Mirrored from my ao3 account. I update every Monday and Thursday.

Being at a McDonald's at eleven o'clock on a Wednesday night was not how Chrom wanted to spend his summer. He was a history teacher at the high school but his young daughter, Lucina, his little princess as he once dotingly called her, was craving Chicken McNuggets and Chrom hated to disappoint.

She was only twelve, and Chrom figured adventures like these were part of her childish whimsy and for now he would indulge. For Lucina would soon realize that her life was not the fairy tale her father would make it seem.

Chrom and his beloved wife, Robin, were in the process of getting a divorce. They both knew it would be hard for the kids, but while Robin insisted on telling them the truth, Chrom deferred and kept it a secret to his children, Lucina and Morgan. Both knew their eldest would take it harder being that any slight struggle seemed to wreak havoc on the borderline perfectionist girl. Morgan, only ten years old, had a very blithe outlook and was an optimist enough that nothing seemed to upset him. He was the easier child to raise. It was too easy to cause Lucina distress, especially where her family and friends were concerned. Lucina could be a little mother hen sometimes when it came to her loved ones.

Lucina waited happily by the counter for her food while her father, no spring chicken, sat at a table, hoping to rest his eyes for a few moments. He was too used to his school schedule, so being up this late, even though it wasn't super late, exhausted him.

He was surprised Lucina hadn't said anything when he agreed. Her father rarely ever did something so rash like this, especially since Robin and Morgan weren't in attendance. But maybe Lucina wanted daddy-daughter time, and this was her way of asking for it, being a blossoming adolescent.

A disgruntled sigh startled him out of his sleepy state. A red haired woman and what he presumed was her teenaged daughter, were arguing animatedly across the aisle of tables. They were seated near the front window, and the daughter was insisting something was wrong with her food while the mother was trying to placate her. The daughter, having none of it, rushed off to the restroom. Her mother sat there, not knowing if she should pursue her wayward daughter, or let her throw her fit.

Chrom, a natural people pleaser, got up and addressed the woman. "Is there anything I can do to help you, ma'am? I know the trouble with teenaged daughters."

She turned, a little embarrassed, but smiled all the same. "Oh, I don't think anything can satisfy my Severa. She's been like this her whole life." She sighed heavily. "I thank you though." She looked up and made eye contact with Chrom. They both paused, a little entranced. Chrom had never seen such beautiful scarlet eyes in his life. It looked like this woman could take on the world if she wanted. Currently, though, she couldn't take on her daughter.

He snapped out of his state. "I'm sorry. I didn't get your name."

She pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. "Oh no worries. I'm Cordelia." She got up to shake his hand. "What brings you here to a McDonald's so late at night?"

"I have a similar woe. My daughter Lucina wanted the McNuggets and well… I don't want to disappoint her."

"Sounds like you have a regular princess." She joked affectionately. "Severa would love that. She demands the world bend to her every whim."

Chrom sat across from her, seeing as they took to each other instantly. "It's not so much I spoil her, but I have some news I need to break to her…"

"Not another word of that. I know exactly what you mean." Cordelia took a sip of her drink. "I had a similar issue with Severa. Her father…didn't make it back from the war."

Chrom stayed silent, in respect for the fallen. "I'm sorry to hear that," he finally responded.

"It happens. We knew the risks. It hurts all the same."

"Father?" Lucina had appeared with a tray of food. "Who are you talking to?"

"Oh, Cordelia, this is Lucina. Lucina, this is Cordelia. We just happened to strike up a conversation, dear."

Lucina nodded but looked a little insecure. "Is this where you want to sit…?"

Cordelia immediately went to make space. "Of course, honey! You are more than welcome to sit with us. My daughter is in the restroom presently."

Lucina didn't say anything to that and sat close to her father. She handed him his food and went to eat her own. Cordelia returned to her half-eaten sandwich and the trio struck up a quiet conversation.

"So Chrom, what do you do?"

"I'm a history teacher at the high school actually."

"Ah, I see. Must be nice to have this long summer break then, isn't it?"

He nodded. "It's great because then I can take Lucy here to any restaurant she likes in the dead of night." He nudged his daughter in the ribs. She chuckled.

"What do you do, Miss Cordelia?" Lucina asked.

"I'm a horseback instructor for children with special needs on the weekends. During the week I attend sewing circles and I'm the president of the cooking club held at the REC center."

"You lead quite a life then, Miss Cordelia." Chrom mimicked his daughter's way of speech. "What about Severa? Your daughter?"

"She's your average teenaged girl. She's sweet, but she doesn't like to show that side so she tends to be quite the firecracker." She rolled her eyes. "Teenagers."

"You are NOT talking about me to strangers, are you Mother?!" Severa appeared from her segue in the restroom and seemed even more dissatisfied than before.

She made eye contact with Lucina. "Oh my gawds, Lucina?!" Severa blushed, suddenly looking very embarrassed. "I did not expect to find you here of all places."

"You know her, Lucina?" Even Cordelia looked surprised.

"Yes, she's on my lacrosse team, Father."

Before anyone could be excited that Severa had friends, Chrom's phone had started to ring. It was Robin.

Chrom excused himself and went outside to take the call. Severa took his seat next to Lucina and glared. "I cannot believe you'd be here too."

"Well… I couldn't sleep and I was really hungry… And I know my father wants to get out of the house." She looked shyly at Cordelia. "He's been having a rough time lately. He won't tell me why, but I think I know, which is why I decided to suggest getting some food."

Cordelia's face softened at Lucina's sweetness. "That's very kind of you, Lucina. Your father is lucky to have you as his daughter."

Severa faked gagging and sipped on her strawberry shake. "It's so sweet I could gag."

"Severa, would it kill you to be polite for once?" Cordelia ran a hand through her long hair, sighing as she did so.

Lucina chuckled. "It's not anything I'm not used to. Severa likes to make a scene." She winked at her friend. Severa's face reddened and she buried her face in her burger.

Outside, Robin was trying to calm down a raging Robin. "I'm sorry, honey…"

"Please refrain from pet names. We're not on those terms anymore."

Chrom sighed. "I'm sorry, Robin. Lucina wanted to go out and I didn't want to disturb you or Morgan. I was planning on bringing home food for you both once we were done here."

"This is so unlike you, Chrom. Why would you even agree to that?"

"Look, I have yet to tell our kids the situation, and I'd like Lucina to be as happy as possible before I break the news to her. I hate keeping this from her. I was actually thinking of telling her tonight."

"Then you should. I've been saying this for the longest time."

"Maybe a part of me was hoping you'd change your mind."

He heard Robin sigh. "Chrom, I'm sorry, but the life we've lived… I'm just not happy anymore."

"Robin, maybe we should just be separated. Divorce seems a little much…"

"Chrom, I don't want to talk about this right now. We can discuss this later. Have fun with Lucina. I'll see you when you get back."

His kneejerk reaction was to say "okay I love you" but before he could do so, the line went dead, just like the marriage he built with the woman he loved.

He didn't understand why Robin wanted the divorce. Neither one cheated. Robin insisted there wasn't another man. They had been to counselors in the past when they reached a rough patch but maybe this time it was too much. Robin wanted space she claimed. Lots of space. She felt like Chrom was too doting towards their daughter and almost overly affectionate when it came to his wife. Most people wouldn't complain about that, but Chrom could admit that he went a little overboard sometimes.

He shook his head and went back into the restaurant. Lucina was telling a lacrosse story that involved Severa, much to the others girl's chagrin.

"…and then poor Severa here fell face down in the middle of the bus and that's why we call her Hot Pants."

"That is a very…telling story, Severa. I wish you'd share these with me." Cordelia scolded, biting delicately into a fry.

"What, so you can realize I'll never be perfect like you? Yeah, whatever, Mother." Severa rolled her eyes. "Even the way you eat fries is perfect. Gawds."

Lucina and Cordelia smiled and laughed and that's when Chrom made his appearance known. "So sorry about that. The wife got worried…"

Lucina's hunch was right. Chrom always addressed her mother by her name, even when talking about her to strangers. He'd never refer to her so off-handedly.

She didn't say anything when Cordelia scooted further down the bench to make room for Chrom. He felt awkward sitting next to a woman he didn't know very well and had just met, but he found her enjoyable and she seemed very kind. It helped that Lucina knew her daughter. The small group of estranged parents and their daughters continued a lively conversation until about one in the morning, when Chrom happened to check his phone to show Cordelia a picture of his other child, Morgan. He saw the time, and realized he had to go soon.

"Cordelia, I'm so sorry for keeping you out so late. I should head home soon!" She saw the picture of a young Morgan holding a giant beetle and laughed.

"It's fine, Chrom. I am just as guilty keeping you out as well. We can always chat later."

Chrom caught himself as he was getting up to throw out everyone's trash. "Later?"

Cordelia blushed. "I mean… We got on so well. I wouldn't mind chatting again."

He paused and weighed this decision. It's not like it mattered anymore. He and Robin were over it seemed. "That would be fine, actually. I'd really like that."

Severa and Lucina witnessed this scene with revulsion. Severa couldn't believe her mother had gotten over their fallen father so soon. Lucina was horrified that her father didn't seem to care about her mother's feelings. Not like Robin ever disapproved of friendships between opposing sexes, but with the looming struggle Lucina could see on the horizon, it made it all the more suspicious.

Their parents exchanged numbers and both departed. As he watched Cordelia walk away with her daughter, a deep blush as red as her hair painted his face.

Chrom unlocked the sedan's doors and Lucina hopped in. He was in the middle of buckling his seat when Lucina said suddenly, "You and Mother are getting a divorce aren't you?"

Chrom couldn't respond. He fumbled with the seatbelt, stuttered, and tried to look everywhere but Lucina's face. "I… That is to say…" He sighed. "I'm sorry, Lucina. I was going to tell you soon."

She nodded solemnly. "It's fine. I saw it happening. I might be young, Father, but I'm not stupid. I saw the signs." She didn't want to admit she knew he slept on the sofa in the upstairs guest room when he thought the kids were both asleep. She stumbled upon him entering the room one night when she got up to get a glass of water.

She saw how tired and sad he looked. It had started near the end of the school year, just before school let out. It was like his vitality had just been sucked dry. He didn't seem to eat much anymore, and she noticed he spent less time with his wife. He was always researching, since he wanted to get his doctorate in history and move on to be a professor. She knew he someday wanted to run for a political office, but his fervor in that endeavor seemed to die.

So while Chrom may have thought he was hiding how he felt well by not saying anything, it was painfully obvious to Lucina. But she was always in tune with her father, so it was hard to hide anything from her in regards to him.

Her brother, when she asked him what he thought, was as clueless as she expected. He said Lucina worked too hard and overthought everything. Then he went back to playing chess on the family iPad, against players from across the world. Lucina rolled her eyes at her brother's oblivious nature, but left him to his game.

"No… You're a brilliant young lady. I'm a foolish old man." Chrom leaned his head against the steering wheel. "This won't be a very fun summer, you know that?"

"I know, Father. And you're not old. You're my Father, and I'm here for you." She rest her hand on his, hoping he'd feel a little better.

"I am so blessed to have you as my daughter." He squeezed her hand and started the engine.

But before he could drive away, Lucina said, "Wouldn't Mother and Morgan want food?"

He groaned. "Yeah… I almost forgot." He reversed the vehicle and entered the drive-thru line and ordered food for his wife and son.

The drive home was more fun than the drive to the McDonald's, strangely enough. Lucina had cranked up the volume on the radio, connected to her phone via Bluetooth, and music that was perfect for a drive late at night came on and Chrom and his daughter enjoyed singing (badly) to the tunes. In this small moment, having just met Cordelia and Severa, who were at a similar point in their lives, bonding with Lucina over French fries and Taylor Swift, and driving on a barren road so early in the morning, Chrom felt like things weren't as bad as he initially thought. He could get through this as long as Lucina was there.