Fatherhood

Cast: (Xander & Siegbert, Shigure)
Prompt: Xander's lonely over Azura after Conquest, and their sons help him

Some would say Xander was the luckiest member of the family. He was a beacon of Nohrian patriotism. He was spared the horrors of the concubines' infights, and even his ascension to the throne came with little fuss from the citizens. But those who really knew Xander could tell a different story. In general, he was not a happy man. Garon's cruelty and Xander's own acts as a soldier have destroyed the man's sense of idealism. And then, the matter of his wife…

Xander was as obedient as they came, but even he had lapses. Toward the middle of the campaign, he and his former wife, Azura, had sired two boys. Fraternal twins, to be exact. The children had to stay behind in Windmire while Xander and Azura left for Hoshido… but Xander was the only parent to return.

No one ever quite knew what became of the songstress. Everyone had agreed the lovers were at their happiest together- even Corrin and Kaze, whom had known Azura the longest. But minutes after stopping both Garon's impersonator and the possessed husk of Prince Takumi- Azura had vanished. Xander and Corrin spent ages looking for her, yet she was nowhere to be found.

If he had his way, Xander would have stayed in Hoshido until he had found Azura. But the man was used to putting the needs of Nohr before his own. And now more than ever, he would need to finally assume his fated role, and don the crown.

It was lonely at the dinner table. Leo was busy in the library, Corrin was preparing a goodwill trip to Hoshido, and Camilla took Elise to see a show in Nestra. This left Xander alone with his two sons.

Siegbert and Shigure had grown a lot in the years since the war. Both were blessed Azura's powder blue locks and striking amber eyes. Whenever Xander made eye contact, he felt haunted. As though they were mediums for Azura, to show her that he had abandoned her. Xander avoided making eye contact if he could.

What a pathetic king. Worse, a pathetic father. To be afraid to face his own children…

With Xander's duties, as expected, he had little time for his boys. He made sure to be present for important dates and to encourage their endeavors. Yet he could not will away the shadow of Azura. He needed to get through this dinner without incident. "So… I hear your lessons are coming along well," Xander opened. "What are your thoughts?"

"Um, I enjoy them, father. Sir. Your Majesty," Siegbert mumbled. Xander smiled.

"Siegbert, I've told you. 'Father' is fine."

The eight-year-old nodded. "Y-yes sir. Your Majesty."

"The instructor said I was a good singer," Shigure reported. "She was impressed!" He always was the more upbeat of the two.

"Hmm," Xander nodded, trying not to remember Azura's singing as he cut into his food. From there, the dinner continued in silence. It was routine at first, but eventually Xander felt a different kind of discomfort. As though he were being watched.

They must be expecting further comment.

He tried to find another subject, but the thought died in his throat when he saw the dejected look in his sons' faces. "What's wrong?"

Siegbert looked smaller than usual. "We're sorry that wasn't exciting enough, Father…"

"Huh?" Xander went from discomforted to confused. "What makes you say that? I have an honest interest in my sons' development."

"B-but you never sound like it…" Siegbert countered, which honestly surprised everyone. Feeling motivated, Shigure weighed in as well.

"You always seem… far away. Or something. Like… you don't want to be here. Do you not like us?"

"What? I-"

"You don't enjoy talking to us," Siegbert interrupted. "Did we do something wrong?"

The king's heart dropped right then. He could already recall a similar conversation he had held with Garon, even when his father was still a respectable man. It frightened him to the very core. When that monster had taken Garon's identity, he grew into a distant, unloving father. And now that was how Xander's own children were beginning to see him.

No. That won't happen with them. How grateful I am to have raised you to voice your concerns. I won't repeat Father's downfall…

"Siegbert, Shigure, I owe you both an apology." He finally looked his sons in the eyes. "I realize I have been distancing myself from the two of you." He sighed. "When your mother disappeared… it hurt me greatly." The boys gulped, knowing how rarely Xander mentioned their mom. "The two of you... remind me of her so much."

Seeing his sons' hearts sink at the reminder of their mother, Xander cleared his throat. "However, that was selfish of me. You boys don't deserve such treatment. We might have lost someone dear to us, but we still have each other." Suddenly, Camilla entered his thoughts. "I remember telling your Aunt Camilla that, as ruler, I would need to maintain a certain distance from my family. But I've begun to see things differently."

"What do you mean?" Shigure asked.

"One… never knows when they'll last see their family," the king said, his words heavy from experience. "That is why, if you'll forgive this foolish man, I would like to be a larger part of your lives." For once, Xander's mouth formed into a smile, a sincere one. "Can the two of you forgive your coward of a father?"

Siegbert and Shigure beamed, and Xander could see Azura's smile in their own. Yet, Xander already felt differently. Siegbert and Shigure, they were Azura's legacy, a symbol of the bond she had shared with him. In a small way, she was still there with him. With all of them.

"Why don't you demonstrate that singing ability of yours, Shigure?"

"I may? O-oh, but Siegbert's singing is wonderful too!"

Xander turned his eyes expectantly to the other son, whom seemed nervous. "Is that allowed at the king's dinner table?"

His father grinned. "Right now, we're not a king and two princes. I'm your father, and I would like to hear my sons' song."

That was all they needed to hear.

A/N:

This is a slight AU in that Xander's sons are an appropriate age rather than auto-grown like in the game. The requester didn't seem to mind. It's pretty unanimous across the fanbase that babyrealms are dumb, right?

Anyway I first worried that I messed this one up. But then it got reblogged with "protect this family" tags a few times, so in Corrin's words - "guess I did it right". Also this piece was named with my other drabble "Motherhood" in mind. (The one with Oboro and baby Hisame).

Go to the blog if you have requests.