Ignis quickly made his way down the hallway to Y/N's door. She sounded so upset on the phone and he was worried what may have been said to her. Was the council mean to her? Was she treated badly? He asked Noctis to keep an eye on her and let him know if anything went awry. When he got the text from his friend that he should get ahold of Y/N, he knew something was wrong. He was hoping it was some kind of misunderstanding or something she simply disliked about the kingdom that he could explain to her. He wasn't sure there was much he could do if she was treated poorly. All those men were levels above him and he had no rights to even approach them concerning attitude adjustments or kindness.

When he arrived at her door, he knocked impatiently, rubbing his hands together a bit. He kept telling himself that even if this conversation went badly, it was still a big step that she even wished to speak with him at all. She had a habit of bottling up her problems and hiding away from everyone. He wanted nothing more than for her to open up to him and let him in. This was at least a step in that direction. It wasn't long before the door opened and her tear streaked face greeted him.

"What happened?" He asked her as soon as she was in his view. "May I come in?"

She stepped aside and allowed him to enter her room. After asking her what had happened, it dawned on him that this was probably a conversation they shouldn't be having in the open hallway. After letting him inside, she shut the door and crossed her arms, pacing back and forth in front of her mirrored dresser. Ignis stood in the middle of the room patiently waiting for her to begin.

"Before I get to my biggest problem, I have a few questions about stuff I don't really understand," she began.

"Certainly. I'll do my best to answer them," Ignis replied.

"So this...wall. I thought you told me nothing could penetrate it?"

"Nothing can. That I am aware of at least."

"So then tell me why so many people are dying fighting monsters at this wall!"

Ignis drew his brows together a bit in a frown.

"I'm not sure I understand what you mean."

"Drautos and Cor were there giving military reports of all the soldiers, or whatever you guys call them here, dying and all the giant behemoths and various other monsters everyone is fighting! It's a complete blood bath out there from the way they made it sound!"

"I think they may be referring to a different wall. Not the magical barrier surrounding the city. Kingsglaives are out there fighting at a physical wall, yes. There are still other people in Lucis to protect. You yourself brought them up a few days ago. It also helps keep the strain down on the King the less that is attacking the wall. It already takes a lot out of him to simply erect and maintain it. Each hit it takes has a toll on him."

Y/N stood a few moments in silence thinking over what he had said. It made sense. If attacking the wall made it vulnerable, they should keep the attacks to a minimum. And it seemed they were trying to keep the fighting as far from the city as possible. That Crystal meant a hell of a lot more than she originally thought. What made it so incredibly important that people died for it?

"Did you have any more questions?" Ignis asked, snapping her back to his presence in the room.

"Why didn't I know how much Lucis and Niflheim hated each other?" she asked.

"I'm not sure what you mean," Ignis replied. "Is it not common knowledge that Niflheim hates most of the world? They are even enemies with Accordo, are they not?"

"Yes but...you guys really hate each other! I had no idea the conflict spanned back centuries! Does Regis honestly think a marriage to Luna is just going to fix that?"

"Well, to be honest the idea was Niflheim's. They were the ones who approached us about the peace treaty."

"Peace treaty?"

"Yes. After Noctis and Luna marry, a peace treaty is to be signed in the city. I think everyone is a bit on edge about it and I don't know all the details myself, but it's supposed to bring an end to the long never ending conflict."

"That's absurd! That's naive! You cannot tell me they suddenly had a change of heart for no reason!" Y/N screeched.

"Again, I do not know all of the details. Only King Regis, and I imagine the council know of what all it entails."

"I still think it seems...I don't know, fishy."

"Have they not approached Accordo with something similar?"

"Not that I'm aware of. And as I said, our conflict with them doesn't run as deep. I'm sure I would have heard something if they were talking with us. However..." Y/N trailed off a bit thinking back to another question she had. "Ignis...you wouldn't happen to know anything about troubles with Altissia would you?"

"What kind of troubles? I haven't heard of any military unrest in your former country. Did you hear something today?"

"Not necessarily. I mean...well, it was mentioned that um...no one can get ahold of anyone back home. Like, my mom isn't answering to your guys' communications. Do you...know anything about that?"

"I do remember it being mentioned that we were attempting to get ahold of Queen Rebecca but not having much luck."

"Do you know what it was about?"

"The kingdoms communicate often about various things. I'm not sure of one particular issue that is looking to be discussed. Then again, I'm not given access to all the information. Some things are kept even from me," Ignis replied.

"I see. You haven't um...heard anything about me...have you?" Y/N asked hesitantly. "I mean, anything about me in Altissia?"

"I'm terribly sorry to keep asking this, but I again am unsure of your exact meaning. Is there something you overheard particularly that you are asking about?"

Ignis was starting to catch on to the fact that when Y/N had a particular question, she worded it in a very vague way.

"Well I...I tried calling my mom this morning. Before the meeting."

This made Ignis raise his brows a bit. Last he heard, the two of them hadn't spoken since she boarded the boat to Lucis.

"Did you? It must have been nice to speak with her finally!" Ignis smiled.

"We didn't, um, talk, actually. She didn't answer," Y/N replied, looking down at the floor.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry to hear that," his smile faded.

"She didn't answer her cell phone. She didn't answer the phone in our living quarters. I couldn't even get ahold of her by calling the palace and asking for her directly. I was told she was busy. I have never been denied access to my parents. Even if they are in important meetings, I have always had priority. They acted like I was just someone off the street wishing to speak with the Queen! She even started to call me Princess and then corrected herself. It was all so bizarre! And then I find out no one can contact her? It's all so...weird. That's why I wondered if you had heard anything."

"Nothing that would give me pause or cause concern. As I mentioned, the only talk about Altissia lately is the lack of communication. Is this what has you so upset?" Ignis asked. It made sense to him that she would be very upset that her mother seemed to be snubbing her. And not only her, but the entire kingdom she now belonged to.

"No...no it's not actually," Y/N started, getting mad all over again. Ignis could see her nostrils start to flare and her movements getting more rigid and harsh as she crossed her arms again. "Did you know me and you are required to reproduce once we tie the knot?"

Ignis blanched a bit at her question. This was not at all what he thought she wanted to discuss, never mind this was the first he was hearing about it.

"Certainly we aren't required to do so. There may be rules or certain stipulations you have to agree upon if we were to do so but we don't have to-"

"Oh yes! Yes we do!" She yelled back at him.

Ignis was confused. He understood if they wrote up some clause about their offspring. Something assuring that the child would be of Lucian blood and having no claim to the Altissia throne. That all made sense to him. But a requirement?

"What would make you say that?" He asked her.

"The council said so! Apparently once Noctis has a kid, we have to do it too! I mean marriage is one thing, but this?!"

"Y/N, this doesn't even make sense to me. My apologies. Why exactly would we be required to have children? Not that I'm against the idea or do not wish to..." Ignis trailed off a bit at the odd look on her face. Perhaps now was not the time to mention his wishes to reproduce with her. "I mean, I'm just having trouble understanding why they would require it?"

"Apparently it was all written there in that stupid ass contract I signed! Did you not remember that part? I mean, I sure as hell don't, but I can't exactly say I was paying a whole lot of attention while he was reading it."

Ignis was trying to rack his brain for that part of the contract. He honestly wasn't paying a lot of attention, himself. He was more worried about Y/N and the look of utter defeat on her face as the King's voice drowned on in the background.

"I'm sorry to say I do not. I'm sure I could get a copy of it though. We can figure out-"

"That's not even the worst part!" Y/N interrupted.

"What else has you upset?" Ignis asked carefully.

"Lucis literally owns my baby! Even if I were to be given the throne back in Altissia, not only would you have to stay here as a sworn Crown member and forced to divorce me, but my child would have to stay behind until Noctis is a damn grandfather! They would seriously take my child from me! I wouldn't be allowed to see him!"

Ignis was choosing to ignore the small leap in his heart at her mentioning being upset that he would have to stay behind if she were to have to leave. Sometimes he felt like she detested him so much that she wished he would disappear. But that tiny little slip of her tongue gave him hope.

"There is no reason for them to keep him or her from you. Unless they were to be raised as a Crown member and advisor the way I was, there is no reason to keep them here," he tried to assure her. "I believe you may have misunderstood something."

"No! I was specifically told I have no rights to them! It has something to do with the King and the chosen replacement for the throne if he dies or whatever. Like right now, the person King Regis chose is-"

"STOP!" Ignis yelled, holding up his hands. "Forgive me for raising my voice, Princess. But no one is to know who that person is. Only the King himself and the Council." He supposed with her being on the council, she would now know. But he had to make sure she knew not to share that information. "You are not to discuss that information with anyone outside of that room. If you do, it could mean dire consequences."

"Yeah, but, don't you-"

"Please, Princess, I must insist you stop. If I were to be told that information I have a responsibility to inform the King of how I acquired that information and that I now know. I do not wish to put you in that position."

His stomach started to plummet a bit at why she was so insistent of telling him who it was. Couple that with her being told her child couldn't leave the country until other requirements were met, and he was starting to piece together a puzzle he really shouldn't be piecing together right now. He forced himself to stop thinking about what it all meant and if he really was correct in his assumptions about the King and Noct's chosen replacements.

Y/N stood there looking at Ignis a bit oddly. Did he really not even know that he was the one chosen by King Regis? Surely they would have told him! Or asked him. Or something. She wanted to question him further but feared it somehow biting her in the ass. But how was she supposed to talk to him about this if she couldn't even give him the crucial details?

"I believe that the circumstances you may be speaking about are one in a billion chances," Ignis began to try and explain. "To begin with, the chances of you acquiring the Throne of Accordo are one in a million themselves."

A flash of hurt crossed Y/N's face and Ignis momentarily regretted stating that fact. But he had no other way of trying to calm her fears of her child being taken from her.

"I understand," Y/N started. "It's the principal of it all though! To know that there's a chance I would have absolutely no rights to my own child that I myself birthed and raised. It's asinine."

"That is completely understandable. And I know it's probably not much council to you right now, but know that if it ever came to that, I would raise our child well and protect him or her at all costs. I would assure that they had as much contact with you as allowed and remind them daily of how much they mean to you."

Y/N looked at Ignis a moment with an unreadable look on her face. He was right; what he said meant little to her. But it also meant a lot if she let it. She didn't truly know Ignis well enough to take what he said to heart, but still clung to those words he just spoke to try and ease her pain. Pain of a very highly unlikely future, as he assured her earlier. She was mostly pissed that this kingdom that seemed so peaceful and gentle and kind was being anything but to her.

"That still doesn't take away from the fact that I am being forced to have se-…to have a child with you. That was never mentioned to me! No one ever bothered to ask me about that or even tell me! Not even my mother! Did she know about this?"

"If it was written in the contract as they stated, then yes she does. Unless she didn't read it, but I find that highly unlikely," Ignis quietly answered her. He was trying not to take offense to the fact she seemed so turned off by being intimate with him. He didn't think that was something they would talk about for a while to come yet. "And, if you are truly so upset about the two of us…being together in order to create a child, there are other methods of conception we could look into. Whatever you are comfortable with."

Y/N stared at him again. He was honestly willing to not touch her at all and go through the expense and process of IVF for her sake? She couldn't deny that she was thankful Ignis wasn't some asshole pig of a man, but she also sometimes hated when he made the stone around her heart crumble a little with his words or actions. If she wasn't careful, she might actually start caring for the man. Would it be so bad, though? Yes! She reminded herself that this whole situation was basically sex trafficking and sexual assault. Not only forcing a woman to be with a stranger but forcing her to lay with him as well? She had a feeling that when she did finally speak with her mother, it wasn't going to be a friendly conversation.

"I don't wish to speak of this anymore," Y/N stated, turning and walking over to her dresser to mindlessly straighten a few of the objects on it.

"Of course. I hope I was able to calm your fears and anger even a little bit. I'm sorry if I wasn't much help. But all of this is news to me as well."

She wondered how Ignis felt about forced fatherhood. Was his head spinning as much as hers was? She knew she would always have to birth an heir, but Ignis was never required to do such a thing. Well, she learned this morning that it seems he was going to be forced to at some point. But when were they going to tell him? She grew up being taught her whole life that her child would be a future king or queen. He had no idea he himself could one day be King.

"I'm not sure if now is the best time to discuss wedding plans, but I can give you Luna's number so the both of you can maybe get together and shop. I'm not sure if you got my text last night, but she mentioned she was willing to go with you dress shopping if you wished."

"Yeah, I got your text," Y/N quietly responded. "That would be fine. Thank you."

Ignis sent her Luna's cell number and stood a bit awkwardly not sure if he should take his leave. Before he had a chance to ask her if she wished for him to go, she spoke up.

"So, um…I'm supposed to train with Gladio in a couple days. Any idea what that's gonna be like?" she asked, smiling a bit to try and make light of the situation even though she was freaking out about it.

Not only was she about to get sweaty and wrestle around with the Citadel's hottest body building hunk, but she was also slightly nervous about making a fool of herself. She had never taken a single self-defense or fighting class in her life.

"Gladio is a great training partner," Ignis smiled at her. "We train together often. He isn't one for slacking off, however. Ask Noctis about that one. He'll only push you ten times harder. I'm sure you will be just fine."

A few days later, Y/N founder herself being escorted to the Training Hall. She didn't even have any work-out clothes with her. She ended up putting on a pair of shorts and tank top she had as a sleep set. It was one of her more plain ones without all the lace and bows on it. She thought it looked good enough to pass as a matching work-out outfit.

As she walked into the room, she looked around and noticed a few other people in there as well. A couple people were off by themselves doing basic work out moves. Jumping jacks, push-ups, that sort of thing. A few other people were sparing together and wrestling on the thick mats covering the entire floor. She noticed Gladio speaking to a tall man over in one of the corners and made her way over to him. Bernard was right behind her. She wasn't sure she wanted him to come and see her make a fool of herself, but he insisted. If she was about to have a man throwing punches at her and flipping her around, he wanted to be there to make sure she was okay. She kind of felt bad that she mostly stayed in her room causing him to also be holed up in his room as well. She let him come if only to let him have some fresh air for once. The closer she got to the two men, she suddenly realized who the tall guy was he was talking to and her eyes widened.

"Ah, Princess! Good morning! I'm glad you made it alright," Ignis greeted her. His hair was down and not slicked up into its usual style. He wasn't wearing a suit or button up shirt and slacks, but rather a white tank top and black sweat pants. She had never seen or even imagined him looking so…dressed down. She had to admit though, he looked good with his hair down. It seemed to take her a moment to realize she was staring and answer him.

"Oh, um, good morning. Thank you," she nodded at him. Then her eyes turned to Gladio. He was shirtless and sweaty. The grey sweats he wore left very little to the imagination. This guy was big all over! She felt a blush creep up on her cheeks and turned to Bernard to hide it.

"Bernie, do you mind sitting on one of the benches," she told him, as a way to dismiss him. He didn't take offense, however, and simply bowed and walked over to one of the many benches lined up against the wall not too far away.

"I was just getting a bit of a workout in, myself. Gladio and I train often. I'll leave the both of you to it then and continue on my own." Ignis nodded his head slightly at the two of them and walked over to a free spot on the mat. He was carrying a long pole arm with him that he started practicing with. Y/N was jostled out of her staring when she heard a deep voice beside her.

"Are you wearing fucking pajamas?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow at her.

Y/N turned to glare at him and look down at what she was wearing.

"This is all I have! I wasn't told to wear anything specific!" she barked back.

"So you just showed up in what you slept in?" he asked her.

"No! I changed into this! It's shorts and a tank top! Is that so terrible?"

"It's pajamas! Get yourself to the store and get some workout clothes."

"I'll be sure and be better prepared next time!" she glared at him. She turned her eyes back to Ignis to look away from him.

"We gonna stand here and oogle your boyfriend all morning, or get to work?"

Y/N turned her hatful stare back to Gladio. What was this guy's deal? Was he honestly always this much of an ass?

"I'm not oogling anyone! I'm waiting on you to stop talking about my clothes and get started! If anyone is oogling, it's you!" she pointed at him.

"Trust me, your booty shorts and flimsy top ain't doing much for me. Get you some nice leggings and a sports bra, and maybe we'll talk."

"Urgh!" she scoffed. "Pig!"

"So," Gladio started, ignoring her insult. He was hardly effected by her. "You ever done any of this before?"

"No, of course not! We have trained guards for this kind of thing! How am I expected to learn to fight in a dress I wear every day?"

"Looks like you're about to learn how. Show me what you got," Gladio stated before he kicked her lightly in the stomach causing her to double over.

"Ooof!" she coughed out, crossing her arms over her midsection. As she bent down, Gladio grabbed and ripped one of her arms toward himself and turned, tossing her over his shoulder and down onto her back on the mat. "AHH!"

"GLADIOLOUS!" a shout was heard from a little ways off.

"PRINCESS!" she heard Bernard yell as he came running over to her.

As she lay coughing on the mat, tears starting to prick her eyes at the pain in her back. The faces of Bernard and Ignis suddenly appeared over her. Ignis' eyes were the largest she's ever seen them as he raked them over her body looking for injuries.

"Are you alright, Y/N?" he frantically asked her. "Gladio, what is wrong with you?" he scolded his friend.

"Oh come on! That's like the first move we all learned! I barely tossed her!" Gladio argued.

"She has never trained before! She doesn't even know the proper way to fall! You expect her to be able to fend you off?" he asked, helping Y/N to sit up. "Are you hurt?"

"She's fucking fine!" Gladio grumbled.

"Ahh!" Y/N cried out, reaching back and rubbing at her spine. She squeezed her eyes shut, making the water that had accumulated in them roll down her cheeks.

"Oh she is not crying!" Gladio rolled his eyes.

"Gladiolus, I told you she has never done this before!" Ignis growled. "You don't slam her to the ground right off the bat!"

"I wanted to test her! I warned her to show me what she got! She just stood there!"

"I didn't think you would kick me in the stomach and flip me over your shoulder, you monster!" Y/N screamed at him.

"Kicked her in th-?…GLADIO!" Ignis once again yelled at the larger man. He couldn't believe Gladio actually kicked her.

"Oh I barely knocked the wind from her is all! I bet there isn't even a red mark on her stomach! You think anyone else is gonna daintily grab her by the wrist and pull her down the street? No, they are gonna knock her unconscious and drag her away. I'm doing what I was told to do- teaching her how to fight and defend herself against real enemies!"

"She isn't a male! She doesn't have the same strength as us-"

"Exactly!" Gladio interrupted. "All the more reason to be harder on her and push her more!"

"You are to teach her the very basics of self-defense! Pulling her arm free, poking a man's eyes, kicking him in the genitals! Not full on combat!"

"Yeah, I'm sure Cor will be content with her sneezing in men's faces as a way to get away from danger! Give me a fucking break Ignis!"

"I'm fucking out of here. You people are barbarians!" she yelled in frustration as Bernard helped her to her feet. Ignis attempted to aid her but she pulled her arm free and glared at him. "Don't touch me!"

Ignis pulled his hands back to himself and looked at her surprised. Was she angry at him for this? He would have never allowed Gladio to do such a thing. Surely she didn't think he knew this would happen.

"Do you need help ge-"

"I don't need anything from you!" she yelled, interrupting him. She leaned into Bernard as he helped escort her from the hall and back to her room.

"Pffft," Gladio snorted behind him. "Shows up in fucking pajamas and starts crying two minutes into it. Nice."

Ignis turned and glared at his friend, truly angry.

"Gladiolus, I don't know what is wrong with you but that was highly uncalled for. You pushed her too hard too fast and you know it! You never would have done that to someone else!"

"Seriously? Have you seen me train people? You know just as much as anyone I don't hold back."

"If that were Luna, would you have thrown her to the ground?" he asked.

Gladio hesitated a moment, narrowing his eyes at Ignis.

"That's different-"

"HOW?" Ignis demanded.

"Oh come on! First off all, Luna knows how to defend herself. Second, throwing our friend and Noct's future wife to the ground isn't-"

"But throwing my fiancé to the ground is okay?"

"You say that like you're actually in love with her and we've known her for years."

"Stop assuming she is just some task for me to complete! Some order I was given! How many times do I have to tell you all I like her-"

"Enough times that maybe you'll believe it too!" Gladio raised his voice a bit. "Come on Iggy! We all see how she treats you. She's already known around here as a bitch, and don't even get mad at me for saying that!" Gladio said, seeing his friend about to scold him for using the term he seemed to hate. "Everyone else's word, not mine!"

"We were making progress! She called me the other day! All on her own! She wanted my help! She came to ME! Last night she sent me wedding colors! I am working so hard to get her to trust me and you just keep undoing all my hard work all the time!"

"Love shouldn't be hard work! It should be easy!"

"Love is the hardest work of all!" Ignis shouted, causing a few others to look over his way. "Nothing about love is easy! You work at it every day, and you would know that if you actually took the time to care for one of your bed friends! Don't try and school me on love when you seem so damn incapable of it yourself!"

"Fucking hell, Iggy!" Gladio whispered out. He never seen his friend get quite this worked up over something. Not since…Noct's accident. When Ignis was so scared for his friend's life. It then clicked to Gladio- Ignis was scared. "Why are you so scared?"

"What?" Ignis asked, confused by the sudden change in Gladio's demeanor.

"What are you so scared about when it comes to her?"

Ignis stared at his friend. He was about to deny it, still angry and wanting to yell at his friend for hurting Y/N. But Gladio's sudden change made him think maybe he had a chance to get through to him.

"I'm afraid I'm not enough."

That single statement almost broke Gladio's heart. Ignis worked his ass off since he was a child to constantly please everyone. To always do the best, be the best. Impress everyone he met. Live up to impossible standards set for him. To think that he thought he wasn't good enough when all his friends, and the King himself, thought so highly of him… It damn near gutted Gladio.

"Does she tell you you're not enough?" Gladio asked.

"No, she-"

"Does she make you feel like you're not enough?"

"No-…not intentionally."

"So she does."

"I said not intentionally. Neither of us expected any of this. And if we're being honest, she got dealt the crappiest hand of the two of us. I'm used to being told how to live my life. She isn't. Our relationship is going to take more work than average relationships. And I'm willing to put in that work. And every time I get us to a place where I see it all paying off…like I'm finally reaching her…," Ignis paused a moment and looked up at his friend. "something or someone comes along and shoves us back to the starting line."

"Look, Iggy, I-"

"I'm done training for the day. I'm going to shower and head up to my office."

Ignis walked over to his pole arm on the ground where he threw it earlier and started walking out the Training Hall door. Gladio watched him leave and felt a pang of guilt in his chest. He wanted nothing more than for Ignis to just end this bullshit. He knew his friend was too stubborn and would see it through to the end, even if it ended in disaster. He's try and hold back a bit on the insults…but he wasn't done pushing Y/N. If the two of them were going to get married, he'd make sure she treated his friend right. Even if it meant making her really angry first.

A/N:

Did anyone honestly think Gladio and the Princess would get along? Haha I can't help but make those two just go after each other. And it ain't ending any time soon! Coming soon, her interactions with the other boys. You can probably guess who she's gonna get along with the best lol Fear not, the angst will settle again a little bit when our little ray of sunshine appears.

Sorry this is once again being posted late. The WiFi at the beach house I was at sucked and wasn't working half the time. But I honestly was barely there to even use it. All the time I thought I would use writing was used relaxing and meditating and enjoying myself and my kid on our much needed vacation. But I just got back in and I'm posting as promised. Every so often I get a little discouraged lately with this story and brought down a little, but then all it takes is one of you brightening my day with your comments, kudos, and follows. Thank you so much to those supporting me. It really brings me back up when I get kicked down.