Final Chapter.

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"Feeling better?" Stahl asked when Robin walked into the mess tent the next morning, the sun pinking the horizon in the distance. The green clad cavalier handed the tactician a steaming bowl of soup. Carrots and mushrooms, along with bits of meat, floated in a thick broth. "Nothing like relaxation to help, right?"

"Thanks. And yes, I am." A good night's sleep always cured the headaches. It was no wonder that most people thought them brought on by stress.

Robin didn't like to dwell on them, though, or the strange visions that brought them on. Instead he took a seat by Gaius, who immediately made room for him and offered a candy bar in place of his soup. Robin waved the offer away. He hoped the thief would eventually learn there was no need to bribe his silence.

The mess tent slowly began to fill up, people sitting on crudely made benches in the interior or hovering by outside with their bowls in hand. Lon'qu tailed a garrulous Lissa, who chatted with Maribelle and Sully, and Donnel chopped wood to keep the fire high. Virion was standing in the corner, talking to massive shape that with a blink resolved itself into Kellam. Panne and Nowi's voices wafted in from outside the tent. Chrom and Sumia sat side by side at one table, and Cordelia sat at the next table over, pulling petals off of a flower.

There was no sign of Frederick, and Robin sighed.

"You sure you're alright?" Gaius said. "I can get you anything you want-more food?"

A dark shape skittered behind him, and Robin shuddered. Tharja.

"Get rid of Tharja for me, huh? Just… distract her." She was interesting enough, but he didn't feel like dealing with the stalker right now.

He wanted to find Frederick.

"Sure thing." Gaius grinned around the lollipop in his mouth. His cloak swirled as he went after the girl.

They'd be a good match, Robin thought, before wondering where such a thought had come from.

He shook his head. He had romance on the brain, and Frederick was the reason. He had to find the knight and talk to him. He couldn't leave this alone.

He left the tent, spotting Gregor sharpening his sword by the grindstone they had set up. No Frederick. He checked around Chrom's tent, paying careful attention to the paths where he knew Frederick liked to patrol and clear the ground. No Frederick. There was no sign of him in the weapons tent, where Anna was organizing their potions, nor was he getting water by the pond where Libra was praying and where Vaike was spying on the androgynous priest.

This was unusual, and Robin hoped that it didn't have anything to do with their awkwardness last night. He headed around by the stables, nearly walking into a poorly aimed fire spell.

"Oh!" Ricken's face went white. "I'm sorry! I was just practicing!"

"It's alright," Robin said. "Um…keep practicing."

He headed around the clearing toward the stables, and smiled despite himself.

Frederick, dressed in the tight gryphon rider clothes without the armor, was loosening the saddle on his gryphon. The creature's beak was stained with blood from its latest meal, and it made a strange squark noise as Robin approached.

Frederick turned, his eyes widening. "Robin!"

Robin paused, suddenly uncertain. He cleared his throat, searching for something to say. "Did you take him out for an early morning hunt?" he finally asked.

"Yes." Frederick removed the saddle, the muscles in his arms defined in his tight shirt as he lifted the weight. He placed it by the door to the gryphon's stall. "Bear likes bear meat." He grimaced. "So I let him hunt for one."

Robin laughed, leaning on the stable wall. "You must have enjoyed that."

"I don't mind it as much, since you helped me." Frederick didn't quite meet Robin's eyes, his cheeks touched with a rosy hue. "Bear did most of the work."

"Speaking of helping one another…" Robin searched for Frederick's gaze, and finally their eyes locked. "Thank you. For last night. It felt good." That sounded more inappropriate than Robin would have liked, and he felt his face heat up when he remembered the details of some of his more risqué dreams.

Frederick's blush grew more obvious. "While I was out, I took the liberty of getting you something as well."

Robin raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

The knight retrieved a small parcel from the saddle he had just placed by the door. "It's…nothing now. But I collected birchbark, and flew down near a forest on the border of Plegia to get some feverfew. They are powerful pain remedies. For headaches." He met Robin's eyes, his expression hopeful. "I can make them into tea for you."

Robin stepped closer, examining the bag and noting the dark bags under Frederick's eyes. "And how long were you out?"

"Since I left your tent last night." The gryphon rider gave a tired smile. "I wanted to get them as soon as I could."

Robin blinked. "You flew near the border of Plegia? For herbs? While we're at war?!" He opened his mouth, then closed it, before finishing with, "In the middle of the night? You aren't even wearing your armor!"

Frederick ducked his head. "I... I know, it was foolish, but just in case you were still in pain come morning…"

Robin stilled his tongue, letting out a slow breath. Frederick had done it for him. He shouldn't be angry. "I…I'm not in pain. You helped me with that. But…I'm sure I will be again. Those headaches aren't related to stress or overwork, I just… get them." It was tough to admit. "I'm sure those herbs will help. But did you have to fly so close to Plegia?"

"They grow nowhere else," Frederick said. "And it was dark. I was safe."

"Fine. Just…next time, take someone with you?" Robin said. "The last thing I want is to lose my new gryphon rider because I can't deal with a little headache."

Frederick smiled, and it gladdened Robin to see it. "Of course. I will be more careful in the future."

Robin shook his head, stepping inside the stables. Bear flexed his talons in the straw, then squarked another greeting. "Frederick…" Chrom's words came back to him. "This is not what I meant when I said you should relax, you know."

Frederick's mouth turned down. "But…I think this is where we fail to understand each other. I enjoy doing things for people." His cheeks flamed. "And lately, I…I have enjoyed the thought of doing things for you."

Oh Gods. What to say to that. "I don't want a servant, Frederick."

"That's not what I meant." Frederick looked away, patting his gryphon's shoulder. The creature made a pleased rumbling noise. "I…I serve Chrom. I know I have…not always made the wisest decisions in doing that, but I will always serve Chrom." He emphasized the word "serve." "And I will only serve him."

Robin waited for the knight to collect his thoughts, the tactician's heart pounding.

"But…there is more. It pleases me to serve my lord, but it pleases me more to…do things for you. Like last night." He met Robin's eyes. "You needed my help. I gave it. I don't want to see you in pain."

Robin let out a breath he hadn't been holding when the knight stepped forward. Robin was very aware of the knight's closeness, and even more aware of the heat that crept into his body in response. Frederick took a quick breath, his cheeks flushed, and Robin stifled a desire to reach out and touch him.

"I," Frederick began.

Voices made them both turn, Robin taking a discreet step away. Frederick sighed as Stahl and Sully approached the stables.

"What is it, Frederick?" Robin asked hurriedly. He couldn't let this moment end this way.

Frederick looked to Bear, then back to Robin. "Will you…will you let me help you, in my own way?" Robin had a feeling that wasn't what Frederick wanted to say.

"Hey, you two." Sully's loud voice greeted them as she walked past their stall. "Nice looking bird," she said with a nod to Frederick. "What are you two up to?"

Robin set his jaw, staring Frederick dead in the eye. They were going to finish their conversation, for better or for worse. "We were just going out for a flight, right Frederick?"

The knight's face lit up. "Yes. Yes we were."

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Frederick was much steadier on his gryphon than he had been on that first day. Robin clung to the knight's back, trying to ignore the constant movement that the beast's wings created, the motion continuously pushing him against the other man.

"Where would you like to go?" Frederick asked, his voice quiet in the rush of the wind.

"It's getting warm," Robin said against Frederick's neck, and a shudder went through the other man, Robin feeling it against his chest and legs. "Why not land by that lake there?" He pointed.

"Yes." Frederick turned the reins in his hand, and the gryphon banked. "Down," he commanded, and they spiraled down to a sunny patch of grass, the light of late morning reflecting off the clear water. Clovers grew in small patches. They were close enough to camp to get back in a hurry, but far enough away that they had real privacy.

Robin was grateful for that. Being so close to Frederick had been pleasurable torture.

He slid off of the grypon's back, stretching his legs. Frederick followed suit, taking a skilled leap onto the lush ground. He immediately faced Robin, and for a moment they stood like that, the lake spread ahead of them and grass and clover waving in a small breeze.

"Tell me," Robin said after a short time. He had to know. "Did you have…feelings for Chrom?" He wanted to ask if he had the same feelings for Chrom that he did now, but not yet. That was too presumptuous.

Frederick slid his gaze away. "I did."

"But not anymore?"

"He is my Lord. I will always care for him." A careful answer, and Robin waited. "But not the same as…" Frederick sighed. "I was attracted to him. But I did not…love him. Not the way he and Sumia love each other." The bitterness that had tinged her name was gone, Robin noticed.

"And me?"

With a trembling hand, Frederick reached out, touching Robin's face. The tactician let him. Then Frederick leaned down and his lips met Robin's. The knight's lips were soft, pliant against his own, and sent burning need straight to Robin's core. He moaned softly, closing his eyes, Frederick's sweet breath sending a wash of warmth over him.

Frederick broke the kiss. Robin nodded, opening his eyes. "It's alright," he said. "That…that is the answer I am looking for."

"This is not…inappropriate?" Frederick asked, his voice tremulous.

Robin smiled. "If I did not share your feelings, would I do this?" he leaned forward, putting his hand behind Frederick's head and kissing him hard, heat curling up his spine as Frederick opened his mouth and deepened it, moaning and allowing Robin's tongue into his mouth.

They broke apart, panting, Robin's gaze riveted to Frederick, to his well-muscled arms and shoulders, and he could not ignore the other man's sizable bulge. He smirked, breathing hard and very aware that his own arousal was just as obvious. "See," he said with a chuckle. "Now this is relaxing. Don't you agree?"

"If this is what you meant," and Frederick closed the distance again as he said it, his breath hot on Robin's neck, "Then I can do it."

Their mouths met, their bodies molding together, and Robin let Frederick guide him down onto the grass.

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It was mid afternoon when they returned, soaked from their dip in the lake after making love. Robin felt warm, and more satisfied than he had been in a long time.

The war loomed, and they both had work to do. Robin's task would not be over for a long time, he knew, and Frederick owed his allegiance to Chrom and to captaining the shepherds. But together, they would help each other with both tasks. And together, they could escape the rigors of war in the privacy of their tents.

Frederick stabled his gryphon, and he smiled at Robin as they walked back together. He hadn't stopped smiling since they left the lake, Robin realized.

"Oh, hello!" Chrom waved to them both, Sumia in tow, and Frederick nodded in return. Chrom tilted his head, staring at Robin, then broke into a grin and slapped Frederick on the back as they passed by.

Robin didn't know what that was about until he passed a mirror on display outside the weapons tent. He sighed. "Next time, Frederick, tell me," he said, and his lover gave his usual small smile.

He had a twig in his hair.

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I had intended for this to be much more explicit, but then I realized the rules around here had changed. :P

Anyway, that's all for now, folks. I might come back to this with some stuff from later in the game, but for now it's complete. I really hope people enjoyed it, and please do leave a review!