Chapter Text
For the longest time, Byleth had preferred to avoid celebrations. It was something that could be chalked up to her magically-induced stoic nature; when she was young, sitting in a chair and watching while people laughed, sang, and danced together while unable to join in, she would sink into a sea of bewilderment and a sense of longing that only now did she fully understand. The first time she had truly enjoyed herself – as slight as that had been, compared to now – was the one Claude and her students had sprung on her after winning the mock battle.
It had bewildered her then, but now it made sense. Of course her emotions would be tied up in the people who literally made her human. One in particular...
The second time had been the ball. She remembered so vividly standing awkwardly to the side, watching the students mingle, repeatedly debating and discarding the notion of approaching someone – anyone – and asking to dance, to join in. Claude had taken the choice out of her hands, walking over and sweeping her away with that ironclad, playful confidence that drew her attention to him in the first place. No matter how many times she stepped on his feet or stumbled over them, he smiled through it, teasing her until she suddenly found herself smiling and laughing.
When had she fallen in love with him? Was it then? Was it in the goddess tower? Was it when he comforted her after her father died? Or was it later, when he saved her during Edelgard's assault on the monastery? When she saw him again after waking up?
She couldn't point to any one moment and say, 'that was it'. Because Claude was inexorably tied to the first time she truly felt joy, and all the moments afterwards, her memories fogged up a bit, leaving her with the strange impression that she had been in love with him since the very moment they met. Likely inaccurate, given the emotionless state she had been in then, but the mind has ways of playing little tricks on you. She had lived a life before him, though now she wondered sometimes how that was even possible.
It was as if he broke the chains sealing what served as her heart one at a time, tempering her quasi-divinity with his humanity.
Perhaps it isn't fair to assign him sole credit, Byleth thought as she watched Lysithea spin in coy circles around Linhardt, so close to where Raphael lifted Marianne up in the air while the formerly shy girl laughed aloud with joy. Ignatz trotted over to where Flayn was dancing with Sylvain, visibly drumming up his courage before cutting in and holding out his hand to the old yet young dragon girl to her utter delight. Sylvain looked so pleased, pointing encouragingly at the young painter before sauntering over to where Dorothea was belting out a gorgeous show tune, watching her with pure admiration. As he did so, Byleth's eye was drawn to Manuela, who casually knocked back her fourth tankard (still stone-cold sober, somehow) and grabbed Seteth by the hand, yanking him away from a visibly amused Catherine, Hilda and Ashe and onto the dance floor. Leonie had stopped dancing for a drink, though given how she kept cracking up at whatever Lorenz was saying to her, she might have trouble keeping it down. Cyril was playing the flute, not far from where Bernadetta and Felix were leaving the floor, clearly planning to call it a night. Given that Bernie had actually initiated a dance with the stoic swordsman – and one of the more risque Almyran ones at that – Byleth wasn't surprised that was about all the girl could manage for the evening. I can think of a moment where each and every one of them brought out feelings in me for the first time...I can think of a moment where they gave me strength.
Byleth leaned back against the pillar, exhaling slowly. Her mind fled away from the war, the truth about her origins, the reconstruction and the damning new title that loomed over her like a spectre; to happy times, simple moments, one after another, when she realized that she had a family.
When Raphael revealed that he could strategize quite well now, and happily thanked her for being patient with him. When Claude confessed his dream to her and said he couldn't achieve it without her. When Marianne gave up her thoughts of self harm and thanked her for being so supportive. When Lysithea revealed her painful past and said that being her student had given her hope. When Claude called her 'my friend' instead of 'Teach', overjoyed at her returned and not even slightly resentful of her absence. When Ignatz decided to continue being a painter and chase his own path in life with her encouragement. When Cyril called her his big sister and said she made him brave...
Flayn leaned into Ignatz's chest, visibly suppressing a squeal of delight as Seteth found his footing in the dance, one arm sliding around Manuela's waist. Marianne wrapped her arms around Raphael's neck, standing on the tips of her toes to kiss him. Linhardt bent down and swept Lysithea off her feat (her high pitched squeak of surprise was audible even from where Byleth was standing!), carrying her off the floor towards the concession tables. Catherine laughed at something Ashe said and ruffled his hair. Hilda then came up behind the young archer, seizing him in a hug, and then dragging him off to dance.
Byleth smiled as she watched, a warm feeling of contentment settling in her stomach.
When Seteth called her family and stepped into the void that Jeralt's murder had caused in her. When Leonie had thanked her for everything and swore to protect her in her father's place. When Hilda commented on her changed priorities and teased her over being so motherly. When Lorenz dropped his classist views and thanked her for not giving up on him. When Bernadetta said she'd like to travel the world with her, Felix gaining a new purpose beyond chasing his brother's ghost, Sylvain coming to terms with his crest, Flayn looking to the future with hope, Dorothea choosing to seek a marriage that would result in more than just material comfort, Ashe becoming certain of his place in the world, Claude told her...he couldn't do this without her...
Her cheeks flushed lightly. It seemed that, now, without a war, without her job as his professor, her brain was determined to make her deal with something she'd been pushing aside.
She was almost tempted to give in to the group of church officials who'd been trying to bend her ear for large parts of the celebration to escape that thought process. Almost. Damn Rhea for once again dropping something like this on her shoulders with no warning (well perhaps not no warning...) without asking if she wanted it!
Her, a mercenary by trade, the Archbishop? Even having access to Sothis's divine knowledge didn't make that an easy prospect! It was terrifying enough caring for the lives of a handful of precious people...to care for all of Fodlan...heaven help her. When the first priest had approached her, she'd begged food poisoning and bolted for the courtyard. It was only thanks to Catherine, ever loyal, reliable and supportive, that she didn't have a total panic attack.
Even now, she had a bit of a cold sweat contemplating the task laid before her.
Reconstructing Fodlan – the task was monumental. She still had to take back Faerghus from Cornelia and the remaining imperial loyalists...if the woman had been replaced by one of Thales's people as Claude suspected, she'd likely have to deal with their remaining weapondry as well. That would make for a difficult battle, especially if the citizens were used to make demonic beasts in tandem with those metal constructs. Hopefully the citizens could hold out a little longer, though the food shortages meant she would have to march north sooner rather than later if she wanted there to be anyone left to save. It was her biggest task, ahead of trying to restructure the Empire with Edelgard dead...
...She needed to bring Dimitri's bones back home. Lay him beside his family, and pray that Sothis was taking care of them now. She needed to locate Felix's father – hopefully he was still alive – because if anyone could help bring Faerghus into a stable state, it was him. He would know the land and its people much better than her...and hopefully he would consent to take the throne.
Or hand it over to Claude.
The thought made Byleth smile, and warded off the headache associated with these plans. Claude had such a big heart, was so brilliant, that she could not imagine Fodland having a better king.
What remained of the Empire was bound to be a problem as well. For all of Edelgard's poor decisions, she had been a deeply charismatic ruler. Byleth had seen the like of her before, albeit in much weaker people, and she knew that many of her people would cling to the idea that she was a righteous ruler brought down by base trickery.
A rock settled hard in the pit of her stomach, and she groaned. Goddess (she could almost see Sothis making a face at her) she needed to talk to Claude about this before her head exploded. He always knew what to say to reassure her.
He knew her as well as she knew herself.
A quick look around, however, showed that Claude had slipped off without her noticing. Odd. He was enjoying himself immensely. They had lead the first three dances, one of which was Almyran. She'd felt rather than seen Nader and Judith smirking knowingly at them from the sidelines as he spun her around, catching her whenever she tripped up. He'd laughed and smiled in that way that lit up his eyes; that truly joyful smile that had twisted her whole being into knots long before she understood what that feeling meant.
Unhitching herself from the pillar she'd been leaning against, she placed her empty wine glass on a nearby table and slipped out of the great hall. She had a fairly good idea of where to look for him.
The late evening breeze was cool on her skin as she made her way to the goddess tower, quietly admiring the golden red rays of the setting sun coloring the monastery grounds. One of the old cats padded over and rubbed against her legs; she giggled and bent to pet it before continuing on her way. It was amazing how many of the animals here stayed, and recognized her after all these years.
She took the stairs in the Goddess Tower two at a time, stumbling slightly as she entered the warm golden chamber she'd wandered to so long ago. Sure enough...there he was.
“Hey there, Teach.” He said playfully, turning to face her; he'd heard her footsteps echoing off the stones. “Running away from the festivities again?”
“Nope.” She smiled at the surprised look on his face. “This time I'm running away from the officials. It's very different.”
Claude barked out a laugh as she approached. Her pulse sang at the beautiful sound; did it show on her face? “No kidding! They've been pestering me as well; really, they couldn't wait until tomorrow?” He shrugged. “Ah, I suppose it's not strange that they're all so cagey. With the war won, everything is changing. The status quo is in pieces. And who knows what the new archbishop has in store for the people now?”
“Don't even joke about that,” Byleth half pleaded, half groaned, raking both hands through her hair. “I barely know where to start. Half of me wants to kill Rhea; the other half wants to run away to Almyra. Or Brigid.” Her hands slid over her face, tugging on the strands of shimmering emerald green hair that some days seemed equal parts a blessing and a curse. “Ah, how can the end of the fighting only be the start? I wasn't trained for this!”
“That's true...but you've got a good head for it.” She peaked at him from between her fingers, giving him a most incredulous look. He had the nerve to smile in response. “What? I'm serious! Having you at that round table conference was a blessing.”
“You did most of the work.” That conference had been a eye-opening experience. She remembered being so frequently exasperated by Claude's scheming ways during her time teaching him; the conference had proven without a shadow of a doubt that it was a necessary skill of his, not just a hobby. Just the first day had left her head spinning.
“And you mediated the egos in the room so expertly that what usually took me a month took twelve days.”
That got her to drop her hands in surprise. “Really?”
Claude crossed his arms, a distinctly catlike edge to his smile. “Oh yes. If you think Lorenz can be argumentative, he's got nothing on his father; and the rest of them aren't much better. I was ready to be trapped in that building for ages, and you came to my rescue once again! You kept everyone on topic, always cut straight to the heart of the matter, and whenever someone gave you trouble you just glared them into submission.” His eyes danced at the memory. “It's a thing of beauty, that visible exertion of your iron will. Particularly when you use it someone other than me.”
“Is that right...” Byleth tried to think back. She didn't recall the nobles being particularly receptive to her honestly-somewhat-panicky attempts to keep the narrative on track and get what they needed to win the next engagement. Lorenz's father in particular was very mulish, attacking every point they raised. Had she really made that big a difference? “I hadn't realized...”
Claude laughed again, though there was something gentle in it. “You know...you said the same thing after your second month teaching at the monastery. Manuela was singing your praises all while you stood there, looking baffled.”
Byleth looked wonderingly at him. You remember that? She knew what he was referring to, and that feeling of bafflement had lingered for some time afterwards.
“I know you're nervous, but don't be. You'll be fine.” Claude's expression suddenly became serious. “...No, you'll be amazing. You're good with people, Teach. You can read their hearts in a way even Edelgard and I couldn't compare to.”
Her face was burning. The faith he had in her never failed to make her light headed, how he believed in her as if she was Sothis herself. She fought so hard to be worthy of that, wanted him to always look at her that way. “That's not true. I wouldn't be half the person I am if I hadn't met you.”
Was it wishful thinking, or did his eyes light up at that? Her blood was roiling; she pressed a hand against her stomach, close to the pocket where she kept her mother's ring. The words again pressed at the tip of her tongue, but she just couldn't open her mouth. Fear kept her throat locked.
“Is that right?” Something in his voice was different. Before Byleth could try to interpret it, he went on, “The coordination is just the first step; and don't forget, you're never alone. Seteth, Catherine, Manuela, they'll all be there to give you advice on a day to day basics. And that's not counting the rest of the Deer! Responsibilities aside, you'll always be Teach. You can count on our support, always.”
She let out a shaky breath. “Ah...I guess...it would be poor form to leave the job half finished. Or to murder my predecessor for dropping it on me.” They both laughed. She sobered first and tugged at her hair, feeling shy despite the ease of her burdens. “Thank you so much, Claude. Let's hope Hilda doesn't force us to wear anything too ridiculous for the ceremony.”
Claude's smile dropped at that. He let out a sigh and said, “Ah...about that. I won't be there. I'm sorry.”
“You're what?” Her stomach lurched.
“I'm going back to my homeland.” He said the words simply, gently, yet they caused the world to drop out from under her feet. She stared open mouthed at him. “Either tomorrow or the day after. My Fodlan blood...I've made as much use of it as I could. Now it's time for me to do the same at home.”
“T-That's...w-what?” Something hard formed in her throat; she swallowed over it, and doing so hurt. “You're...just leaving?” He wasn't home here? He didn't...didn't want to stay?
He nodded. “To make lasting change, I have to go back. I have some connections to the throne, insignficant they might be.” That was a fine way to describe being the bloody prince, some tiny part of her brain not paralyzed with shock remarked. “It's time for me to struggle all over and see what kind of good I can do. The problems between our nations aren't exclusive to Fodlan's side of the border, after all.” Our nations. Mine and his. He doesn't consider...d-doesn't... “As for Fodlan...well, I leave it your capable hands. All the people who were afraid, clung to nothing but their goddess...they'll rely on you the same way they relied on Rhea. And I...I want a ruler who will lay down a new set of values for the people, ones that won't exclude anyone for being different.” He wants me to lead the land without the man I saved it for? “I know it's a lot to ask. But you're the only one who can do it.”
But you can't-please, you can't-
The words nearly came out; she choked on them, squeezing her eyes shut. She scrabbled for the old stoicism, the coolness that absorbed all feeling and suppressed it.
Stupid. Stupid of her to forget. Hadn't he told her? His dream went beyond just Fodlan; it covered all the land they knew. He couldn't change things for the better stuck in wherever the new capital would be, dealing with day to day troubles. Claude had always been larger than life; a whirlwind that picked you up and threw you somewhere new, changed everything in your life until it was totally unrecognizable. But the wind never stayed in one place. It traveled all over the world, only surrounding you for a precious moment...
Please stay with me-
This was his dream. She knew better than anyone – perhaps even his parents – how precious this was to him. She couldn't ask him to abandon it, leave behind the cause he'd devoted his life to, just so she could be...
“Teach?” Claude's worried voice sounded somewhere nearby. Her eyes were still shut tight, burning at the corners. “Hey, are you...crying?” Warm leather brushed against her face. Instinctively her hand snapped up and grabbed his wrist, arresting him mid-motion. Swallowing very hard against the rock in her throat, Byleth forcibly took a deep breath. “What's wrong? ...Byleth? I-”
“I see,” She interrupted, a little equilibrium coming to her as the decision she came to settled in her mind. I love you. He would win Almyra over. He had won her, after all, literally taught her how to be human. He could conquer anything. I love you. Perhaps she could find reasons to visit the country sometimes. It shouldn't be that hard, with them being neighbors trying to build a better relationship. I love you... That was the old saying, wasn't it? To love someone, to truly love them, you had to be willing to let them go? “I understand.” She blinked a few times, her vision a bit blurry. “Almyra will be lucky to have you. I will prepare everyone here for the changing times. It can't be any harder than storming Shamballa.”
Claude's face came back into focus slowly. His green eyes were wide with worry. “That would be more convincing if you didn't look like you had a knife in your ribs,” He said with a bit of heat. “Byleth-”
“I won't fail.” Byleth repeated, managing to inject a note of confident force into her voice. It was hard, with him saying her name. Hesitantly, she reached into her coat and drew the drawstring bag out. “But...before you go...I have something for you.”
The ring dropped into her palm, glittering beautifully in the sunset. The chain was still there, from when she had been wearing it around her neck while she mourned her father all those years ago. Stowing the bag, she worked the clasp open and slid it around his neck. He stood stock still, for once in his life at a loss for what to do, as she hitched it and then took a step backward. “I want you to have this,” she spoke around the rock. “I hope it makes you think of me.”
Claude took it in his hand, staring at it for a moment. “This is your mother's.” He whispered. “It's – it's her wedding ring, isn't it?”
Of course he wouldn't make this easy. She nodded tightly. “Yes. My father said...” She hesitated, then forged on, “...that it was mine to give to another. It's my token for you. My gratitude. For – for everything you've given me.”
She took a step back. Manuela have better had left some wine for me. “Good luck, my prince. I...I wish you the best of fortune.” Turning on one heel, she made to head for the stairs. I can make it back to my old room before I start crying.
His hand lashed out and grabbed her. “Byleth, wait!”
“Please let go.” She hated how strained her plea was, how very nearly pathetic she sounded.
He shook his head, spinning her around so he was facing her again. “No way.” His eyes blazed with a familiar intensity. “Not like this. What are you not saying, my friend? What's hurting you so much? I've only seen you like this a few times, and I do not like being responsible for you wearing that expression. What's wrong?”
“I nearly said something very selfish,” She responded tightly. She tried to twist out of his grip, but somehow in spite of her incredible goddess-given strength, he held her firm. “I'm sorry about that.”
“And what was that?” Something in his expression gave her a sinking feeling that he, at least, suspected. “I've been with you too long, and seen you go through too much, to begrudge you anything my friend. Please, let me make this right.”
“What I wish for, I cannot force you to give.” The rock was getting heavier. Oh Sothis, why couldn't he just let go? “Especially if it would keep you from the dream you hold so precious. That is all.”
“Keep me from...? Oh, Byleth...”
Something in the way he said it – that tender, aghast tone – tore something inside her. “I don't want you to leave,” She said in a strangled whisper. “Can't you see? Every time you made me feel something, I fell a little bit further, until suddenly my whole world was you and I don't want to do this without you.” She clamped a hand over her mouth. “Ah! How can such a smart man not know how much I lo-” She choked the word down. She felt rather than heard him suck in a sharp breath. “I'm sorry.”
There was a single, agonizingly long moment's pause.
Then both his hands cradled her cheeks. “No, I'm sorry.” Claude responded softly. “Because clearly, I should have started with this.”
Her confusion was smothered by his lips pressing against hers.
Shock didn't even begin to describe how she felt. Claude was kissing her – he was kissing her, holding her, running his fingers through her hair. Grief suddenly replaced with a wild, raging hope, she all but collapsed against his muscular chest, leaning into his touch like a drowning woman clinging to salvation. Her hand slid over his chest, where it could feel his heart racing.
They stayed like that for a long moment before parting. Claude smiled guiltily at her, his fingers brushing away her remaining tears. “Gods, that was amazing,” He said with a painful sincerity. “After so long...”
Byleth let out a shaky laugh, dizzy from the radical shift in emotion. “Y-You...you are such a...argh, Claude! How long have I not noticed?”
“Years,” He responded in a blithe way undercut by the loving glow of his eyes.
She sputtered and flailed for a moment before smacking the flat of her palm against his chest. “That's – you didn't say anything! How was I supposed to...I just assumed you were...I don't know how to notice these things!”
Claude pulled her into a tight hug. “I'm sorry.” He said it again and again as she buried her face in the crook of his neck, clinging to him until her dazed laughter subsided. Then he shook his head in amazement. “Man...I didn't think you'd beat me to it! Usually we understand each other so closely we don't even need to speak. It's my fault for just assuming you always knew.”
She tilted her head up at him, eyes shimmering. “What are you saying?” She parroted back at him. Claude smiled, eyes suspiciously bright; one hand left her shoulders and dug into his coat pocket.
Byleth very nearly started crying again when he took her hand and slid an emerald studded silver ring over her finger. “When I first met you,” Claude murmured into her ear, “I wanted to use your powers to my advantage. I wanted...to use you to make my dream of a united Fodlan a reality.” The guilt in his voice was a tangible thing. “But before long I realized that what I wanted – what I needed – was to see that world with you at my side. Remember the first time we danced?”
She smiled up at him. “That was when...?”
He kissed the top of her head. “I thought it would be fun, because you looked so nervous. When you go into it...when you started smiling and laughing...gods, I wanted to kiss you. I had never wanted anything so much.”
Byleth stood on her toes and caught his lips in hers again. She felt a burning fiery heat where her heart might have been. All that time and he... In hindsight, she only felt a little stupid, though she swore she could hear Sothis laughing at her obliviousness.
“I still feel that way, you know. I always will.” He gently broke away from her, stroking her cheek. “I'm not leaving forever. Nothing will stop me from coming back – there's no way I'd let you go. I just have to finish what I started, then I'm coming back to you.” He squeezed her hand. “To my wife.”
My wife. Byleth closed her eyes, letting the words rush over her. There was a title she wanted, craved more than anything else. “I love you,” She whispered into his neck, tightening her grip on him. “Do you know you're the light of my life? So much of my happiness comes from you...you saved me in every way possible.” Without him, she would just be the Ashen Demon, wandering from one battle to the next, destroying many things but building nothing. Lonely and lost, little more than a walking corpse. “I'm the one who got lucky...I love you, Claude von Reigan.”
Claude let out a shaky breath, somewhere between a laugh and a sob. “I don't want to leave you, even just for a little while,” He confessed, brushing her hair aside. “I wish you could come with me. I want to show you the city I lived in as a child, take you to the Sky Festival, marry you under the bleeding sky. I still plan to – you're not getting out of that,” she laughed, bright and warm, and he had to resist the urge to melt. “...but it has to wait. Fodlan needs you more than anything right now.”
He kissed her temple once, twice, trailing down towards her lips. “I love you,” he murmured. It sounded like a prayer. “With everything I am. When I come back...we'll be able to look out at our world together. A peaceful, happy world.”
Byleth tilted her head up to kiss him again, raising one hand from his shoulders to tangle her fingers in his hair. “I'll wait for you...” She promised between breaths. “I'll wait for you as long as it takes...my king...my Claude...”
How long they stayed there, Byleth wasn't sure...it was only when she was resting her head on his shoulder that she noticed the low light in the tower. The sun was setting...likely the celebration would wind down in a little while as everyone got some well-deserved rest. A thought crawled into her head, brought there by her burning blood, and she smiled, disentangling herself from Claude's embrace before taking his hand and tugging him towards the stairwell.
“Where are we headed in such a hurry?” Claude asked, a teasing note back in his voice. “I suppose Seteth could hold a private ceremony for us, assuming he's willing to stop scowling disapprovingly at me...but I wouldn't bet on it.”
Byleth rolled his eyes in amusement all while inwardly chastising herself for not noticing something Seteth figured out. Considering how deliberately dense he'd been over Flayn's obviously growing feelings for Ignatz... “We're retreating to my quarters, obviously.” She replied, striding down the stars with purpose and pulling him along in her wake.
“Oh, is that right? Whatever for?”
She smirked at him over her shoulder and replied without skipping a beat, “So I can bring you to bed and make love to you until the sun rises.” Claude's face turned a brilliant shade of red, green eyes widening; whatever he'd meant to tease her with reduced to incoherent stuttering. “I do not know when I will next get the chance to hold you, and tomorrow you must go and I must begin to reform hundreds of years of lies and misguided rules. I want to have this moment that is purely mine and yours.”
She stopped at the foot of the stairs and turned, letting him scramble to a stop an inch from her. She kissed him once more and finished, her own face burning a bit, “If you want me, that is.”
She must have truly surprised him, because the smile he gave her in reply was flustered and shy rather than the poised, coy grins she was used to. “If I want you? You have no idea how long I've-” He stalled at that, face somehow turning even redder. “Um, that is...well. How much trouble am I in if I finish that sentence?”
Byleth settled for smiling innocently. “I'd have to think about it.” She tugged pointedly on his arm, walking toward the lower dormitory she still called her room. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a clearly tipsy Hilda leaning on Ashe as they left the ballroom. Yet despite her state, the pink haired heiress spotted them, grinned massively and pumped her fist. Then she tapped Ashe hard on the shoulder and pointed at them.
The fact that Ashe smiled brightly before handing over several gold coins told Byleth two things – one, there was absolutely a betting pool, and two, Hilda had just volunteered to be the ambassador to northern Faergheus and Duscar.
“Don't say anything,” She said to Claude. “I want her to feel smug right up until I spring my revenge.”
“I've been such a good influence on you,” her prince sighed contently.
They didn't run into anyone else down the steps and into the small, comfortable room Byleth called home. Locking the door behind them, Byleth let her cloak slide to the floor as she crossed over to where she kept her lamp, lighting the candle and placing by the bedside. She felt Claude's fingers skate up her back along her spine; a small, involuntary sigh escaped her lips. “You're so beautiful,” He murmured.
Nerves bubbled beneath the burning need in her stomach. “No one's ever said that to me before.” She whispered. “People were frightened of me, when they paid me any mind at all.”
Claude traced a path down her bare arm to her wrist, tugging her toward him and turning her into his chest. “You're beautiful,” He whispered, repeating the words again and again as she undid his shirt and slid it off. A sly smile crossed his features; before she could guess what he was thinking, he hooked his ankle around her leg and unbalanced her with a single quick move; she fell back on the bed with a startled shriek and halfheartedly glared up at him. “Sorry. Couldn't resist.” There were some scars marring his golden brown skin; the longest one, inflicted by the Death Knight, ran across his lower stomach. Byleth's stomach twisted at the sight of it; he'd saved her from a fatal counterattack and couldn't quite move out of the way in time. He could have died if not for Marianne.
“Hey.” His knees dipped the mattress on either side of her, one hand snaking under her chin and raising it. “Don't look so grave.” His green eyes bore into her. “That was nothing.”
“Claude...” Of course he'd say that. What was worse was that he was echoing something she'd said herself; in distracting one of the Empire's Demonic Beasts to ensure he could kill it, it struck her hard enough to break her ribs. “Alright.” She leaned forward and kissed him, tracing sprawling lines down his chest.
“That's better. Oof!” Claude let out a startled laugh when she used his distraction to flip him over onto his back, driving him into the mattress. “Okay. Maybe I deserved that,” He watched her crawl up his chest, a dazed look filling his eyes. “Oh, Goddess...”
It was probably a good thing Byleth was so entranced, or she might have heard the amused chuckle at the back of her mind. “Say my name,” She pleaded. The first time he'd called her by it...the shudder where her heart had been...
His hands slid down to her hips. His eyes were deep, dark and knowing. “Byleth.”
She shuddered. It sounded like a prayer. “I've never done this before.” She confessed. “I know how. But I've never...” She blushed. “I hope I can...” please you, the words wouldn't quite come out.
Claude smiled gently. “Don't be afraid. You'll be wonderful.” He leaned forward and kissed her gently. “Come closer.”
+ _ + _ + _ + _ +
Three months into her tenure as Empress Fodlan, it began to occur to Byleth that perhaps the persistent nausea and dizziness stalking her wasn't just from frantically trying to restore the lands of the former Kingdom to a peaceful state. At first she blamed it on the weather, then on the endless negotiations (thank Sothis for Rodrigue, she wouldn't have made any progress without him!), then on her heartbreak as she fought to get clean water and food to the starving masses at the former capital...
Perhaps it would have been completely obvious had she not been so busy. There were so many things to do – important things! – that she set her own problems aside even in the face of Marianne's disapproval. She was used to working through pain and discomfort, after all, and the matters of intimacy frequently slipped her mind even as she lamented the absence of her brilliant, politically astute fiance. Fortunately, even she couldn't ignore her body forever, so after a long day of walking through Firdiahd ensuring as many of her new subjects had a roof over their head as possible, she retired directly to her room and called for Marianne.
“You're working too hard,” Hilda complained, brushing the tangles and snowflakes out of Byleth's hair as they sat in her current room in the former royal palace. “You're not well, professor. Can't you delegate most of this to us? You stuck me with this ambassador job for a reason, and Ashe lives here!”
“Seteh says that I need to be as visible as possible in the reparations.” Byleth responded with a sigh, chewing harder on the ginger she'd been brought. “Cornelia, whatever her real name was...she ruined these lands. She framed their rightful prince and sparked the events leading to his death. Under her, people suffered, starving and struggling to survive. If I want these people to accept my rule...I have to prove that I care about them, that I will attend their ills, that they don't need to fear the years ahead.”
“You've already done so much just by ensuring every town had ways to purify water,” Ashe said softly. Byleth ached for her younger friend. The state of his home country was clearly devastating for him, and she knew he was still quietly mourning that they'd been unable to save Dimitri. “And you brought food with you, enough that some of the former Alliance nobles complained. They won't begrudge you getting sick.”
“I hope so,” Byleth sighed, swallowing. “Because I likely need to take tomorrow off...”
The door creaked open, heralding Marianne's arrival. The heiress smiled lightly, pleased to see her professor resting, and there was something in her eyes that Byleth couldn't quite read. “I'm sorry to make you wait,” She said simply, waving off Byleth's protests as she came to a stop in the chair next to hers. For a moment, the room was quiet aside from the swirling winter winds at the window and Marianne's humming as she ran diagnostics. Byleth's eyes snapped open when she heard the blunette gasp softly.
“What is it?” She asked.
Marianne raised her head and smiled very brightly at her – goddess, it reminded Byleth of how she'd smiled at her wedding to Raphael – and responded, “Well, I'm very glad you decided to make your engagement public, your highness.” She replied merrily. “I thought the symptoms might be morning sickness, but I wasn't sure until now.”
Byleth stared at her for a moment, unsure if she'd heard her correctly – Hilda's squeal and Ashe's shocked gasp seemed to come from very far away. “I...I'm...you sure?”
“Certain.” Marianne nodded. “You're three months along. I'm not certain, but I believe it's a girl. Congratulations.”
“I...” Byleth wrapped her arms around her stomach. “I...I need to write a letter.”
“I'll go get your things!” Hilda volunteered, before bolting from the room, laughing and squealing 'baby!' as she went, taking any hope of the discovery staying quiet with her. Byleth gave it until sundown before her people, the kingdom staff, and the locals all knew. Seteh would scold her, Catherine would laugh and laugh, Flayn would probably be excited...
The person who's reaction she craved the most was miles away. She bit her lip. How could she get this knowledge to him fastest? She would have to ask Seteth, once he ran out of steam.
“Claude...come back to me soon...”
Ashe let out a gentle chuckle, snapping her out of the rapidly approaching panic. The young knight knelt down next to her and said, “Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. Once he hears about this, he'll make it back in no time.”
“...You're right.” She smiled down at her stomach. “He will be.”