This is a story about the romance between the Male Avatar (Dante) and Lucina (Personally my favorite couple in Fire Emblem). This is also my first fan fiction story, so feedback, follows, favs, etc. are all appreciated to help encourage me! I don't know how much I plan to write in this story, and chances are I'll just come back to it whenever I feel inspired to. But I'd like to give this a shot, to give my interpretation of the romance between these two characters, and their life post-Grima.

Also, I would like to add that I was inspired to write this story after reading "Here, Then, and Now" by Sentury, and "Time Matters Not" by Gone2GroundEX. I do not plan to copy them. I just draw on inspiration from them. I definitely recommend checking both stories out as they are fantastic and well-written Avatar/Lucina stories, and if my story can be as impressive as either of their's, I would be overjoyed.

It was the night before the final battle. The battle against Grima. Chrom's army camped out in a grassy plain nestled near the forest, quite like the one Chrom, Lissa, and Frederick had originally found Dante not so long ago. Light emanated from Chrom and Sumia's tent, where the two were keeping one another company to calm their nerves for the coming battle. Lissa and Gaius were up to mischief in the food storage tent, where plenty of sugary foods awaited their sweet teeth. Frederick and Cordelia patrolled the camp making the final preparations, making sure everything was in perfect order and ready for a fight. And everyone else was either sleeping or huddled in the dining tent, celebrating with each other for what might be their last night together as the whole group. Everyone, except for one young woman with stunning blue hair and a peculiar eye with the mark of the exalt. Lucina, the wife of the army's brilliant tactician, Dante.

Dante was seated in the dining tent with his friends and fellow Shepherds. He looked around the tent at everyone who was present. Owain was going on and on about some glorious story in his future where he had once attempted to confront the fearsome Grima with his "swordhand". Vaike was loudly rambling on about fun memories of the good times the group had thus far. His wife, Miriel, was observing everyone's reactions to his stories, and recording them for Naga-knows-what-experiment she had concocted. Kellam was in the corner, laughing at the stories to no one's notice. Dante laughed, enjoying the company of the friends he'd so become so close to, they were essentially family now. However, he noticed that some people were missing. One person in particular, who's company he wanted now more than anyone else's on his last night here.

"And so, courageously, I unsheathed the mighty Shadow Sword of Time and held it in the face of the dragon!" Owain exaggerated as he told his story. "And the beast roared a mighty roar that deafened my ears! But fear not, for at that moment—"

Everyone laughed hysterically. Owain believed so literally in his exaggerated fantasies, that he actually told them quite well. Even if his stories were taken with a grain of salt. Dante figured that his friends were busy enough listening to stories, that his absence would surely be nothing. So he took advantage of the opportunity and left the tent.

He wandered around outside the tent looking for where his wife might be. Chrom's tent let off light, but he only heard the voices of Chrom and Sumia laughing together as they enjoyed a rhubarb pie. Every other tent seemed to be either empty, or filled with sleeping figures. He checked his tent, as Lucina may have been waiting for him there, but found no disturbances to it since he'd left. He checked their precious daughter Morgan's room, as she might have wanted to be with their daughter on the last night, but found it empty as well, remembering Morgan was still laughing along to Owain's stories and wouldn't be with her mother.

Dante started to worry. Tonight would be his last night in existence, he figured. He wanted to be with his wife. The woman he'd fallen for the moment he met her. The woman who made him happier than anything in the world. The woman he was doing this for. Then he realized something.

There was only one place Lucina could be.

Lucina sat against the trunk of an old tree, her arms around her knees as she stared at the night sky. The stars were shining gorgeously in the night sky. The water in a river not too far away from her made gentle trickling sounds as it flowed onwards, towards its eventual destination of the sea. She was lost in thought, unsure what emotion she was feeling.

"Tomorrow's the day I suppose. We fight Grima tomorrow, and save all of Ylisse. My dreaded future will be prevented, and all should be well. Why is it that I feel sad then? Like I'm about to lose something important to my heart…" She mumbled to herself as she stared forward.

A rustling sound could be heard behind her as someone approached through the grass.

"Hey love. Aren't you feeling lonely all on your own there?" a familiar voice chimed.

Lucina smiled to herself, and her heart skipped a beat. Without turning around to see who it was, she felt an arm wrap around her waist and someone sit down close beside her. She turned and looked into the eyes of the man she loved, breathed a sigh of relief and rested her head on his shoulder.

"I was until now. What brings you here so suddenly?" she calmly asked.

Dante gently kissed her forehead before answering her.

"I was tired of listening to Owain's outrageous stories. As fun as they might be, one can only hear so much before they can't take it anymore," Dante chuckled.

"Haha, I know the feeling. I've dealt with him for far longer than any of you have. But that still leaves me with another question. How did you find me here?"

Dante was prepared as always. "You think I can be a master tactician and husband and not search all the areas nearby our camp?" he laughed. "I made sure to check the entire area when we settled, to check for hidden enemies, and to familiarize myself with the terrain. And I noticed this quaint little spot here. You don't honestly think I would forget to check the only nearby spot that so closely resembles the spot I proposed to you do you?"

Lucina reached for her husband's free hand and held it tightly in her own.

"I give you credit. You always come prepared for every situation."

Dante looked out to the stars in the distance. "Now it's my turn to ask you questions," he laughed lightly. "Why are you so far from camp, when tonight could be the last night the Shepherds will all be together. Tomorrow we have a dangerous feat to achieve. Might as well make the most of our remaining time right?"

At this statement, Lucina slowly lifted her head off her partner's shoulder, and turned to face him. "Dante I—well I just needed to get away from all the excitement and ponder these last moments."

"Is something wrong Lucina? You know I just want you to be happy, and I'm here for you."

Lucina smiled at this. "There's been a lot that's happened lately hasn't there? The war with Valm, the encounter with Validar," she started. "Grima."

Lucina paused. "But, my love, there's been a lot of good that's happened too. I found you. The Shepherds have accepted me as one of their own. We got married…" she started to laugh, "we found out about Morgan haha!"

Dante laughed at this too. That was an interesting encounter. It definitely had ended up being one of the happiest moments in his life, but explaining that to Chrom was...unexpected indeed.

"There have been quite a few things that have happened recently. It's a lot to absorb. But you still haven't answered my question love. Whatever is the matter?"

A pause.

"Dante…tomorrow—what do you plan to do? My father is leaving the decision up to you, but…are you going to come back from this or not?"

This was a hard question. Dante knew it would come up too. To stop Grima meant there were only two options present. Plan 1 would have the Shepherds fight back Grima's minions, while a team of Chrom, Dante, Sumia, and Lucina would charge forth to face Grima. With enough luck, they could distract Grima long enough so Chrom could deliver the killing blow with the Exalted Falchion. Grima would be destroyed, and would die, and Ylisse would have peace for centuries. But Grima wouldn't be permanently killed. He would return.

That was where the second plan came. Plan 2 meant the same thing, except Dante would charge ahead and attack Grima himself. Even if it meant using a Wind tome to hold his friends back, he would have to sacrifice himself to kill Grima. In this plan, Grima would be defeated permanently, and would never wreak havoc again. But it also meant that Dante, who shared the same heart as Grima, would perish with the fell dragon. Or so Naga had said. She had also told them that with the hearts of all the friends he had made, there was the smallest sliver of a chance that Dante would somehow survive to outlive Grima. But it was the smallest likelihood out there, and Dante couldn't consider it. But even if he didn't live, Dante knew which one would assure his love, Lucina, and their beloved daughter, Morgan, a future worth living.

"Lucina…I—you must know something first."

"What Dante?" Lucina sounded choked up, as she could already guess the answer. But she gazed into Dante's eyes. Dante caught her gaze and met her blue eyes, momentarily distracted by her beauty, and her unique eye that held the Mark of the Exalt.

"I haven't lived a long life. My first memory was of waking up to your father, Chrom, and Aunt Lissa helping me up in a field in Ylisse. I've spent only a few years with them. I've spent even less time here with you. But in all that time, I've married the woman I could've only dreamed of. I've had a child with you in a future far away, and through our time together we've grown as a family. I've shared many nights holding you close to me as we gazed at each other 'til sleep overcame us. All of these memories have given me a life worth more than any number of years and experiences even a manakete could have. Lucina, you've given me a life I cherish more than most things. And I love you Lucina…so much for this precious gift you've given to me."

Lucina's eyes watered from the happy memories, and sweetness of her husband. She hugged him tight and closed her eyes tight, enjoying the physical presence of him here.

"But…?" she responded after a pause.

"But, that life you've given me is only the second most cherished thing I have. I would give that away, if you and Morgan, the two most important things in my time, could live a peaceful, happy life. One not plagued by a future you have once known. If I don't kill Grima, he will one day return, and though you and Morgan, and Chrom, and the Shepherds may never have to deal with that yourselves, our children's children and beyond might have to deal with Grima's return. I could never live knowing that future lies somewhere beyond. That is why tomorrow, I give you and Morgan my last gift. I give you two my life, so that the world will be free of evil and you may live happily ever after."

At this, Lucina broke down crying into Dante's shoulder. "I…understand my love. I—I…"

There was a pause for a few minutes as Dante held Lucina close in his arms to protect her in these last few moments.

"Dante. I understand that you have to do this. But you have to understand that I can't just let you do this without some sort of dispute."

Dante chuckled lightly, though inside his heart wrenched. "Go on Lucina."

"Do you remember when I tried to kill you? You told me to promise you I'd never be alone. That you want me to be happy. I could've killed you that day…and inside I would have died. I realized that even if killing you meant saving my beloved father...that wouldn't be a future worth living. Not without you. Dante, I need you in my life. I love you. If you go, I'll be alone. You make me happy. I—I…don't know if I could live in a world where you are gone. Please don't do this!" She tackled him to the ground and buried herself in his chest to assure herself he was there.

"Lucina, I understand. But I would never forgive myself if I live knowing I could've done more to give you have a safe world to live in. I'm going to sacrifice myself to Grima no matter what tomorrow. I will save you. I promise. Just promise me you will find a way to move on. To live a happy life. To raise Morgan to be a mature grown woman. She takes after you and your beauty you know. Make sure she finds happiness too."

They rested there in each other's arms as the moon slowly moved across the sky. Even with Grima's return, there was still beauty in the world.

She looked up at Dante and kissed him before finally answering.

"I will do one thing and one thing only. I will wait for you. I don't care how long it will take. I don't care if I have to busy myself with other tasks in the meantime. I will certainly raise Morgan, but her and I both will wait for you."

Dante was taken aback.

"Lucina, no—"

"Dante listen to me! I don't care if I must wait years. This is my decision to make, just as killing Grima is yours. I will wait with Morgan, raise her, find us a place after Grima is gone. But know one thing. I love you. I will not move on and find a new family. You are the only man I want or need. And like Naga said, if enough hearts have been moved, you have a chance…I will take it. Because I cannot give up hope on you, when you are giving us a world filled with so much hope. I...I challenge your fate! I will wait for your return, I promise."

The two lovers then rested together, Lucina lying in Dante's lap as they stared at the stars. The battle tomorrow would be vicious, but together, they savored their last moments together before it might all end.

"Thank you Lucina. I love you." Dante whispered into Lucina's ear. And with that he kissed her.

I'm sorry for all the fluff, but this story will be filled with it, fair warning. More will continue after this. This first part was really long, but I just wanted to really establish the relationship, and the prelude to the post-Grima relationship. Thank you all for reading, and any feedback is appreciated!