Hey guys! Welcome back!

Okay, this has been something I've been brainstorming for a while now, so roll with me here.

The potential scope of this story is huge thanks to just how gigantic Three Houses is (not that I'm complaining). There are so many random scenes I want to fit in between Edelgard and Byleth, but simply can't figure out how to fit them into the chapters organically. I'm talking tea times, dining in the dining hall, cooking, singing in the cathedral, and of course, other things I've thought up that fluff me up. I have a pretty thought out plot with this story, so it's hard to kind of fit these random bits that don't have anything to do with the story in. Plus, it lets me squeeze in things like the "My Edelgard" and "My Byleth" scene in so I can reference it in a later chapter (heh look forward to that one).

So, I came to two conclusions. I could write a separate, off-shoot story that is simply random bits of fluff I couldn't fit into this story, or add little side chapters to this story (for manga readers, think omake).

In the end, I decided on this. Think of these Moments Lost in Time chapters like supports; they aren't connected to the overarching plot, but they might reference the plot, or be referenced in the plot later on.

If y'all find this takes you out of the story too much, then I can just grit my teeth and squeeze these puppies into normal chapters or make a separate story to post little fluff pieces. But I hope this will be a win-win! I get to write the fluffy scenes without worrying that I'm trying to squeeze random scenes into a chapter, and you guys get some mindless fluff in between chapters!

Lemme know what you think!


"I'm glad you called me here. With how busy things have been, I could certainly use a diversion."

Edelgard smiled in gratitude as Byleth pulled out her chair for her, her eyes immediately drawn to the beautiful assortment of sweets arranged on a tower of three, separate plates. Everything from cookies and muffins to slices of cake and jelly-filled pastries.

Byleth grinned slightly as he walked over to his own seat. To say he had done his research before inviting Edelgard to tea was a massive understatement. While he studied all of his students for occasions such as this, he had paid a little more attention to Edelgard in that regard. Was he playing favorites? Perhaps. No one was perfect, right?

The same couldn't be said about this impromptu tea session. Byleth had spent countless sleepless nights crafting the perfect teatime. All of the sweets were ones that were popular in Adrestia, specifically the capital. The location of the gazebo was calm and secluded (he had covertly closed the gates on the way in), but not so secluded that they couldn't get a beautiful view of the towering monastery as the falling sun basked it in its golden glow. Underneath the tablecloth, away from Edelgard's line of sight, was a clipboard with at least two dozen conversation topics that he thought might entertain her.

And the tea? Oh, the tea. It was the crescendo to the entire occasion. Byleth had spent the past month secretly weeding out her taste in tea to find which ones she would like the most. A popular blend that was oh so subtly named the Hresvelg Blend was an obvious choice. That took Byleth two seconds. It was the Bergamot tea that really gave him trouble. At least one entire paycheck had gone to paying off the chefs in the dining hall to serve various kinds of teas for the month until he finally discovered the secret to Edelgard's taste buds.

Before becoming a teacher, Byleth's livelihood had been that of a mercenary. You don't make it this long in that kind of profession if you didn't carefully plan out each and every battle. This was no different.

"I think we all could," Byleth replied calmly, lifting the teapot. "Would you like some?"

"That would be lovely." Edelgard nodded, holding out her cup. "Please."

Steam poured from the stout as the clear, brown liquid filled the cup.

The pleasant scent that drifted to his nose assured Byleth he had made the right choice.

"Thank you. It smells delicious." Edelgard smiled as she brought the teacup to her lips, taking a reserved sip.

Her eyes widened near immediately.

"This is my favorite tea," Edelgard sighed happily as she took another drink. "How did you know, Professor?"

"Lucky guess," Byleth shrugged, but the subtle smirk playing at his lips didn't fool the empress.

"Uh-huh." She narrowed her eyes at him. "And I suppose the assortment of popular pastries from my homeland are, what, another lucky guess?"

Byleth glanced at the sugary treats, his face completely blank.

"Okay, maybe it wasn't all luck."

Edelgard's sudden laugh caught Byleth completely off-guard. The Imperial heir wasn't one to wear her heart on her sleeve. To hear her so much as chuckle was uncommon, so a laugh like this was extremely rare.

Byleth liked it. The sound was like the chime of bells ringing softly in his ears.

"From the man that once told me he studied his students' tastes in food, I would hope not," Edelgard paused as she took another sip. "I find myself… rather happy that you went out of your way to select my favorite tea. Thank you for the thought."

"Think nothing of it." Byleth waved her off as he poured his own tea. "It's not often we get to do this. I wanted it to be special."

Byleth blinked. That last part was supposed to be internal. If he wasn't careful, people really would think he was playing favorites.

"Well, your efforts were certainly not in vain," Edelgard said as she grabbed a cookie. "I'm not the best judge of events such as this, but I think it's splendid."

Byleth hid his smile with the rim of his teacup. Perhaps he was taking a bit too much satisfaction out of this.

Edelgard broke off a piece of the chocolate-chip cookie and placed it in her mouth, her eyes lost in thought as she chewed.

"Speaking of, would you humor me for just a moment, my teacher?"

Byleth placed his cheek in his hand, raising an eyebrow.

"I suppose I could. What did you have in mind?"

"Knowing the man you are, I take it you've been examining us more closely than you care to admit, correct?"

Byleth tensed, nearly choking on his tea. Edelgard smiled smugly at his reaction.

"I'll assume that's a yes," she continued as she leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms. "I want to quiz you, then. I'm curious how much you truly know about me."

The princess looked so satisfied with herself, but if only she knew just how seriously the man across from her took his job.

"Fair enough," Byleth leaned forward in his seat. "While we're at it, why don't we make it more… interesting?"

"Oh?" Edelgard tilted her head to the side slightly, tucking her hair behind her ear. "You have my attention."

"You ask me any three questions about your likes and dislikes, and if I get all three right, you have to call me by name for the rest of the evening."

Edelgard winced, the simple thought of it causing her cheeks to redden slightly. Even so, knowing her competitive streak, there was no way she'd turn him down.

"And if you get one wrong?"

"I'll buy you a gift. Any gift. How does that sound?"

Edelgard hummed to herself, a hand idly rubbing her chin as she thought.

"I accept these terms."

"Perfect." Byleth tried his best not to smirk. "Any time you're ready, then."

"Prepare yourself."

Edelgard sat forward in her chair, resting her elbows on the table. For one of nobility such as her, Byleth didn't expect her to break etiquette so easily. Then again, she was really competitive.

"Do I prefer cats or-"

"Cats."

Edelgard blinked, not expecting the immediate answer.

"Er, I was simply testing you. Don't think the other questions will be so easy."

"I wouldn't dream of it," Byleth replied, a rare trace of his own smugness seeping into his voice.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Teacher," Edelgard grumbled, angrily scarfing down the rest of her cookie. "Not even Hubert knows this one."

"Go ahead." Byleth motioned her onward.

"What is my favorite book?"

Byleth wasn't very good with emotions, but he had to actively stop himself from letting out a snort at her question.

"Crimson Flower."

Edelgard's jaw slowly dropped, her eyes wide as saucers.

Unbeknownst to her, Byleth acquired this little tidbit information one evening as he was borrowing books from the library for Sothis to read. When he had checked out this particular novel purely by chance, he had happened to notice a certain Adrestian Princess had taken it out numerous times over the course of the semester. After discovering that, there was no way Byleth couldn't read it (most of it out loud for Sothis's sake).

"Truly a heartbreaking tale of love," Byleth continued, much to her dismay. "When the queen held the dying knight in her arms at the very end, even I was nearly moved to tears."

"T-T-That's enough!" Edelgard exclaimed, slamming her hands on the table and jumping out of her seat. Her face was nearly as red as the cape on her shoulder.

Edelgard sheepishly coughed into her hand, her blush only worsening thanks to her sudden outburst.

"What I meant to say is that you're correct." She quickly sat back down in her seat. "How could you have possibly known that?"

"Pure coincidence," Byleth shrugged.

Edelgard groaned, sinking further into her seat. It appeared that she was beginning to realize that even she was no match for Byleth's somewhat questionable work ethics.

"I fear I was too hasty in challenging you…"

"Ah, don't say that," Byleth hummed as he took a bite of a muffin. "Who knows, maybe you'll stump me on the next one."

Edelgard hung her head in defeat. It was such a sad thing to see the usual proud, confident woman look so dejected that even Byleth felt somewhat bad for her.

"Fine, fine," Edelgard sighed, her eyes hidden behind the hand that was rubbing her brow. "What animal am I afraid of, then?"

Any hint of a smile dissolved from Byleth's features. He knew the answer right away, of course. It was probably the most obvious question she had given him yet.

When he thought back to the horrors he had shared with her that morning…

"…Spiders."

Edelgard raised her head, a look of confusion on her face.

"That's… incorrect?"

"Damn."

She sat up in her seat, her confusion growing. Edelgard was perceptive, more so than most, but even she couldn't always see through the wall that was Byleth's impressive façade.

"Did you truly not know the answer to that?" Edelgard scowled. "Or were you just pitying me?"

"I truly did not know." Byleth shrugged. "I just took an educated guess based on the info you've given me."

Edelgard scrutinized her professor, staring long and hard into his eyes, looking for even the slightest trace of a lie.

When none was to be found, his student nodded, content with his answer.

"Yes… Well. I suppose it would be surprising for you to know everything about me."

"Indeed, it would," Byleth agreed. "So, what kind of gift would you like?"

Byleth was quick to change the subject out of fear of the conversation taking a darker turn.

"Hm?" Edelgard raised an eyebrow, something akin to a smirk growing on her face. "Where's the fun in deciding the gift myself? No, you have to choose it for me, my teacher."

Byleth rolled his eyes, but that was an answer he had expected. It was a good thing his journal also had a list of each students' preferences for gifts.

"Fine, fine. So be it." Byleth lifted his hands in defeat. "To the victor goes the spoils."

"Hmph." Edelgard grinned. Whatever traces of defeat that were there just moments ago were already long gone, replaced by the self-satisfied look of victory. "That you are correct on. Now then, my Byleth, would you mind passing me a slice of cake?"

Byleth was so enraptured with his thoughts on possible gifts for her that he nearly missed the terrible, terrible slip-up his tea partner had just made.

Edelgard simply held her plate out towards him, her expression unusually bright. It was actually depressing watching her glowing face slowly turn into one of pure horror as the realization of what she had just called him came crashing down on her.

There was only one thing Byleth could possibly say in this situation.

"I wasn't aware that I was your Byleth."

Edelgard shot out of her seat for the second time that evening, her hands covering the deep crimson of her cheeks.

"No, no, no! I-I meant to address you as I always do, but-but because of what you asked me to do-!" She pointed an accusatory finger at him. "I-I got the two names mixed up!"

"Your Byleth?"

The mercenary had been smiling a lot more since he had come to the monastery, but this was perhaps the first time his smile had grown so large. He could nearly feel it tickling at his ears.

Edelgard's groan was muffled by the hands that had moved to cover the entirety of her face. She plopped back down in her chair, her hair waving back and forth as she shook her head.

"I beg of you to not tell anyone about this."

"Of course not." Byleth's grin turned impish. "My Edelgard."

He was inexperienced in the ways of properly teasing someone, but he had to admit, he was getting the hang of it.

Edelgard shot the man a chilling glare through the gaps of her fingers.

"You may be my teacher, but I will pummel you if you call me that again."

Byleth raised his hands defensively.

"That will be the last time, I promise."

It took him biting his cheek to not say it just one more time.


A few days later…

Edelgard closed the door to her room behind her, finally allowing herself to relax.

The professor was relentless today.

He could be quite strict and demanding when he wanted to, but today was of another level. Ever since their excursion with the Death Knight, Byleth had been hammering them harder than usual at the training grounds. Edelgard was a trained soldier, but even she felt a little sore after this week.

"Perhaps I have time for a brief nap before I start on my paper-"

The words died on her lips as she spotted a decently sized teddy bear sitting on her desk chair.

She took a quick look around, making sure no one was in the room with her before stalking over to the out-of-place object.

Her eyes widened as she picked up the stuffed doll.

It was a cute little bear with brown fur in a suit of ill-fitting armor. The very same one she had eyed at the market just last week but was too embarrassed to buy for herself.

"Who in the world?"

Her eyes caught on the white of a piece of paper resting on her chair that had been hidden away by the doll.

Picking it up, she gave it a quick scan.

Edelgard,

As promised, here is your gift. Don't think you will best me next time.

Sincerely,

Your Byleth.

When her eyes ran over the words 'your Byleth' she had half a mind to crumple up the paper and throw it in her garbage bin. Even in paper form, the professor somehow found a way to get a rise out of her.

But, instead, she neatly placed the piece of paper in a desk drawer, only to slam it shut.

"Damn it, Byleth…"

She threw herself onto her bed, but not before grabbing her new stuffed bear to bury her rosy face in.


See you all next time for your regularly scheduled chapter!