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Alex
Alex rubbed his eyes with his one good hand, using his other to grope around and hold Cordelia. When his hand met nothing but air, he turned around to see that Cordelia had already left.
That’s fucking strange. Most of the time she’s cuddling against me and refusing to let go of me.
“Cordelia?” He called out.
No response. Alex shrugged his head, assuming that she’d gone into work earlier than usual. Getting out of the bed, he walked outside his room and into the hall. The moment he did, a pair of hands covered his eyes.
“Guess who?”
Alex chuckled. “Cordy, I’m sure I know my darling wife from anywhere.” He took her hands away and pulled her into his embrace. “Anyway, where were you?”
Cordelia stared into his blue eyes, seemingly shocked. “Alex, there’s no need to play dumb.”
“Eh?”
“Oh my god.” Cordelia sighed, pushing herself off him. “It’s your birthday today. Did you forget?”
Alex scratched the back of his head. “How do I say this?”
“Alex, for the love of Naga, how did you forget your own birthday?” Cordelia asked.
“I dunno. Work’s been fucking hectic, so I guess it slipped my mind.” Alex rubbed a hand through his hair. “Look, I’m sorry I forgot my own birthday. It won’t happen in the future.”
“You’re not going to forget mine, now, are you?” Cordelia questioned.
“I’d rather die than forget your birthday,” Alex said, without thinking on his words. The moment he did, he squirmed. His death was always a tense topic for his wife and she didn’t enjoy him joking about it. “...Sorry.”
“It’s fine.” Cordelia said in a flat tone.
Alex pulled her back into his embrace. “No, it isn’t. What’s troubling you?”
“I was just worried you’d not be able to enjoy all of what I’d planned out for you today.” Cordelia whispered into his chest.
Alex sighed, pushing Cordelia away and pressing his lips onto hers. When he ended it, he cupped Cordelia’s cheek and smiled. “I’m an idiot, aren’t I? Jesus Christ. I’m sorry I almost ruined your plans. But we still have the full day ahead of us.”
Cordelia smiled, wrapping her hands around Alex’s neck. She then kissed him herself, making it full of love and passion. “Happy Birthday, Alex.”
“Hmm. So, what exactly did you have planned out?” Alex grinned.
It seemed Cordelia had been waiting for him to ask this question, as she instantly squealed and pulled his arm. “So, you know that pie you made when you met my parents?”
“Yeah. What about it?”
Cordelia turned around and smiled. “Well, I tried my hand at it. It turned out well.”
“If it’s made by you , then I have no doubt it’ll be good.” Alex said proudly.
Cordelia blushed and looked away. “Oh, hush you. Anyway, sit down. I’ll bring it out.”
As Alex waited for Cordelia to bring out the dish, he stared absentmindedly at the chair that was normally taken up by Severa. The Severa of this timeline was currently with Cordelia’s parents, but the Severa from the future was no longer with them, having departed for her own journey. He smiled as he wondered what she was up to, but he knew that wherever she was, she was happy. He then realised that it was the first birthday of his he was unable to share with his daughter and his smile flickered.
“You miss her, don’t you?” Cordelia interrupted his thoughts, placing the dish in front of him.
Alex snapped out of his reprieve looking up at Cordelia. “What? Oh yes, I do. Don’t act like you aren’t. The amount of times you set up the table for four, rather than three.”
“We both miss her presence.” Cordelia mused. “But wherever she is, I’m sure she’s doing what she wants to do. She would’ve hated being stuck with us after the war. As much as we wanted her to stay, we had to let her lead her own life. Even if it’s the first birthday of yours she’s missed, we should be proud she’s doing what she wants to.” She sat down next to him, clasping his hand.
Alex chuckled. “I suppose you’re right.”
“Aren’t I always?” Cordelia fired back.
“No wonder why Severa’s smug. She inherited it from you.” Alex replied.
“She’s more like me than she likes to admit.” Cordelia smiled. “Well, she’s a mix of us. But mostly me.”
“Heh. That is correct.” Alex grinned. “Anyway, the pie is about to go cold.”
Cordelia giggled, cutting out a serving and placing it on Alex’s plate. The scarred man took a bite from it and his face instantly lit up.
“Holy shit, Cordy.” Alex breathed out. “This is amazing.”
Cordelia’s face positively beamed. “That’s great. So, is it better than yours?”
“Maybe.” Alex replied.
“Hmph.” Cordelia pouted.
“You know, you’re only making yourself look more cute when you do that.” Alex told her. “Not that you always are.”
“You’re insufferable sometimes.” Cordelia groaned. “Anyway, I’d better hand you your gift.” She walked out of the room, returning moments later with a box. She set it down in front of Alex, who curiously opened it. “It’s a watch.”
Alex’s eyes went wide in shock as he took in the silver watch. It was ingrained with gold studs, telling him that it would’ve cost Cordelia a lot. “Cordy… you didn’t have to get me something like this.”
Cordelia smiled. “Maybe I didn’t have to, but I wanted to.”
“You do know that I’d’ve been happy just spending the day with you?” Alex prompted. “Work’s been chaos for the two of us and we rarely get time to spend alone.”
“That said, I wanted to give you something.” Cordelia told him. “Just accept the gift, dear.”
Alex chuckled. Getting up, he walked towards Cordelia and hugged her. “I love you.”
Cordelia sighed positively. “I love you too.” She broke the embrace. “There’s more stuff I have planned out, so you’d better change.”
Alex stared at her. “Hrm… what is it?”
“I’m not telling you yet.” Cordelia said. “That’d ruin the surprise.”
“I guess you have a point there.” Alex noted. “I’ll go and get ready, dear.”
The couple had left sometime ago and had reached their destination. Jumping off Aurora, Cordelia said, “Close your eyes, please.”
Alex followed her request without contest, allowing Cordelia to lead him to their spot. It was not long before Cordelia allowed him to open his eyes again and the moment he did, his jaw unhinged.
“You prepared a full picnic for us.” Alex mused. “How long did this take you?”
“Not that long. It was for you after all.” Cordelia answered. “I wanted to treat you today.”
“The fuck did I ever do to deserve someone like you?” Alex asked.
“Maybe because you’re a handsome man who puts his wife before anyone else. Oh and your scars only make you look hotter.” Cordelia teased without a blush.
“Bloody hell.”
Cordelia giggled. “Oh, what’s this? Can’t the Knight Commander of Ylisse handle some flirting from his dear wife?”
“I was not prepared for this.” Alex grumbled.
“It’s always good to see you all flustered. Anyway, let’s enjoy the day, shall we?”
The couple sat down, opening the box and enjoying one another’s presence.
“Have you ever wondered about another sibling for Severa?” Alex asked suddenly.
The question caught Cordelia off-guard. “... What? Oh yes, I have. It’d be great to have another kid and someone else to play with Severa. We don’t get much time to spend with her, so the extra company for her would be good for her. Why do you ask?”
“It’s always something that’s bugged me ever since we met Severa.” Alex answered. “That we were planning to have another child in the future, but we both died before we could ever get to that stage.”
“The future is far different from what Severa grew up in. It allows for us to give the Severa of this timeline all of what the other Severa was robbed of.” Cordelia told him. “We know Severa would’ve wanted her little self to get the privileges she never wanted.”
Alex smirked. “She would’ve wanted that. She’ll deny it of course, but deep down, she would love to see Severa growing up with all that she was unable to.”
“She’s like that, isn’t she?” Cordelia asked. “She’ll put up the front that she doesn’t care, but once you get past it, you truly see what type of person she is.”
“Mhmm. I’m proud to call her our daughter.”
“As am I.” Cordelia was silent for a few moments, before saying, “I’ve noticed that you’ve been sleeping less these days.”
Alex squirmed. “Oh, you picked up on that? Shit.”
“Why have you been sleeping less?”
“Nightmares.” Alex sighed. “It’s been more than a year since we achieved peace, but the same nightmares still haunt me. I keep on revisiting the day I died and left you. I revisit dreams where I watch you and Severa being killed, as I’m unable to do anything to help you.” He took a deep shuddering breath. “Even with the war gone and our lives being stable, I still have these dreams. I want them to stop, but --”
His words were cut off when Cordelia squeezed his hand, tapping a certain point on his wrist. He looked down to see Cordelia staring at him with a sympathetic look.
“It’s ok. I’m there for you and you know it’ll take a lot for Severa to go down. You won’t ever have to witness us dying.” Cordelia soothed. She scuttled closer to him and wrapped her hands around his chest, resting her head on his shoulder. “I shouldn’t’ve asked, but you know I’m always there for you. You don’t need to deal with it all alone.”
Alex smiled and began to stroke Cordelia’s hair. “I know. I’m lucky to have someone like you in my life.”
Cordelia simply smiled, tightening her hold on Alex and enjoying the scenery. The two didn’t need to exchange words, as the silent moment was enough for both of them. The couple sought moments like this, and when they were able to get it, they basked in it.
Alex and Cordelia returned home hours later, having enjoyed the rest of the day in the village. When they returned, Cordelia has rushed off to their room, leaving a flabbergasted Alex alone.
When Cordelia didn’t return, Alex made his way to the room they shared. The moment he opened the door, he was surprised to find that the room was dimly lit by candles.
“Cordelia?” Alex called out.
“Ah, Alex. How wonderful of you to come up here.” Cordelia said. Her voice was soft and sultry and it didn’t take Alex long to realise what was going on. Cordelia came up behind him, moving her hands up and down his chest. “You’ve been so tense for the past few weeks, that I thought it’d be great for you to release all the tension.”
Alex quickly nipped it in the bud. “Cordy, if you’re trying to seduce me, you’re failing miserably.”
The mood instantly changed. Cordelia’s hands left his chest and her voice changed.
“It wasn’t that bad now.” Cordelia pouted, as Alex turned around to look at her.
“Believe me, it was.” Alex sniggered. “The voice was good, but your attempts to seduce me was a spectacular fail.”
“You don’t have to be so blunt about it.” Cordelia said.
“Heh.” Alex smirked. “All you need is some more practice and you’ll be better at it.”
Cordelia sighed. “Well, that obviously ruined the mood.”
“Not necessarily.” Alex pulled Cordelia into his hold and she yelped. “We can still go about the night as you planned.” His voice dropped into a slight whisper and the effect was instantaneous. Cordelia’s mouth instantly claimed his and she pushed him onto the bed.
Cordelia grinned as she straddled him, refusing to let him escape. Her hands moved across his body and soon the couple lost themselves in a night of pleasure and one that was sorely needed especially for one person.