Lucina looked out of the reconstructed window. It had been a year since the attack that destroyed a large swath of the castle. A year since she had lost almost everything. Again.

She still remembered Grima's attack like it had been yesterday. After performing the Awakening, they had stopped by Ylisstol to prepare for the final battle. That had been a mistake. Grima had been expecting that and made a surprise attack on the castle. The initial attack alone was devastating and destroyed a large portion of the caste. So many lives were lost that day, including her parents. They only one the day with Robin dealing a fatal blow to Grima.

They had won, but in the aftermath, Lucina found herself alone.

Lucina sunk to her knees as she watched her husband simply disappear. All around her were the bodies of family and friends. Her parents, her sister just…gone. She could not see a living soul around her. Was she…was she the only one left?

That was when Lucina's eyes went wide and her blood ran cold. She suddenly only had one thing on her mind as she darted to her feet and ran back into the devastated castle. There would be time for mourning later, but in that moment, she just had to know.

"Morgan!" Lucina slid down some rubble down toward the castle interior where more bodies waited on her. Grima's Risen had also descended upon the weakened castle adding to the casualties. They had seemingly been routed, but not without a great cost. However, Lucina felt a mix of relief and guilt at every body she checked to find that it was not Morgan. She was relieved it was not Morgan, but at the same time that filled her with guilt.

Not that she let that stop her from her task. She asked every living soul she found if they had seen Morgan, but no one seemed to know where she was or if she was even alive. Lucina was driven into a frenzy not just because of her motherly drive that she had been nurturing since finding Morgan, but also because she had lost so much that day and she did not know if she could take it if she lost her little girl too.

During her frantic search, she did eventually find herself in a room deeper inside the castle that seemed mostly intact. However, that was not what drew Lucina's attention.

"Morgan!" Lucina ran forward and pulled her baby girl into a hug as tears threatened to fall down her face, but she held them back to be strong for Morgan's sake, "I was so afraid that I had lost you."

She heard Morgan sniffle from in her arms before she started outright sobbing, "I couldn't save them."

Lucina was not sure what she meant at first until she noticed the bodies lying around them. Some she recognized, some she did not.

"Don't blame yourself," Lucina patted her hair down, "It'll be okay. Mommy's here," Lucina held Morgan tight as she kept sobbing. No matter how much Lucina felt like joining her daughter, she would not cry in front of her. Not then, not when she needed her mother to be strong for her.

In the aftermath of all that destruction, it became apparent that most of the royal family had been killed leaving Lucina as the heir to the throne. It was a burden she did not want, but it was one she would not turn down. The people needed someone to lead them, and she was determined to do her best. Though, she did end up coming clean about her and Morgan's origins. She felt the people had a right to know. Fortunately, they seemed relatively accepting thanks in part to Chrom having made sure to leave behind a declaration claiming them as family and heirs.

At the very least, she was not alone. Morgan helped her mother adjust to the role and served in much the same position that her father had to Chrom. It helped that the people adored their new princess and her seemingly boundless energy. Though, Morgan had not been quite the same since that day either. None of them had been.

All the same, Morgan had been instrumental in helping to keep the country, and its Exalt, going.

"Mother?" Speaking of which, Lucina turned with her royal gown following suit to see her daughter there arrayed in her own grandmaster robes. It seemed like an appropriate gesture, and Morgan wore them with a certain reverence, "It's almost time."

"Of course. Are you sure that you will be okay with little Megan?" Several months after the attack, Lucina finally sought out medical attention for her upset stomach only to find out that she had been with child. On one hand, she was elated to be able to have a child with her now late husband, but on the other hand, the child would have to grow up without a father.

Of course, it also meant that much of the pressure for Lucina to remarry dissipated since she had an heir that was more than a few years younger than her. Which was especially nice as she had no intentions of remarrying anyway. She was also determined to spend a lot of time with the child and do her best to provide a caring home for her as well as the childhood that she had lacked herself. She had forgone the tradition of house Ylisse to use a wet nurse for one, and all the time spent with little Megan meant she was exceptionally attached to her mother.

So much so that her "big sis" Morgan at this point was about the only other person she was truly comfortable with. She could manage lately with others, but she definitely preferred her mother or Morgan. As such, Morgan would be tending to the young princess during the day's ceremony.

"Don't worry, Megan loves her big sis!"

Lucina smiled genuinely – something that did not happen often anymore, "Yes, she does."

"Miladies," The two royals were distracted by Frederick as the one-armed knight stood at attention. Frederick had been found barely alive with one arm crushed under some rubble while his free hand was entwined with lady Cherche's cold hand. Few of the survivors took it as bad as the knight. He had lost his wife, his son, his arm, most of the family he had sworn to protect, and – in his eyes – the ability to protect the ones that remained. However, Lucina had assured him that she would always have a place for him. It took some time, but he found renewed purpose in an even fiercer dedication to the Ylissean royal family.

"Sir Frederick," Lucina flashed him a polite smile. One of those that never seemed to be able to reach her eyes, "Thank you. We shall be along shortly."

"My liege," Frederick bowed and stepped out.

"I guess I should go get Megan," Morgan leaned in and gave her mother a big hug, "Don't worry, you'll do great, mother."

Lucina's smile reached her eyes this time as she retuned the hug patting her daughter on the head, "Thank you. It means a great deal to me."

Once Morgan left her alone, the Exalt sighed. She was dreading this. Celebrating one year free of Grima. One year since her life had been devastated and most of her loved ones ripped away. Though, at least she had her little girls. They gave her the strength to carry on. The strength to go out there and proclaim to her people that they would continue to rebuild.


Lucina suddenly shot upward in her bed with wide eyes and heavy breath. After a few moments, she had successfully calmed herself down. However, that did not make looking to her side any less painful when she saw the empty bed.

Another night, another nightmare. They were mildly less frequent these days, and she honestly did not know what to think of that. Part of her feared that she would forget him. Though, being reminded how that only two weeks before he vanished before her eyes she had drawn her blade on him did not make her feel good, but she felt she deserved it.

What kind of wife did that to her husband who was clearly hurting and hating himself? So many nights she had wondered if she was the reason he had not come back, or if she could have saved him by being more openly affectionate. At the very least not threatening to kill him. She loved him more than life itself. If only she had told him that more. It was her biggest regret.

The dreams were not all bad though. They did at times allow her some form of reunion even if it was just an illusion and even then, a brief one. Once she woke up, she inevitably was faced with a far too large bed and a sense of crushing loneliness.

There was a time when she could not imagine a worse fate than losing her parents – again – and Cynthia, and while their deaths certainly hang over the Exalt, none of them left the same hole in her heart as losing Robin. And why should he not leave such a hole? They were husband and wife. They were as one, and now she had half of herself ripped away. Perhaps that was part of the reason she found it so hard to…feel around anyone other than her daughters. She wondered if that part of her had mostly been torn away with her beloved.


"Mother?"

"Hmm?" Lucina lifted her head from her palm. It seemed she had drifted off to sleep at her desk. Looking over to the nearby crib, she saw that Megan was still fast asleep at least. Then she turned her attention back to her elder daughter, "Sorry about that."

"Rough night?" Morgan looked at her mother in concern. She had bags under her eyes which only seemed to be getting worse, and her eyes seemed so cold and distant when they were not directly focused on Morgan or her sister. Morgan was really worried for her mother's health, but she had no idea how to help her. If only her father were around. Surely he would be able to help her.

"I didn't get much sleep last night," Lucina admitted, "But never mind that. Did you need something?"

"Oh, I just got a report that the eastern provinces have nothing to report."

"That's good," Lucina breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed some more opportunistic rogues decided to try and take advantage of the situation during the uncertainty of the first few months of her reign. However, they soon realized that while Lucina tried to be a kind ruler, she was not a weak one.

All in all, Lucina had developed something of a reputation as an ice queen. Not because she was cruel, but because of the lack of emotions she generally seemed to show. Most of her smiles were clearly there to be polite while they usually lacked the warmth they once did. At the very least, her no nonsense reputation had helped to prevent any nobles from challenging her in any serious capacity.

"Mother," Morgan started slowly still somewhat unsure of herself, but she had been thinking about this for some time, "You've been working yourself ragged. Maybe we could take a little trip. Just the two of us on a mother-daughter trip."

"I don't know," Lucina was not keen on leaving Megan behind. Sure, she trusted Frederick with her life, but she did not like being apart from her only living family for long periods. It made her anxious.

"I'm sure Megan will be alright for a few days. Please?" Well, how was she supposed to say no to that?

"Very well. I suppose I can take a few days off."

"Alright," Morgan smiled in relief, "I've already got most of it planned out. We can head out as soon as you're ready."

"I shall try to be ready as soon as I can. If I may, where are we going?"

Morgan's smile turned slightly mischievous harkening back to happier times for the girl, "That's a surprise."


"We're almost there," Morgan spoke as she and her mother rode up on a field.

"Yes, now, where is there anyway?" Lucina asked as she had no idea where they were going still. Just that it was southwest, and apparently a bit out of the way.

"That's a secret," Morgan grinned. "Don't worry, it's not too much farther."

Lucina somewhat reluctantly conceded and continued following her daughter's lead. They rode on for another half hour before Morgan suddenly stopped with a wide grin.

"We're here!"

"Morgan," Lucina looked around, "This is a field."

"Yes, but it's the field that grandpa found father in."

"It…is?" Lucina had never actually been here before. She knew he had been found near Southtown, but that was about it. It…never seemed like that important of a detail.

"Yeah, I asked Frederick where it was. I know that grandma and grandpa got a memorial and the Shepherds did, but…I was thinking maybe we could build something specifically for father here. It only seems right since he saved us and everything. Doesn't have to be big, but…I thought it'd be nice."

"Oh, Morgan," Lucina smiled at her daughter, "That's a wonderful idea. I'll see to it as soon as we get back."

"No need, I've already drawn up the plans! All I need is your approval."

Lucina giggled in a rare showing, "Consider it yours. Now, I suppose we'll be camping out before returning?"

"Yeah, a fun night camping out under the stars seems like a nice break from all the stress of running a country. Don't you think?"

"It sounds lovely," Lucina grinned before helping Morgan with their supplies.


The next morning, Lucina awoke from one of her more pleasant dreams only to find that it had, unfortunately, been a dream. With a sigh, the Exalt stood to her feet careful not to disturb Morgan who was mumbling something in her sleep. Lucina could go for a walk, and the early dawn air was perfect for such an occasion.

So, Lucina began her early morning stroll trying to forget the dream. She did take the time to try and imagine what Morgan had in mind for the memorial, but knowing Morgan, Lucina was not going to guess it.

She had distracted herself so well, that she only just avoided tripping over something in the field. Or rather, someone. Lucina was curious at first that someone would be out in the field, but also worried that they had gotten so close to her and Morgan without them realizing. That all fell to the wayside though when she recognized the coat that the person was wearing.

In an almost panicked frenzy, Lucina rushed over to the man's side and rolled him over. Her breath immediately caught in her throat as she did so. After taking a moment to snap herself back to reality, she put a shaky finger on his throat and…Lucina let out a worried breath. He was alive. She did not know how, but he was alive.

Just as she was trying to figure out what to do, she heard groans coming from her somehow-alive husband. The first thing he saw upon opening his eyes was the smiling face of his wife. A nice thing to wake up to, to be sure.

"Lucina?" Robin groaned again feeling rather stiff.

"Robin!" Lucina threw her arms around him as if afraid he might vanish, "I thought I had lost you!"

Robin was not entirely certain what was going on, but it was clear that Lucina needed this hug, so he focused on that deciding that he could manage the rest later.

"I thought you were dead," Lucina sniffled into his shoulder, "I…I felt so…incomplete."

"It's okay," Robin pulled her in tighter, "I'm not going anywhere this time. I'm sorry I made you worry."

"No," Lucina pulled back and wiped her eyes, "You did what you had to. You protected your family."

"Morgan," Robin spoke softly, "Is she…"

"Mom?" Said girl answered his question herself as she curiously approached her mother on the ground with some man. However, once she saw who it was, she was quick to join in on the hug as she tackled the both of them, "Daddy?"

Robin chuckled, "Hey, kiddo."

"Ah! We thought you were dead! We were about to build you a memorial. Where were you?"

"I, uh…I'm not really…sure. I remember Naga saying…something to me about…rebuilding me, but that's about it."

"Well, I don't care," Morgan squeezed tight demonstrating that she did take after her mother and grandfather in the strength department, "I'm just glad to have you back!"

"Likewise," Lucina's smile shined brighter than it had in a year, "It is good to have some good news, and now Megan will get to meet her father."

"'Megan?'" Robin took a moment to process what his wife had said, "You mean we…and she's…"

"Yes," Lucina grinned, "She's quite lovely and healthy. She's a bit particular, but I'm sure she'll come to love you."

"I…I'm sorry I missed it."

"Don't be," Lucina looked at him lovingly, "You're here now, and that's what's important."

"Besides," Morgan chimed in, "Once you get to baby making again, you can be here for the next one!"

Both Robin and Lucina blushed profusely at the comment, but that did not change the fact that they were elated. For all the bad that had happened, at least their little family was whole again.

A/N: Don't forget to check out the last chapter of the Robin story for a sneak peek at a potential story if you have not done so already.

Also, I may be having a bit of a resurgence in salt as people just seem to have taken to that summer Lucina. At least some of the art has her get rid of the mask and put her hair down I guess, but people seem to be loving/mostly fine with it now. Oh joy. Maybe that won't kill the chances of maybe next year getting a proper one...but that's a good while to wait regardless.