her, they were rescuing her from a band of brigands that meant to do harm. Although she proved that she was capable of taking care of herself… it's still best to be cautious. I may not propose to her, but I don't want her to die on me now.

So Gaius followed her, and found out she didn't mean to go to the town at all.

There was a secluded spring in the middle of the forest they were camped in, and Anna put down her sack, humming a tune as she pulled out the contents of it. A spare change of clothes, some clean drying sheets… And then Anna quickly discarded her top.

Gaius meant to turn away and walk off that moment, but then he glimpsed the chain hanging around her neck, and the ring in it. So that's where she kept it. All those days, Gaius wondered where she hid it or wore it—she certainly wasn't making a spectacle out of showing it off to the other ladies… yet. But Gaius knew she was happy with it, as she looked down at it with a small, contented smile, and touched it lovingly before heading into the waters.

Ahh, godsdamn… it even looks just like the one I drew for her. Man, that is rude. He fished out the ring that was in his pocket—he never stopped carrying it, trying to find a good time or excuse to show her, but when she was already that happy… how could he?

Gaius turned back, and was about to walk away, until the tiny ring fell out of his grasp, falling onto the forest floor.

Oh gods no! Gaius groaned, quickly getting on this knees to look for the little thing, muttering all the while. Maybe he'd never be able to give it to Anna, but he could at least sell it to some poor sap. He dug around and pushed aside some of the dead leaves on the ground, until he found the ring. Ah, thank gods—

"Lost something?" Gaius knew that voice and looked up to see Anna, with a towel around her bare body.

"...Just dropped some spare change," Gaius got up, trying to act normal. But when he got up to face Anna, his eyes fell onto the chain around her neck. She was clutching the ring inside her hand, as if hiding it from him. Well… I thought we were at least friends, but she won't tell me the truth of her engagement either! Hah. He pocketed his own ring safely into his trouser pocket.

"I'll be on my way," Gaius quickly said, before things got more awkward. He couldn't bare to stare down at her the way she was—hair down from her ponytail, bare save for a towel, skin misted with water—knowing that she was engaged to someone else.

"Hey, Gaius, wait," Anna called out to him, stopping him in his tracks. "You weren't… You weren't peeping, were you?"

"Huh?! What? Me, peeping? Course not!" Gaius said, flustered. He had completely forgotten that he had wandered off following her to a rather secluded area, and he had no excuse to be there at all. "I was just on the way to the spring myself for a bath when I found you so I decided to turn around—"

"What, without towels?" Anna said, noticing the lack of a travel pack with him.

Gaius sighed. He was cornered now. But he was afraid to say the truth—that he cared for her and still tended to watch her like a hawk, despite her being… attached to someone else. "Alright, Red, you caught me," he said, with a heavy sigh. "I'm a dirty little scoundrel, one you shouldn't have anything to do with. So? You'll make me pay a fine in gold?"

Anna was taken aback, looking bothered. Gaius sounded so… offended. And while Gaius wasn't the most innocent man on the planet, she believed he had much respect for her and all the women of the camp. He was lying, and she could tell it. He turned his back and made as if to leave, but Anna grabbed his hand.

He turned around to look her in the eye.

"…Gaius. Are you going to tell me what's wrong?" Anna asked, sounding worried. "You haven't been… well, you haven't been around me lately. I thought you just need a break and all that, you know, so I didn't confront you about it, but now that you're here, I might as well. Care to tell me what's wrong?"

Gaius stared at her for a long, long while, his fist tightening in frustration. But he was looking at her and seeing her so hurt and concerned… I guess I might as well…

"Well then... you wanna know what's my problem, Red? It's that you got engaged to that... that little philanderer!" Gaius said, his voice coming out a little louder than he would have wanted. "…I know he's got some sort of inheritance waiting for him, being noble and all, but I honestly doubt he can make you happy. Is money really all that matters to you?"

Anna was stunned into silence, looking absolutely confused. Me? Engaged to a rich philanderer? When did I ever...

"Why can't you chose someone more decent at least... like Frederick or Priam or... Basilio even! But why Inigo?"

...Oh.

Anna's face lit up in realization. Gaius thinks I'm getting married to Inigo? Really now?

"...Really, Gaius? You'd rather see me married to Frederick?" Anna asked, with a surprised smile on her face.

Gaius paused, realizing how silly what he just said was. "…Hey, Freddy-bear can be strange, but at least he won't hit on anything with a skirt on. Same goes for Ikey-poo and Mr. Brownie."

Anna almost laughed, remembering how creative Gaius can be with the nicknames. "But Inigo is just..." Gaius continued, fuming. "Seriously, I got nothing against Olivia, but she did not raise up that kid well. He flirts with anyone! If he breaks your heart, he is bloody damn gonna get it from me. He even-he even copied my design for your ring! Without my consent! Sure, I gave the drawing back to you and I've got no patent on it, but godsdammit-"

Gaius stopped then, because Anna had ended up laughing. He glared at him, puzzled. "Oh Gaius!" she shrieked between her giggles, "Do you mean this?"

She took out the ring that was hanging around her neck. He stared at it, suddenly feeling a heavy weight in his pocket as he remembered a similar-looking ring was in there. "Yes! Why, it looks just like how I drew it!"

"Listen, Gaius," she said, touching his arm and looking up to him with a smile, "Inigo gave this to me, yes. But not because he was proposing! He tells me that there was an Anna in the future, someone they got acquainted with. She unfortunately met her death in the future, but... she was always wearing this," Anna turned the ring on her palm, examining it. And then she smiled up at Gaius. "Apparently someone dear to her gave it to her."

Gaius was shocked, and fell silent. "...Oh."

Oh indeed. "So... you're not getting married?"

"Of course not, silly!"

Gaius took the ring from her, examining it. 'There's only one you', the engraving inside it said, but Gaius' eyes widened when he noticed something.

There was that scratch that he accidentally made on it while engraving it.

I gave this to her. It was me all along!

Gaius was smiling now. Crivens, all this stress over nothing! I… gods I've been such an assuming fool. He was laughing as he reached into his pocket. "...I wanted to show you something." He opened his palm and showed her the ring he made-exactly like the one she was holding, scratch and all. "I was going to give you this... before I went crazy and jumped to conclusions."

"Gaius... it's... it's beautiful. Looks just like this one, too..."

"So... I've been such a jerk recently, I admit, but that was because I was wondering if you'd... marry me, y'know?" Gaius asked, blushing furiously. "I mean, it seems your future self already said yes, but I might as well ask. Anna, I know I'm not a rich man, and I don't have any successes unlike you or your enterprising sisters. That and thieves and merchants were never bestest friends since the old times but… I fell in love with you. And I still do, and will always, love you. …So? Make this thief happy, will you?"

Anna smiled, her face as red as her hair. "I thought you were never going to ask! I've... I've been waiting for you to ask all this time! Gaius, you've been... sure, we got off to a rocky start, but you cared for me and made me feel special. Of course I say yes!"

Anna threw herself over Gaius in a hug, making the thief fall down to the ground—then noticing how awkwardly Anna's towel was dipping down on her form. He kissed the top of her red head gently, but then told her, "Uh... honeybuns? You do realize you're naked and wet on top of me?"

Anna pulled away from him for a bit, and then smiled mischievously at him. "…Wanna make sure we get future children?"

…Well, that escalated quickly. Gaius let out a small laugh, and kissed her.

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