Appendix B: Two Weeks Wait

Warning: Contains spoilers from the reference story, Potentia Amoris. Do not read until after at least Chapter 20 of that story if you care about being spoiled!

Pyrrhus was eating his breakfast in the Ylisstol Great Hall when Cordelia sat down next to him at the table.

"Good morning, Cordelia," he said, using his last scrap of bacon to wipe up a bit of runny yolk from his plate. "What's going on?" She'd been out of bed before he awoke this morning, which was a bit unusual, but she didn't seem to be in a bad mood or anything. She probably just wanted to get a bit of extra training in.

"Hello, dear," she replied. "There's something we need to discuss."

"Wedding details, I presume?" They had divided wedding plans up between them roughly fifty-fifty. Cordelia still spent several hours a day with her trainee pegasus knights, which kept her quite busy. Pyrrhus had a bit more free time, so even though Cordelia was better at planning (and had better taste) the even split seemed most convenient.

"Sort of?"

Pyrrhus took a sip from his glass of water. "What does that mean?"

"Well... my parents are arriving today from Brindlow."

"Right." There was still another two weeks before the wedding, but her parents had decided to take a holiday in the capital and then ride with the rest of the party to the wedding. It would be nice to get to know his future in-laws better, and they'd get a chance to meet Pyrrhus's 'sister' Morgan and see their 'niece' Severa again. That part made him a little nervous, whether his daughters could keep up that charade. Perhaps that's why Cordelia was nervous. "Cordelia, I'm sure that Morgan and Severa will be fine-"

"It's not that," Cordelia interrupted. "It's... us. Since Father doesn't know about..." she pointed alternately between the two of them. "You know... us."

"Right." Although Aurelia was aware of their relations, Eddard was still firmly in the dark.

"With both of them here, I think it's safer if we don't..." She looked away. "I think it would be for the best if I stayed in my room. And, just to be safe, I think we shouldn't. Until after the wedding." She nodded her head once.

Pyrrhus winced. "Umm... okay. If you insist. I can do that."

How the hell was he supposed to do that?

Eddard and Aurelia arrived just after lunch, and Pyrrhus and Cordelia both took the remainder of the day off to welcome them and show them around. By the time they'd seen the castle, the grounds, and the Shepherds barracks, everyone was well tired and ready for dinner. Meanwhile, Pyrrhus had been driven to absolute distraction. It wasn't that he couldn't go that long without, of course. Before he and Cordelia had begun dating, he'd not had any whatsoever, and it wasn't uncommon for them to miss for a few days. It was the knowing that he couldn't that made it so much worse. It was as though everything reminded him of it!

"Lovely thigh, isn't that right, Pyrrhus?" Aurelia asked, reminding Pyrrhus that he was sitting at a table.

He shook his head vigorously. "I'm sorry?"

"I said lovely pie, isn't that right?" she narrowed her eyes, glancing at his plate. "Oh, but you've not touched yours."

Pyrrhus cleared his throat. "Oh, yes, well." He picked up his fork and took a bite. "Why yes, it's quite good." And it was. Blueberry. It tasted like blueberry jam.

Blueberry jam he could lick off of Cordelia's-

He slapped himself in the cheek to distract himself again, drawing the attention of the other three diners.

"I'll say, Pyrrhus, are you well?" Eddard asked.

"Just a bit tired, that's all." He needed to get out of here before he made a worse fool of himself. "You know, I have a bit more work to take care of before I turn in. With your permission, I'll excuse myself."

Eddard reached over and grabbed Pyrrhus's pie plate. "Oh, of course! You young folks always have to be going nonstop, eh? Ah haha, yes, I was the same in my day. Completely insatiable! Now I know the importance of stopping to eat the pie."

"Don't mind him," Aurelia added. "And don't you worry about us, we'll have plenty more time together."

"Right. Cordelia?" He looked back and forth at her parents before placing an awkward kiss on her head. "Good evening." He didn't bother to check the expression on her face, even though he knew it would have been priceless. As he left, he heard the two parents talk.

"He's acting a bit strange, isn't he?"

"So long as he keeps leaving me his pie."

It went much the same for the next week. Most of the time, Pyrrhus could keep himself distracted with work or training or something, but he had to spend some time with his new family. But the strangest part of all was how Cordelia seemed to be immune. She'd had no trouble maintaining perfect composure while Pyrrhus had to make a conscious and constant effort that his stares never lingered too long.

One afternoon he found respite in some menial paperwork regarding supply requisitions for the spring return to Valm, and took the paperwork outside despite the cool winter weather to help keep his head clear. It helped not to linger anywhere they'd been together, and his office was among those places. He went out to the gardens and sat at a stone table overlooking the fountains. It was there that Chrom and Gaius found him, sneaked up behind him, and startled him so hard they nearly made him spill his papers.

"Hey Bubbles!" Gaius shouted cheerfully. "How's tricks?" They sat down on the opposite side of the table.

Pyrrhus took several breaths to calm down. "Tricks are fine, Gaius!" He answered, a little too loud, then started gathering up the scattered paperwork.

"Listen, Pyrrhus, we think you're a bit wound up," Chrom explained. "So we've arranged a little something for you."

Pyrrhus shuffled the papers back together and set them down. "I appreciate the gesture, but I assure you that it's unnecessary." He held up a solitary finger to make his point. "I'm just fine." It was a lie, he was coming apart at the seams, but he could keep himself together for another week! After all, Cordelia could do it, therefore so could he! He was a strong, patient, manly, temperate sort.

"I'm afraid you don't have any choice, this is mandatory," Chrom replied. "Now, I have spoken at length with Gaius on the matter. We're your groomsmen, and there's one very important tradition that the best man must customarily handle."

"Oh, no," Pyrrhus muttered.

"I'm aware that the organization of my own bachelor party was difficult, considering my royal status," Chrom continued unabated. "But I do know a thing or two about throwing a good party, after all! How tough can it be?"

"Oh, no," Pyrrhus muttered again.

Gaius put his hand on Pyrrhus's shoulder. "Don't worry, I'm going to help him. I'll make sure it's a real party!"

"Oh, gods no." Pyrrhus put his hand to his face to rub his eyes.

"Erm, Pyrrhus?" Cordelia's voice interrupted them, and he spun around to see her approach.

"Ah, hello Cordelia, what can I do for you?" At least she would end this stupid conversation.

"I expected to see you in your office," she remarked casually. "Anyway, my parents have invited us to have dinner with them tonight if you're available. I know Chrom's been giving you quite a bit of extra work this week."

Chrom spoke up. "What do you mean? I didn't give Pyrrhus any extra work-"

"-Today!" Pyrrhus supplied, shooting a glare at Chrom. "Just the usual work today, so I should be free. I'll see you around sex- err, six then?"

"Sounds good," she said, taking a few steps closer.

He took a deep breath. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"No- umm, yes," she said. She glanced at Gaius and Chrom momentarily. "Yes," she answered definitively.

Pyrrhus stood up. "Mind filling me in on what that is?" he asked jokingly.

Cordelia took a deep breath. Then she balled her hands into fists and clenched them tightly for a second, before moving her head in for a quick kiss. When Pyrrhus realized what was happening, he pushed back, grabbing her and pulling her closer, and what had clearly been intended for a quick moment became far more lingering... and passionate.

When it was over, Cordelia put down her leg and stepped away. "Right. Very good-err... right." She glanced around a bit, obviously avoiding the awkward stares from Chrom and Gaius. "See you at six." Then she tore off like a thunderbolt.

Pyrrhus realized he was blushing and looked down very briefly. He sat down immediately and turned back around to the table, very carefully.

"Wow," Gaius remarked. "It's been a while then, huh?"

Chrom turned to him. "Not since her parents arrived."

"Yikes! And I'll wager not until the wedding?" Chrom nodded solemnly.

Pyrrhus dipped his pen back into the inkwell to try and keep going with his work, but his hand was shaking too badly.

"I say, do you hear that?" Chrom asked.

"Hear what?" Gaius replied.

Chrom snapped his fingers. "I don't know, it's some sort of really high-pitched noise, like a kettle whistle."

"Now that you mention it, I do hear it," Gaius replied. "What is that?"

"No idea. Pyrrhus, you hear that?" Pyrrhus continued trying to sign his name on the requisition form without smudging, but he didn't seem able.

Chrom stood up. "I can't tell where it's coming from," he said finally. He indicated the table. "It's definitely louder over here."

Gaius gasped. "Oh, I know what it is. It's Pyrrhus," he explained, pointing at the hunched-over tactician. And indeed, it was only at Gaius's mention that Pyrrhus recognized it himself. The long, slow breath he'd been letting out over the last minute had formed a quiet, high-pitched whistle in his nose.

"Is he going to be okay?" Chrom wondered aloud.

"I honestly don't know," Gaius replied. "Either Cordelia doesn't understand the depth of her effect on him, or she's actively antagonizing him. Either way, it's not good news." He clapped Pyrrhus on the shoulder, knocking the pen from his hand and staining the page with ink. "All the more reason for this party!" he insisted.

Pyrrhus brought his fist down on the table so hard that the stone shook.

"No!" He shouted. "No party! No shenanigans, no prostitutes or dancing ladies or disreputable nonsense!" He stood up and realized that his hand was bleeding a bit. He pulled out a handkerchief and placed it over the wound. "I won't go cavorting around with other women to distract myself from the one I love!"

Gaius held both hands up. "Woah, woah, what are you talking about?"

Chrom nodded. "Of course we can't do anything like that! I'm supposed to be the Exalt! I can't take part in anything like that! What sort of example would that set? What would Sumia say? Or Lissa, even?"

Pyrrhus raised an eyebrow. "You... didn't mean... then... what did you have in mind?"

Gaius laughed. "Easy, Bubbles, just some man time to celebrate the end of your bachelor days! I figured we'd invite a couple other Shepherds and all play some cards, drink too much, that's all!"

Pyrrhus pinched his lower lip contemplatively. "That's all? Just the guys hanging out and drinking and gambling?"

"Of course!" Chrom said reassuringly. "Sumia's planning a similar party for Cordelia! They're renting a carriage and riding around the city, but it's the same idea."

Pyrrhus sighed in relief. That wouldn't be so bad. And it would certainly help distract him. "Fine," he relented. "Sounds like fun, let's do it."

In accordance with their plans, Pyrrhus had dinner in the Great Hall with Cordelia and her parents, as well as Morgan and Severa. Eddard was quite taken with Morgan, and seemed very pleased that she was going to be part of their family. He didn't seem to notice that she had his exact hair color. Nor did he find it unusual that she suffered from a similar case of amnesia as Pyrrhus.

"So tell me, Morgan," Eddard continued, "How did you come to be so interested in tactics too?" Dinner had ended, and the six were chatting, to Pyrrhus's horror.

Morgan tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Well, I suppose you might call it the family business? I know Father was interested in it, and I guess he just passed that love onto me!"

"And Pyrrhus too," Eddard supplied.

"Well yes, that goes without saying!" Morgan said cheerfully, to laughs from both Aurelia and Eddard.

Pyrrhus had been holding his breath for the duration of the conversation, which was veering dangerously close to getting them caught in a lie. Morgan hadn't managed to step out of line yet, though, so he forced himself to exhale.

"I must say, I'm quite surprised by how good friends you've become with Severa," Aurelia mused.

"Yeah, it's like we're sisters or something!" Morgan replied.

This is a nightmare, Pyrrhus told himself. I'm going to wake up and none of this will be real. Sadly, he'd already confirmed with a few pinches that he was not asleep, and lying to himself didn't seem to stop his heart pounding.

Severa sneered. "Yeah, it's like we're sisters." At least Severa knew better than to push their luck.

"Ow!" Morgan shouted. "Did you just kick me under the table?"

"Sorry, leg slipped," Severa responded with far too much nonchalance.

"Well!" Cordelia called, drawing attention from the pair, "Why don't we all go for a walk around the grounds?"

"Sounds good," Eddard confirmed. "I'll tell you what, though, why don't you ladies get started. Pyrrhus and I can take these plates back to the kitchen for you. I've been meaning to have a word with him, anyway."

Uh oh. Had he been figured out? Pyrrhus forced a smile and added, "Of course. You ladies go right ahead."

"Sounds nice, but we can't," demurred Severa, "Morgan and I actually have plans tonight. Cynthia and Lucina are going out into the city, and we're going along. Won't be back until late."

"Is that so?" asked Aurelia. "Well I needn't remind you two that Cynthia and Lucina are members the royal family, so be on your best behavior!" she admonished.

"We will," the girls answered in unison before hurrying off towards the front exit.

"Cordelia, shall we?" Aurelia offered. Cordelia stood and the pair of women left in the opposite direction, towards the rear ramparts.

Pyrrhus and Eddard gathered up the dishes and brought them into the kitchen. The tension was thick, and Pyrrhus felt pressured to talk. He held back, however, because he wasn't sure what to apologize for. When they'd dropped off the plates and such, they walked back to the table and sat down across from each other, as they'd been during dinner.

"Now, Pyrrhus," Eddard began.

"What would you like to discuss, Ned?" Pyrrhus said, forcing the hundredth nervous smile since Eddard's arrival.

"You've been acting a bit strange this last week, and I think it's something we should discuss."

"Really?" Pyrrhus lied. "I don't know what you mean."

"I think it's pretty clear what's going on," he replied, "And this whole 'pretending to be calm' thing needs to stop."

Well, he definitely knew something. "Ned, I'm sorry. I know I'm supposed to be honest with you, now that I'm part of your family."

Eddard laughed. "It's okay, I know you're nervous, it's completely natural!" He switched to a very serious look. "I know you don't have any memory of your own father, so I want you to know that you can trust me completely. Think of me as your father too."

"Okay," Pyrrhus agreed. Perhaps this wasn't going to be so bad. He was a reasonable man, he'd understand, regardless of which lie he'd seen through.

"And it's the sort of thing a man normally explains to his son before the wedding, after all," Eddard continued.

Wait, what? "Excuse me?" Pyrrhus asked.

"That's what you're nervous about, right? How things... work... in your marital bed?"

This is worse than a nightmare.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of!" Eddard insisted. "And it's perfectly normal for a young man like yourself, especially one with such a limited memory, to need... education... in the matter! Gods know I've still not fully accepted in my heart what you're going to be doing with my little girl, but, from man to man, I'd rather you at least do it right."

Pyrrhus slowly lowered his head to the table, feeling the natural grain of the wood pressing into his forehead. Maybe he could still get out of this somehow. He picked his head back up. "I don't think that will be necessary, Ned. I've read several books on the matter..." Eddard's eyes flew open wide, and Pyrrhus quickly amended, "Nothing with pictures or anything, of course, just explanations of the mechanics, literature intended for men in my... situation." Please work please work please please please work-

"Ah, but there's a lot more you need to know than just those basics," Eddard replied. "For example, there's the matter of her monthly visits-"

Why, Naga? Have I not been a righteous man?

Pyrrhus placed both his hands firmly on the table. "Ned, there's something you need to know."

"Father!"

Cordelia's call saved him for the second time that day. Eddard turned around and they watched Cordelia jogging over. "What is it, sweetheart? Pyrrhus and I were just having a little chat."

"Yeah, just a little chat!" Pyrrhus agreed, shooting her a get-me-out-of-here look while Eddard wasn't looking.

"Mother wants to speak with you," Cordelia replied, and Pyrrhus tried not to sigh audibly. "Privately," she added.

Eddard stood. "Oh, okay then." He turned and gave Pyrrhus a broad smile. "You two stay out of trouble, okay?" he joked. "No monkey business!"

"We'll be good," Cordelia replied.

"Perfectly fine," Pyrrhus seconded.

Eddard walked out towards the ramparts from whence Cordelia had appeared. When he was well out of sight, Cordelia leaped onto Pyrrhus. "Naga, finally!" she whispered, wrapping her arms around him.

"Cordelia, I love you, but-"

"My room. Now."

"But your parents!" Pyrrhus insisted, trying to push her away.

"Mother and Father are going to be distracted for a while," she explained. "Mother promised we won't see them again this evening."

"You don't mean-"

Cordelia looked him dead in the eye. "I don't know and I don't want to. I had enough trouble arranging the little evening excursion for Severa and Morgan without raising any suspicion."

"You did that?" Pyrrhus asked. "I don't understand."

"Then let me explain it nice and slow." Cordelia said, exasperated. "The things we are about to do are not fit for the Great Hall."

Without another word, Pyrrhus stood up, lifting Cordelia with him. "Then what are we waiting for?" He set her down gently and they tried to avert the gaze of the other guests in the hall as they hurried off towards the barracks.

"I don't understand though, you were doing so well!" Pyrrhus whispered as they jogged down the hallway.

"What are you talking about?" she asked. "I had to kiss you today just to keep from jumping you in the middle of the gardens!"

"I don't think we're going to make it to the barracks," Pyrrhus said. "My office?"

"Yeah, sure," she uttered breathlessly, and they turned down a different hallway.

"This has been the longest week I can remember!" Cordelia whispered into his ear. "Everything with my parents has just been so painfully awkward!"

"Believe me, you have no idea," Pyrrhus replied, as they reached his office door. They went inside, and he carefully locked it behind them.

The following evening, Pyrrhus spent the entire bachelor party with a smile on his face.

A/N: Welcome back! It's been almost a year on the dot since the first chapter of this, so it seems appropriate to update now. Consider it a holiday gift?

This is one of my favorite sitcom tropes, where for some reason an affectionate couple has to abstain. I had bits of this planned for over a year (this was originally going to be the Appendix A, not the other story) but I wanted to wait until the proper circumstances to tell it. When I knew I was doing a time skip until right before the wedding, I knew I had my place.

As with Appendix A, this story is canon with Potentia Amoris (and soon Qui Vendidit Mundum) but obviously it's not supposed to be taken too seriously. It's just a fun little side story, which is the point! Also, I wrote this whole thing this evening, so it hasn't quite had my usual rigorous spelling/grammar check. Apologies on that. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy it, because things start getting real pretty quick in Qui Vendidit Mundum.

Until then!